Official Claimer: As an evolutionary biologist and a scholar committed to the scientific method, I strongly reject the ideas of Intelligent Design, Irreducible Complexity, and any other form of creationism as scientific explanations for the origin and adaptations of biological systems. My views are completely consistent with all but one of my colleagues in this Department and with the overwhelming majority of biologists…everywhere.

Currently, my research focuses on several projects that explore different theoretical issues. My primary research area consists largely of laboratory studies on the monogamous convict cichlid fish (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) and field studies on several species of pupfish (Cyprinodon) and beaugregory damselfish (Stegastes leucostictus).

A pair of convict cichlids and fry

Nick Santangelo, former graduate student, observing convict cichlids in a in a Costa Rican stream

Students in my lab are involved in a variety of projects using the convict cichlid and these include fight tactics, mate choice, pair formation, and the functions of courtship. I continue to emphasize the parental division of roles. I am particularly interested in the causation of sex-typical parental roles (e.g., females remain with the offspring while males defend the territory), especially when both parents are both able to perform the same roles. I am also examining the initiation and the resolution of role disagreements.

I have begun a long term project on the mating strategies of Texas pupfish (Cyprinodon elegans and C. bovinus). Thus far we have uncovered three male mating tactics and we are in the process of linking the appearance of these tactics to their costs and benefits. In collaboration with Brian Wisenden, we are also examining female pupfish behavior. Females of these species seem to mate randomly and promiscuously, although we have evidence that females of some species do possess an inherent mate preference. We are now attempting to describe this promiscuity, determine the possible benefits derived from it, and relate it to the multiple male tactics.

Male Cyprinodon bovinus	Two males fighting over a female (female is on the left side of upper male)
Male and female about to spawn	Current graduate student, Jenny Gumm, observing Cyprinodon bovinus

My research program on the coral reef beaugregory damselfish (Stegastes leucostictus) has focused  on the effects of breeding site quality on both courtship and defense decisions. I have recently restarted my research at the Discovery Bay Marine laboratory where I am examining how males deal with mistakes in predicting their future reproductive success.

Current graduate students Jennifer Snekser, Joe Leese and a sleepy me prior to spending the day on the Jamaican coral reef
Placing a bottled female beaugregory damselfish near a male	A beaugregory male with an artificial breeding site courting a bottled female

Along with Sean Mullen (assistant professor of biological sciences at Lehigh University), Matthew Draud (department of biology at Long Island University, NY), and Kimberly Little (a current graduate student at Lehigh), I have begun looking at the population genetics of the common damselfish. In 2009 we have extended this study to Barbados, especially as it relates to the dusky and longfin damselfish. 

Sean Mullen and me in Jamica

Kimberly Little and Matt Draud at the Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados

desert flowers for your amusement

Some Recent Publications

Convict Cichlids:

Bockelman, A. & Itzkowitz.  2008. Males respond differently than females to mate loss in the biparental convict convict cichlid fish. Behaviour 145, 313-325.

Cleveland, A. & Itzkowitz. 2008. The Role of Sex Ratios and Resource Availability on the Courtship of a Monogamous Fish. Behavioral Processes. 80:46 – 50

Gagliardi-Seeley, J., Leese, J., Santangelo, N. & Itzkowitz, M. 2009. Female Convict Cichlids (Archocentrus nigrofasciatum) based their mate choice on both malesize and fighting ability. Journal of Ethology. 27:249-254

Snekser, J. & Itzkowitz, M. 2009.Sex differences in offspring retrieval behavior in the convict cichlid. Ethology. 115: 457–464.

Pupfish:
Leiser, J. K, Bryan, C. M., and Itzkowitz, M. 2006. Discruption of dear enemy recognition among neighboring males by female Leon Springs Pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus. Ethology 112:417-423.

Gumm, J., Snekser, J. & Itzkowitz, M. 2008. Conservation and conflict between endangered desert fishes. Biology Letters Royal Society 4:655-658.

Beaugregory Damselfish:

Snekser, J., Leese, J., Gamin, A., & Itzkowitz, M. 2009. Aggression and courtship on different quality territories: Correlated behaviors, but not a syndrome. Behavioral Ecology. 209:124-130.

Leese, J., Snekser, J., Ganim, A. & Itzkowitz, M.2009.  Assessment and decision making in a Caribbean damselfish: nest site quality influences prioritization of courtship and brood defense. Biology Letters Royal Society. 5:188-190.

Zebrafish:

Itzkowitz, M. & Iovine, M.K. 2007.  Single gene mutations causing exaggerate fins also cause non-genetic changes in the display behavior of male zebrafish. Behaviour 144:787-795.

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