Christopher Leary

Associate Professor of Biology

• Faculty
• Instructor

• Email:

  cjleary@olemiss.edu

• Office Location:

  424 Shoemaker

• Phone:

  662-915-1087

• Research Lab:

  Leary Behavioral and Neuroendocrinology Lab

Dr. Leary studies the endocrine and neural systems underlying animal communication and behavior, primarily in amphibians.

Research Interests

Research in Dr. Leary's lab focuses on the neural and endocrine systems underlying animal communication and behavior. Specifically, he is interested in how sexual signals are integrated and processed at the level of the central nervous system, how signal production and detection influences the endocrine physiology of signalers and receivers, and how hormones influence behavior.

The integrative nature of his research is set within the context of the reproductive behavioral ecology of anuran amphibians (frogs and toads). These organisms are particularly well-suited to studies in communication and behavior. Such information can then be applied to questions that incorporate the interrelationships among behavior, endocrinology, signal production, and central auditory processing.

Research in his lab employs a variety of techniques including behavioral analysis, phonotaxis experiments, acoustic analysis, signal manipulation and synthesis, radioimmunoassay, hormone manipulation procedures, and electrophysiology.

Publications

Rose, G.J., Hanson, J., Leary, C.J., Graham, J.A., Aluri, R., Vasquez-Opazo, G. 2015. Species- specificity of temporal processing in the auditory midbrain of gray treefrogs: Interval-counting neurons. Journal of Comparative Physiology, A, in press.

Davis, A.G., Leary, C.J. 2015. Elevated stress hormone diminishes the strength of female preferences for acoustic signals in the green treefrog. Hormones and Behavior, 69:119-122.

Leary, C.J., Lippincott, J., Harris, S., Hawkins, D.L. 2015. A test of the Energetics-Hormone Vocalization model in the green treefrog. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 213:32-39.

Leary, C.J. 2014. Close-range vocal signals elicit a stress response in male green treefrogs: resolution of an androgen-based conflict. Animal Behaviour, 96:39-48. IV.

Leary, C.J., Knapp, R. 2014. The stress of elaborate male traits: integrating glucocorticoids with androgen-based models of sexual selection. Animal Behaviour 89:85-92.