My research on the evolution of sociality and group formation takes both an empirical and theoretical approach to understanding this topic. I am very interested in the role the distribution of resources plays in structuring the behavior and social organization of animals. More recently I am exploring the interaction between behavioral types and the stability of social networks.
My research on the evolution of communication emphasizes observational and experimental approaches to understanding the role communication plays in social species. I am interested in individuality, recognition and cultural evolution of vocal communication, and the evolution of alarm calling.
At the population genetic level, understanding how levels of genetic diversity change in response to selection pressures, such as disease, is critical. The goal of this research is to evaluate the ecological parameters ifluencing plaque epizootics and link these with underlying genetic processes to better understand the metapopulation dynamics in Cynomys gunnisoni.
