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- BS (1977) in Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA
- MA in Biology (1983), PhD Genetics (1987) Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
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Animal Behavior, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Endangered Species, Environmental Science, Genetics
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Holtz, B., Beamer, T., Parks, C., Hess, G., and McRobert, S. (2024). The Role of Secondary Acoustic Cues in Sea-Finding by Green (Chelonia Mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys Imbricata), and Leatherback (Dermochelys Coriacea) Sea Turtles. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 571: 1-7.
Williams, B.T., Nelson, M.D., McRobert, S.P., and Fingerut, J.T. (2023). An easy and inexpensive method for determining the rate of nematode phoresis via pomace flies. MicroPublication Biology.
McRobert, S., Kleinot, J., Parks, C., and Mengle, L. (2023). Treatment of dystocia in a captive false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica). Herpetological Bulletin 165, 2023: 31.
Kloiber, A. and McRobert, S. (2023). Fish Cam: An online program to deliver behavioral experiments to the classroom. The American Biology Teacher 85(4): 192-196.
McRobert, S. and McRobert, C. (2022). Terrapene carolina triunguis (three-toed box turtle). Same-sex mounting. Herpetological Review 53(4): 620. (2-4-23)
Schnell, L., White, G., and McRobert, S. (2022). Pseudemys rubriventris (Red Bellied Turtle). Nesting. Herpetological Review 53(3): 491.
Singh, H., Ramon, A., Finore, D., Burnham, K., McRobert, S., Lippman-Bell, J. (2022). Learning deficits and attenuated adaptive stress response after early-life seizures in zebrafish. Frontiers in Neuroscience 16. April 2022.
McRobert, S. and McRobert, C. (2021). Terrapene carolina (box turtle). Nesting behavior. Herpetological Review 52(3): 636.
McRobert, S.P. and Mindell, J. (2021). Trachemys scripta elegans (red-eared slider). Diet. Herpetological Review 52(3): 638.
Clark, R.D., DiPiero, M., Fingerut, J.T, and McRobert, S.P. (2020). An analysis of female postcopulatory behavior in Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila biarmipes. Journal of Insect Behavior. 33: 193-200.
D’Ortona, P. and McRobert, S.P. (2019). Factors that affect shoaling behavior in fish. In O.P. Jenkins (ed.) Advances in Animal Science and Zoology, vol. 14. pp. 177-192. NOVA Science Publishers.
McRobert, S.P. (2019). What’s the horniest animal? In Gizmodo. Kolitz, D. (ed.). Retrieved from May 27, 2019 https://gizmodo.com/whats-the-horniest-animal-1...
Kays, D.M., Fingerut, J., and McRobert, S.P. (2019). Dietary analysis of northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) in Two New Jersey coastal salt marshes. Russian Journal of Herpetology 26 (1): 1-7.
McRobert, S.P. (2018). Drosophila sexual behavior. In M.K. Skinner (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Reproduction, 2nd Edition. pp. 57 – 61. Academic Press: Elsevier.
D’Ortona, P. and McRobert, S.P. (2018). Captive breeding wildlife: fish, amphibians and reptiles. In M.K. Skinner (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Reproduction, 2nd Edition. pp. 791 - 795. Academic Press: Elsevier.
Krohn, E., Fingerut, J., and McRobert, S.P. (2018). The effect of blueberries and raspberries on the reproductive behavior and fecundity of Drosophila suzukii females. Advances in Animal Science and Zoology, Vol. 5. 189-204.
Fingerut, J., Cautela, J, Patrick, H., Brown, A., Nelson, M., McRobert, S. (2017). The use of 3D printing to facilitate drosophila behavior research. Drosophila Information Service 100: 201-204.
Fingerut, J., McDevitt, J., and McRobert, S. (2017). Creation of artificial berries as a tool to study reproduction in Drosophila suzukii. Drosophila Information Service 100: 177-181.
Melendez, N., Zarate, B., Fingerut, J., and McRobert, S.P. (2017). Diet of bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), from northern and southern New Jersey. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 12: 272-278.
Southwell, M. and McRobert, S.P. (2016). Zebrafish as a model organism to study melatonin mechanisms and treatments. Current Psychopharmacology 5: 85-95.
Way, G.P., Southwell, M. and McRobert, S.P. (2016). Boldness, aggression, and shoaling assays for zebrafish behavioral syndromes. Journal of Visualized Experiments 114: 1-8.
Moss, S., Tittaferrante, S., Way, G.P., Fuller, A., Sullivan, N., Ruhl, N., and McRobert, S.P. (2015). Interactions between aggression, boldness and shoaling in Amatitlania nigrofasciata kin. Behavioural Processes 121: 63-69.
Way, G.P., Kiesel, A.L., Ruhl, N., Snekser, J.L. and McRobert, S.P. (2015). Sex differences in a shoaling-boldness behavioral syndrome, but no link with aggression. Behavioural Processes 113. 7-12.
Way, G.P., Ruhl, N., Snekser, J.L., Kiesel, A.L. and McRobert, S.P. (2015). A Comparison of Methodologies to Test Aggression in Zebrafish. Zebrafish 12: 144-151.
Tiffany, L.A. & McRobert, S.P. (2013). Population survey of Drosophila species in the Philadelphia area. Drosophila Information Service. 179-180.
Paciorek, T. and McRobert, S.P. (2013). Daily shoaling patterns in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Current Zoology 59(6): 754-760.
Fingerut, J., Orbe, K., and McRobert, S.P. (2012). Fluorescein Dye as a Tagging Agent for Drosophila Dispersal Studies. Drosophila Information Service. 117-119.
Kiesel, A.L. and McRobert, S.P. (2013). Anxiety, aggression, and social behavior in zebrafish. Advances in Zoological Research, Vol. 5. 41-64.
Kiesel, A.L., Snekser, J.L., Ruhl, N. and McRobert, S.P. (2012). Behavioural syndromes and shoaling: connections between aggression, boldness and social behavior in three different Danios. Behaviour 149: 1155-1175.
Southwell, M., Galassi, M. & McRobert, S.P. (2012). Fish Cam: An online tool for introducing shoaling behavior to the classroom. Zebrafish 9(4): 242-245.
Paciorek, T. & McRobert, S.P. (2012). Daily variation in the shoaling behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Current Zoology – Special Edition: Ecology, Evolution and Behavior of Fish 58(1): 129-137.
Dawson, R. & McRobert, S.P. (2011). The effects of interspecific courtship on mating success in Drosophila melanogaster. International Journal of Psychological Studies 3(2): 14-20.
Reynolds, M., Blakeslee, C., Paciorek, T., and McRobert, S.P. (2011). The effects
of population density on survival and metamorphosis in American toad (Bufo americanus) tadpoles. Russian Journal of Herpetology 18(3): 241-246.
Dougherty, S., Ledesma, J., Bauer, K. and McRobert, S.P. (2010). The effects of isolation and experience on preference for large shoals in juvenile fish. Behaviour 147: 1567 – 1576.
Snekser, J.L., Ruhl, N., Bauer, K. and McRobert, S.P. (2010). The influence of sex and phenotype on shoaling decisions in zebrafish. International Journal of Comparative Psychology 23, 70 – 81.
Del Collo, L. and McRobert, S.P. (2009). A market survey and growth study of turtles from Philadelphia’s Chinatown. Turtle Survival Alliance Annual Report. August 2009: 54-55.
Ruhl, N., Currie, W., and McRobert, S.P. (2009). The effect of sex ratio on shoaling, spawning and aggression in laboratory populations of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Lab Animal Europe 9(9): 19-30.
Ruhl, N., Currie, W., and McRobert, S.P. (2009). The effect of sex ratio on shoaling, spawning and aggression in laboratory populations of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Lab Animal 38 (8): 264 – 269.
Blakeslee, C.C. and S.P. McRobert (2009), Shoaling behavior in fish. In Handbook of Social Interactions in the 21st Century. A.T. Heatherton & V.A. Walcott (eds.) Nova Science Publishers, Inc. pp. 1 – 22.
Blakeslee, C.C., Ruhl, N., Currie, W., and S.P. McRobert (2009). Shoaling preferences of two common killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus and F. diaphanous) in the laboratory and the field: a new analysis of heterospecific shoaling. Behavioural Processes 81: 119-125.
Blakeslee, C.C., McRobert, S.P., Brown, A.C., and Clotfelter, E.D. (2009). The effect of body coloration and group size on social partner preferences in female fighting fish (Betta splendens). Behavioural Processes 80: 157-161.
Ledesma, J. & S.P. McRobert (2008). Innate and learned shoaling preferences based on body coloration in juvenile mollies, Poecilia latipinna. Ethology 114: 1044 – 1048.
Ledesma, J. and S.P. McRobert (2008). Shoaling in juvenile guppies: The effects of body size and shoal size. Behavioural Processes 77: 384-388.
Szerlag-Egger, S. and McRobert, S.P. (2007). Northern diamondback terrapin occurrence, movement, and nesting activity along a salt marsh access road. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 6(2): 295-301.
Snekser, J., McRobert, S.P. and Clotfelter, E.D. (2006). Social partner preferences of male and female fighting fish (Betta splendens). Behavioural Processes 72: 38-41.
Szerlag, S. and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Road occurrence and mortality of the northern diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin, during the nesting season. Applied Herpetology 3: 27-37.
Snekser, J., McRobert, S.P, Murphy, C.E., and Clotfelter, E.D. (2006). Aggregation behavior in wildtype and transgenic zebrafish. Ethology 112: 181-187.
Szerlag, S. and McRobert, S.P. (2005). Road ecology of the northern diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin. Proceedings of the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation. 634-637.
McRobert, S.P. (2005). Tadpole metamorphosis turns youngsters into scientists. American Scientist Nov-Dec 2005: 575.
Ruhl, N. and McRobert, S.P. (2005). The effect of sex and shoal size on shoaling behavior in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Journal of Fish Biology 67: 1318-1326.
Korbeck, R.G. and McRobert, S.P. (2005). Home area recognition via olfactory cues in the tropical poison frog Dendrobates auratus. Russian Journal of Herpetology 12(3): 161-166.
Korbeck, R.G. and McRobert, S.P. (2005). The effects of temperature on development and survival in tadpoles of the tropical poison frog Dendrobates auratus. Russian Journal of Herpetology 12(1): 13-16.
McRobert, S.P. (2004). Sexual behavior in Drosophila. In The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. M. Bekoff (ed). Greenwood Publishing Group, Phoenix, Arizona. pp.930-934.
McRobert, S.P. (2004). Shoaling behavior in fish. In The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. M. Bekoff (ed). Greenwood Publishing Group, Phoenix, Arizona. pp. 1012-1016.
Tudor, M. and McRobert, S.P. (2003). Behavioral plasticity in the shoaling behavior of Painted Tetras. Proceeedings of the Seventeenth National Council on Undergraduate Research 17: 1-4.
McRobert, S.P. (2003). Methodologies for the care, maintenance, and breeding of tropical poison frogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 6: 95-102.
McRobert, S.P., Tompkins, L., Barr, N.B., Bradner, J., Lucas, D., Rattigan, D.M. & Tannous, A.F. (2003). Mutations in raised Drosophila melanogaster affect experience-dependent aspects of sexual behavior in both sexes. Behavior Genetics 33: 347-356.
Bradner, J. & McRobert, S.P. (2001). Background coloration affects body colour segregation in fish. Journal of Fish Biology 59(3): 673-681.
Bradner, J. & McRobert, S.P. (2001). The effect of shoal size on patterns of body colour segregation in mollies. Journal of Fish Biology 59(4): 960-967.
McKnight, M., Toman, S., Trittenbach, D., and McRobert, S.P. (2001).
The effect of shoal size on shoaling behavior in mosquitofish. Proceedings of the Fifteenth National Council on Undergraduate Research. In press.
McRobert, S.P. (1999). Housing density and growth in juvenile red-eared turtles Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2(2): 133-140.
McRobert, S.P. and Bradner, J. (1998). The influence of body colouration on shoaling preferences in fish. Animal Behaviour 56: 611-615.
McRobert, S.P. and Hopkins, D.T. (1998). The effects of dietary vitamin C on growth rates of juvenile slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). Journal of Zoo
and Wildlife Medicine 29(4): 419-422.
McRobert, S.P. (1998). Methods for rearing poison frog tadpoles in captivity. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine 53: 17-20.
Lord, M., Bradner, J. and McRobert, S.P. (1998). The effects of interspecific courtship on reproductive fitness in D. affinis and D. melanogaster males. Proceedings of the Twelfth National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 1217-1220.
Malsbury, J. and McRobert, S.P. (1998). A comparison of sexual life history parameters between different D. melanogaster populations. Proceedings of the Twelfth National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 1157-1161.
McRobert, S.P., Adams, C.R., Wuttke, M., Frank, J., and Jackson, L.L. (1997). A comparison of postcopulatory behavior in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila biarmipes. Journal of Insect Behavior 10: 761-770.
Caesar, J., Bradner, J., and McRobert, S.P. (1997). The effects of the raised mutation on sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster females. Proceedings of the Eleventh National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 1252-1256.
Bradner, J., Caesar, J., and McRobert, S.P. (1997). The role of visual cues in determining recognition behaviors in Poecilia latipinna and Poecilia velifera x Poecilia latipinna. Proceedings of the Eleventh National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 1402-1406.
Lyons, K. and McRobert, S.P. (1996). Juvenile growth rates in turtles -Part III Proceedings of the Tenth National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 1474-1476.
Presenza, T., Caesar, J., and McRobert, S.P. (1996). The effects of the raised mutation on remating in Drosophila melanogaster. Proceedings of the Tenth National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 1564-1568.
Tompkins, L. and McRobert, S.P. (1995). Behavioral and pheromonal phenotypes associated with expression of loss-of-function mutations in the Sex-lethal gene of Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Neurogenetics. 9: 219- 226.
McRobert, S.P., Schnee, F. B., and Tompkins, L. (1995). Selection for increased female sexual receptivity in raised stocks of Drosophila melanogaster. Behavior Genetics 25: 303-309.
McRobert, S.P. (1995). Juvenile growth rates in turtles. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine Sept/Oct 1995: 39-45.
Frank, J., Adams, C., and McRobert, S.P. (1995). Sucrose density separation of Drosophila larvae from instant medium. Drosophila Information Service 76: 172.
Adams, C. and McRobert, S.P. (1995). The effects of mating on sexual receptivity in Drosophila biarmipes. Proceedings of the Ninth National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 970-973.
Mogavero, J., Benetatos, C., and McRobert, S.P. (1995). Juvenile growth rates in six turtle species. Proceedings of the Ninth National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 961-964.
Benetatos, C. and McRobert, S.P. (1994). Juvenile growth rates in three species of turtle. Proceedings of the Eighth National Conference on Undergraduate Research: 956-959.
Tompkins, L., McRobert, S.P., and Kaneshiro, K.Y. (1993). Chemical communication in Hawaiian Drosophila. Evolution.47: 1407-1419.
McRobert, S.P. (1993) Ecosystems on the edge of collapse. The Earth Times 5
Dennler, D.R. and McRobert, S.P. (1993). The effects of interspecific courtship on reproductive fitness in Drosophila melanogaster. Proceedings of the Seventh National Conference on Undergraduate Research: 1111-1115.
Bixler, A., Jenkins, J.B., Tompkins, L., and McRobert, S.P. (1992). Identification of acoustic stimuli that mediate sexual behavior in Drosophila busckii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Journal of Insect Behavior 5: 469-478.
Conway, J. and McRobert, S.P. (1992). Courtship behavior and the effects of song in Drosophila immigrans. Proceedings of the Sixth National Conference on Undergraduate Research: 1337-1341.
McRobert, S.P. (1991). The effect of the homoeotic mutation, spineless-
aristapedia, on perception of the courtship song in Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Neurogenetics 7: 253-256.
McRobert, S.P. (1991). Drosophila collected in Bozeman, Montana. Drosophila Information Service 70: 141.
McRobert, S.P. and Jackson, L.L. (1989). A description of the sexual behaviors of Drosophila rajasekari: The role of (Z,Z)-7,11-heptacosadiene. Journal of Chemical Ecology 15: 1423-1432.
Ford, S.C., Napolitano, L.N., McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1989). The development of behavioral competence in young Drosophila melanogaster adults. Journal of Insect Behavior 2: 575-588.
Tompkins, L. and McRobert, S.P. (1989). Regulation of behavioral and pheromonal aspects of sex-determination in Drosophila melanogaster males by the Sex-lethal gene. Genetics 123: 535-541.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1988). Two consequences of homosexual courtship performed by Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila affinis males. Evolution 42: 1093-1097.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1987). The effect of light on the sexual behavior of Drosophila affinis. Behavioral and Neural Biology 47: 151-157.
McRobert, S.P. (1986). The effects of yeast on sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Behavioral and Neural Biology 45: 150-154.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1986). Drosophila species in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Drosophila Information Service 63: 95.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1986). Drosophila species in the Philadelphia area. Drosophila Information Service 63: 95.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1986). Incomplete behavioral isolation between two distantly related Drosophila species. Evolution 40: 1185-1190.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1985). A method for observing the behavior of groups of flies. Drosophila Information Service 61: 194.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1985). The effect of transformer, doublesex and intersex mutations on the sexual behavior of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 111: 89-96.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1983). Stalking the wild Drosophila. Drosophila Information Service 59: 143-144.
McRobert, S.P. and Tompkins, L. (1983). Courtship of young males is ubiquitous in Drosophila melanogaster. Behavior Genetics 13: 517-523. -
My research focuses on the genetic, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of animal behavior. Animals utilized in my work include pomace flies (genus Drosophila), fish, turtles, and frogs. Much of the work is directed at understanding the biology of endangered species. My work also involves overseeing the Biodiversity Laboratory, which houses large numbers of rare, exotic, and endangered species.
Current projects in the Biodiversity Laboratory:
The effects of sleep deprivation on Drosophila melanogaster
Factors influencing shoaling behavior in fish
The effects of water quality parameters on metamorphosis in amphibians
Assurance colony studies on endangered turtles