Donald H. Owings

Instructional Research Group, University of California, Davis

Papers

Total Citations

152

H-Index

About

Donald H. Owings is a pioneering behavioral biologist whose research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of animal communication and predator-prey dynamics, particularly between California ground squirrels and rattlesnakes. His most celebrated contribution is the discovery that ground squirrels use an infrared signal to deter rattlesnake predation (147 citations), revealing a previously unknown sensory channel in mammalian communication. This groundbreaking work demonstrated how prey species evolve signals that exploit the sensory specializations of their predators—a major conceptual advance in evolutionary biology. Owings also developed innovative robotic squirrel models (2011) to study these interactions in both laboratory and rugged natural environments, creating unique mechatronic tools that interact with live, potentially hostile animals. His methodological creativity and theoretical insights have inspired generations of researchers studying the coevolution of communication systems. Owings' work bridges ethology, sensory biology, and evolutionary theory, showing how natural selection shapes signals that target the specific sensory vulnerabilities of receivers. His legacy continues to influence studies of animal cognition, antipredator behavior, and the evolution of complex signaling systems.