Aaron Rundus

Instructional Research Group, West Chester University

Papers

Total Citations

152

H-Index

About

Aaron Rundus is a pioneering behavioral ecologist whose work bridges sensory biology, animal communication, and predator-prey dynamics. His most celebrated contribution is the discovery that California ground squirrels use an infrared signal—tail heating—to deter rattlesnake predation, a finding published in 2007 that has garnered 147 citations. This landmark study revealed a previously unknown sensory channel in mammalian communication, demonstrating that squirrels exploit the rattlesnake’s infrared-sensitive pit organs to deliver a targeted deterrent signal. Rundus has since advanced the field by developing robotic squirrel models (2011) capable of interacting with live rattlesnakes in both laboratory and rugged field settings. These mechatronic models allow precise manipulation of behavioral variables, enabling experiments that were previously impossible with live animals. His work exemplifies how integrating robotics with behavioral ecology can uncover subtle evolutionary adaptations. Rundus’s research has reshaped our understanding of signal evolution, showing that prey species can evolve signals tailored specifically to the sensory systems of their predators. His innovative approach continues to inspire new generations of researchers studying animal cognition, sensory ecology, and the coevolution of predators and prey.