Research Interests

Evolutionary Biology and Behavioral Ecology

I am interested in the evolution and ecology of predator-prey interactions, including the behavioral ecology of fear and the evolution of aposematism and defensive weaponry, primarily in mammals.

Representative Publications

Stankowich, T., Caro, T., & Cox, M. 2011. Evolution of aposematism in terrestrial carnivores. Evolution, 65(11): 3090-3099.

Stankowich, T. 2010. Risk-taking in self-defense. In: Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior, Breed, M. D. & Moore, J., eds. Antipredator Behavior Section, Stankowich, T., section ed., Academic Press, Oxford, Vol. 3, pp. 79-86.

Caro, T. M. & Stankowich, T. 2010. The function of contrasting pelage markings in artiodactyls. Behavioral Ecology, 21(1): 78-84.

Stankowich, T. & Caro, T. M., 2009. Evolution of weaponry in female bovids. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 276: 4329–4334.

Stankowich, T. 2008. Ungulate flight responses to human disturbance: a review and meta-analysis. Biological Conservation, 141(9): 2159-2173.

Stankowich, T. & Coss, R. G. 2007. The re-emergence of felid camouflage with the decay of predator recognition in deer under relaxed selection. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 274: 175-182.

Stankowich, T. & Coss, R. G. 2006. Effects of predator behavior and proximity on risk assessment in Columbian blacktailed deer. Behavioral Ecology, 17(2): 246-254.

Stankowich, T. & Blumstein, D. T. 2005. Fear in animals: a meta-analysis and review of risk assessment. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 272: 2627-2634.