Dr. Nicholas Santangelo

I explore behaviors such as courtship, breeding, aggression, and parental care. I focus on the ultimate evolutionary mechanisms behind these behaviors and the proximate mechanisms that modulate them (such as hormones). The main fish system I use is the convict cichlid, a monogamous bi-parental freshwater fish. I have also explored these topics on marine systems such as on damselfish. 

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I am also interested in developing local field projects focused on understanding the ecology and behavior of systems (mainly acquatic) to aid ongoing conservation efforts. Currently my main focus is horseshoe crab ecology.