Murphy Lab

Behavioral Ecology

Trinity University

Troy G. Murphy, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

My lab’s research spans behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and ornithology, with an emphasis on animal communication. Much of our research focuses on understanding the evolutionary processes (i.e., sexual and social selection) that favor female communication signals and how these signals can mediate competitive interactions. We also study the the adaptive benefits of territoriality, aggression, and conflict resolution. We combine field- and aviary-based behavioral research to study female competitive phenotypes.