Riley Integrative Ecology Lab 

I am an ecologist captivated with the wonders of nature.

My research is in animal behaviour, evolutionary ecology, and conservation. I integrate theories and techniques from these fields to design and carry-out quantitative research that tackles both novel and long-held questions in biology. A life-long fascination has made me most knowledgeable about the natural history of reptiles and amphibians, and my research with herpetofauna has led more broadly into the fields of behavioural and evolutionary ecology. My research covers diverse topics like animal cognition, developmental plasticity, overwintering ecology, urban ecology, the natural history of herpetofauna, and conservation biology.

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In my current position, my focus is to understand the evolution of sociality through the use of reptilian model systems. By studying cryptic sociality in the Australian Egernia-group of skinks, African Girdled Lizards, and North American Painted Turtles, myself and collaborators are answering questions like - what are the evolutionary origins of family living? How do reptiles benefit from living in groups or with family? What is the nature of these reptile's social behaviour?