Martin Connaughton
- Associate Professor and Acting Associate Chair of Biology • Curator - Lily Gent Decker Arboretum
- 800-422-1782, ext. 7727
- mconnaughton2FREEwashcoll
- Toll SG19
Office Hours
Change each semester, please email for scheduling
I am a marine biologist, a fish biologist by training, and my early research was in fish sound production. I studied how and why fish make sounds and how these sounds varied with their functions. I worked with several species of drum fishes, with toadfish and with sea robins.
More recently, I have been using zebrafish to study the toxicology of a number of
human-produced compounds on fish visual behavior and visual development, including
fluoxetine (Prozac). I have also examined the effects of the fungal toxin aflatoxin-B,
a potential food-crop contaminant, on visual development in zebrafish.
Education
- B.S., Lafayette College, 1988
- Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1994
Recent students in my lab have begun to examine the communication value of croaker sounds through playback of croaker calls and analysis of the behavioral responses of the fish to these calls. We have also recently begun to examine the aggressive and courtship behaviors and pheromones that elicit these behaviors in the Nile tilapia.
Additional Information
- Postdoc: 1997, University of Pennsylvania, Biology Department, laboratory of Dr. Larry Rome, physiology of fish sonic muscle
- Postdoc: 1994-1997, University of Texas Medical School, laboratory of Dr. Ernst Knobil, reproductive neuroendocrinology of rhesus macaques
- Amorim, M.C.P., J.A. Wanjala, M. Vieira, M. Bolgan, M. A. Connaughton, B.P. Pereira, P.J. Fonseca, F. Ribeiro. 2023. Detection of invasive fish species with passive acoustics: Discriminating between native and non-indigenous sciaenids. Marine Environmental Research 188: 106017.
- 2015 - Presidents Distinguished Service Award
- 2002 - Washington College Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching
- 1999 - Member, Sigma Xi - the Scientific Research Society
- 1984 - Member, Phi Beta Kappa
I teach courses in ecology, marine biology, and fish biology, among others. I have also taught a number of short, study-abroad course in locations including Ecuador, Belize, Bermuda and Acadia National Park in Maine.
I advise student capstone projects in any field of marine or fish biology, muscle physiology and reproductive physiology.
I advise student research capstones in ecotoxicology. Students in my lab ask questions about the impact of toxins, chemicals and drugs on fish behavior and visual development. We have examined the impacts of fluoxetine (Prozac) on fish anti-predator startle responses. We have looked at the impact of a deadly fungal toxin, aflatoxin-B on visual development.
Recent student-generated research projects have examine the effects of ammonia, copper sulfate, nicotine, alcohol, and herbicides on zebrafish behavior and development.
Sample Research Figures
University Of Delaware CMS Program