Timothy C. Tricas

PhD University of Hawai`i (Zoology), 1986

Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology

Department of Zoology, University of Hawai`i

2538 McCarthy Mall, Edmondson 152

Honolulu, HI 96822

phone: (808) 956-6148

fax: (808) 956-9812

tricas@hawaii.edu

www.hawaii.edu/fishlab

Behavior, ecology and sensory biology of fishes

[publications] [graduate students] I have recently relocated my laboratory to the University of Hawaii and am expanding our research program to include the behavior, ecology and evolution of coral reef fishes. The coral reefs of Hawaii and other Pacific regions afford excellent opportunities to study marine fishes. One important group is the butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae) which occur on nearly all coral reef systems. Some of our current research interests include the evolution of social systems, coevolution between coral-feeding butterflyfishes and their food corals, the use of butterflyfishes as biological indicators of reef health, and recruitment processes of larvae to coral reefs. My lab will also support research on other fish taxa and topics in behavioral ecology.

Our field work is complemented by laboratory studies in sensory biology in which we study how the sensory systems of fishes function in natural settings, and how biologically important information is processed by the brain. Much of our current research examines the function of the electrosensory and lateral line system of stingrays and sharks. This work integrates observational field data, the characteristics of natural bioelectric and mechanosensory stimuli encountered by elasmobranch fishes in the wild, and neuroethological studies on the responses of the neural systems to these natural stimuli. We have a number of ongoing projects on mating strategies, reproductive endocrinology and neuroendocrine systems that may affect sensory processing. These methods include neurophysiological recording techniques, chronic recording of sensory neurons in free-swimming fish, and neuroanatomy. I am most eager to expand this research to include neuroecology studies in coral reef fishes. Potential topics for study include the functional role of the latero-physic connection in butterflyfishes, gamete discharge synchrony in coral reef fishes and discrimination of inter- and intraspecific signals.

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Representative publications

Tricas TC. 2001. The neuroecology of the elasmobranch electrosensory world: why peripheral morphology shapes behavior. Environ Biol Fishes 60:77-92.

Sisneros JA, Tricas TC. 2000. Androgen-induced changes in the response dynamics of ampullary electrosensory primary afferent neurons. J Neurosci (in press)

Tricas TC, Maruska KP, Rasmussen E. 2000. Annual cycles of steroid hormone production, gonad development, and reproductive behavior in the Atlantic stingray. Gen Comp Endocrin 118:209-225

Kajiura SM, Sebastian A, Tricas TC. 2000. Dermal bite wounds as indicators of reproductive seasonality and behaviour in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. Environ Biol Fishes 58:23-31

Tricas TC. 1989. Food and competitors as determinants of territory size in the Hawaii butterflyfish, Chaetodon multicinctus. Animal Behaviour 37:830-841

Tricas TC. 1989. Prey selection by coral-feeding butterfly-fishes: Strategies to maximize the profit. Environ Biol Fishes 25:171-185

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Current students:

Karen Maruska (Ph.D.)
Nick Whitney (M.S.)

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Last update: 15 December 2000
email web queries or suggestions to web@zoology.hawaii.edu

The University of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.