Terry Ord

Associate Professor Terry Ord is an evolutionary ecologist at the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). His research focuses on the interplay between phylogeny, natural selection, and sexual selection in shaping behavioral diversity, with a particular emphasis on animal communication and visual signaling.

• University: University of New South Wales (UNSW)
• School: School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences
• Email: t.ord@unsw.edu.au
• Location: Room 5106, Level 5, Biological Sciences South (E26), UNSW

Ord employs large-scale phylogenetic comparative analysis and targeted experimental studies to investigate macro- and microevolutionary processes. His work spans topics such as signal evolution in noisy environments, ecological transitions (e.g., fish moving to land), and the adaptive significance of animal ornaments. Recent publications highlight research on:

• Signal complexity trade-offs in herpetofauna
• Environmental drivers of behavioral plasticity
• Convergent evolution in visual communication
• Ecological release from predation pressures
• Ornament allometry and locomotor constraints
• Central place foraging strategies in ectotherms

His laboratory, ordlab.unsw.edu.au, serves as the hub for his ongoing research. He utilizes robotic prey and playback experiments to test hypotheses about signal function and species recognition.