Dr. Scott P. McRobert
Professor
Department of Biology
Director, Environmental Sciences Program
Office - Rm 219 Science Center
Research Labs - Rms 202, 215  Science Center
Phone: 610-660-1833
e-mail: smcrober@sju.edu
My personal web-page is here.

Education:

- B.S. (1977) in Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA
- M.A in Biology (1983), Ph.D. Genetics (1987) Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 

Professional Experience:

- Assistant (1989 - 1996), Associate (1996 - 2002), and Professor (2002 - present) of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Courses Taught:

Animal Behavior
Ecology
Evolution (Honors)
The Environment (non-majors)
Environmental Science (Environmental Science majors)

Research Interests:
       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:

1.The effects of sleep deprivation on Drosophila melanogaster
2.Factors influencing shoaling behavior in fish
3. The effects of water quality parameters on metamorphosis in amphibians
4. Assurance colony studies on endangered turtles

Recent Publications:
(*undergraduate. **masters student)

Snekser, J.**, McRobert, S.P, Murphy, C.E., and Clotfelter, E.D. (2006). Aggregation behavior in wildtype and transgenic zebrafish. Ethology 111: 181-187.

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.

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 youngster 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). Shoaling behavior in fish. In The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. (M. Bekoff ed). Greenwood Publishing Group, Phoenix,Arizona. pp. 1012 - 1016.

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. (2003). Sexual behavior in Drosophila. In The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. (M. Bekoff ed). Greenwood Publishing Group, Phoenix, Arizona. pp. 930 - 934.

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. In press.

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.

Recent Presentations:
(*undergraduate. **masters student)

Dawson, R.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). The effects of interspecific courtship on mating success in Drosophila melanogaster The 17^th Annual Sigma Xi Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Ledesma, J.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Shoaling behavior in juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata). The 17^th Annual Sigma Xi Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Lutz,M.*, Dawson, R.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Seven-year-old scientists: A project to study development in Bufo americanus, conducted by second grade students The 17^th Annual Sigma Xi Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Dawson, R.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). The effects of interspecific courtship on mating success in Drosophila melanogaster. The ThirdAnnualLehighValley Ecology and Evolution Society Meeting, LehighUniversity,Bethlehem, PA

Ledesma, J.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Shoaling behavior in juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata). The ThirdAnnualLehighValley Ecology and Evolution Society Meeting, LehighUniversity, Bethlehem, PA

Lutz, M.*, Dawson, R.* and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Seven-year-old scientists: A project to study development in Bufo americanus, conducted by second grade students. The ThirdAnnualLehighValley Ecology and Evolution Society Meeting, LehighUniversity,Bethlehem, PA

Szerlag, S.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). PIT tagging the northern diamondback terrapin to monitor road occurrence, mortality and nesting activity along an access road. American Fisheries Society 135^th Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK

Szerlag, S.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Road occurrence and mortality of the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) in the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. American Fisheries Society 135^th Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK

Szerlag, S.** and McRobert, S.P. (2006). Road ecology of the northern diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin. International Conference of Ecology and Transportation, San Diego, CA

Ruhl, N.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). The effects of gender and shoal size on shoaling behavior in zebrafish.16^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Snekser, J.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). The effects of body coloration and pattern on shoaling in zebrafish. 16^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Szerlag, S.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). Road mortality of the northern diamonback terrapin (Malaclemys t. terrapin). 16^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 

Buehler, K.* and McRobert, S.P. (2005). Experimental Evolution: The effects of selective pressure on sexual behavior in Drosophila. 16^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Lutz, M.*, Dawson, R.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). Seven year-old scientists: A project to study development in Bufo americanus conducted by second grade students. 16^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Ruhl, N.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). The effects of gender and shoal size on shoaling behavior in zebrafish. Annual Meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C. 

Snekser, J.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). The effects of body coloration and pattern on shoaling in zebrafish. Annual Meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.

Szerlag, S.** and McRobert, S.P. (2005). Road mortality of the northern diamonback terrapin (Malaclemys t. terrapin). Annual Meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington,

D.C.Morris, M.** and McRobert, S.P. (2004). Experimental evolution: The effects of artificial selection on sexual behavior in Drosophila. 15^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Snekser, J.** and McRobert, S.P. (2004). Shoaling behavior in the Glofish, a transgenic zebrafish. 15^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Hannon, E.*, DeGennaro, M.* and McRobert, S.P. (2004). Analysis of aggressive behavior in the poison frogs Dendrobates auratus and Dendrobates azureus.15^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Ruhl, N.** and McRobert, S.P. (2004). The effect of gender on shoaling behavior in the zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). 15^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

McRobert, S.P. (2004). Research in a biodiversity laboratory. Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ.

McRobert, S.P. (2004). Dean’s Colloquium – Research in a biodiversity laboratory. Saint Joseph’s University. Philadelphia, PA.

Tudor, M.* and McRobert, S.P. (2003). Behavioral plasticity in the shoaling of painted tetras. Seventeenth National Council on Undergraduate Research.

McRobert, S.P. (2003). Research in an endangered species laboratory. Friends Central Lower School, Narberth, PA. (2003)

Tannous, A.F.* and McRobert, S.P. (2002). Fitness measurements in Drosophila melanogaster.13^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium. Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Cast, E.E.** and McRobert, S.P. (2002). Interspecific interactions and experience-dependent behavioral modification in Drosophila. 13^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium. Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA^.

Czastkiewicz, D.*, Tsombaris, D.*, Germanis, L.*, Rowe, M.*, Siclare, J.* and McRobert, S.P. (2002). Juvenile growth rates in captive turtles. 13^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium. Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

Germanis, L.*, Rowe, M.*, Siclare, J.*, Tudor, M.* and McRobert, S.P. (2002). Behavioral plasticity in shoal mate choice in painted tetras. 13^th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium. Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.