The Tumulty Lab studies animal social behaviors. We are particularly interested in the ecology and evolution of animal communication and social cognition. Much of our research focuses on social recognition systems, which involve both the production of communication signals and the perception and categorization of those signals based on previous experience (e.g., “neighbor”, “offspring”, “nestmate”). Social recognition systems have big impacts on the dynamics of animal groups, so they are useful research subjects for answering mechanistic and evolutionary questions about the “building blocks” of complex social behaviors. 

We mostly study frogs, but we also have projects on paper wasps and salamanders. We take an integrative approach to research, using both field and lab methods and spanning ecology, behavior, physiology, and evolution.

The lab is starting in the Fall of 2024. This page will be updated when research projects are underway!