Ronald Bonett's research focuses on the evolution of alternate developmental patterns in vertebrates, particularly amphibians. Most amphibians have a biphasic life cycle with an aquatic larval stage followed by metamorphosis into a more terrestrial adult form, but several lineages have independently evolved alternate developmental pathways resulting in both strictly aquatic and strictly terrestrial species. Using a variety of behavioral, ecological, endocrinological, genomic, and phylogenetic approaches, Bonett seeks to understand how deviations in developmental patterns have influenced the evolution of vertebrate diversity.