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James Tumulty studies the ecology and evolution of animal social behaviors. He is interested in how behavior evolves, how ecology and social interactions affect the evolution of behavior, and how animal communication impacts the dynamics of animal groups. His research on communication focuses on how animals communicate acoustically, using vocalizations, and visually, using color and patterns. 

Most of Dr. Tumulty’s research has been on Neotropical poison frogs, which exhibit a variety of interesting social behaviors, such as long-term territory defense, parental care, and even monogamous pair bonding. He has also worked on cooperative nesting behavior in paper wasps and acoustic communication in North American frogs. His research uses a variety of methods, including observations and behavioral experiments in both the field and lab, as well as genomics and computational methods. 

To learn more, please visit the .

When not doing research or teaching, he enjoys hanging out with his wife and two boys, growing vegetables, and watching hockey. 

Selected Publications
*denotes undergraduate co-author

Tumulty JP, Miller SE, Van Belleghem SM, Weller HI, Jernigan CM, Vincent S*, Staudenraus RJ*, Legan AW, Polnaszek TJ, Uy FMK, Walton A, Sheehan MJ. 2023. Evidence for a selective link between cooperation and individual recognition. Current Biology.  

Moss JB, Tumulty JP, Fischer EK. 2023. Evolution of acoustic signals associated with cooperative parental behavior in a poison frog. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 120(17): e2218956120.  

Tumulty JP, Fouilloux CA*, Goyes Vallejos J, Bee MA. 2022. Predicting and measuring decision rules for social recognition in a Neotropical frog. The American Naturalist. 200(2): E77-E92.

Tumulty JP, Lange ZK, Bee MA. 2022. Identity signaling, identity reception, and the evolution of social recognition in a Neotropical frog. Evolution. 76(1), 158-170.  

Tumulty JP & Bee MA. 2021. Ecological and social drivers of neighbor recognition and the dear enemy effect in a poison frog. Behavioral Ecology. 32(1), 138–150

Engelbrecht-Wiggans E* & Tumulty JP. 2019. “Reverse” sexual dichromatism in a Neotropical frog. Ethology. 125: 957–964.

Narins PM, Meenderink SWF, Tumulty JP, Cobo-Cuan A, Márquez R. 2018. Plant-borne vibrations modulate calling behaviour in a tropical amphibian. Current Biology. 28: R1333-R1334.

Tumulty J, Morales V & Summers K. 2014. The biparental care hypothesis for the evolution of monogamy: experimental evidence in an amphibian. Behavioral Ecology. 25(2): 262-270.