Research Expertise and Interest

ecology, evolution, Invertebrates, animal behavior, behavioral ecology, marine biology, stomatopods, crustaceans, cephalopods, octopus, mating systems, communication, sensory ecology, aggressive behavior, coral reef restoration

Research Description

Roy Caldwell's research interests lie in invertebrate behavior and ecology with much of his work centering on the behavioral ecology of stomatopod crustaceans, a group of tropical marine predators. The initial focus of this research was on how the evolution of potentially lethal weapons influenced stomatopod biology. These studies dealt mainly with communication and the function of aggression. More recent research has expanded to include the evolution of mating systems, interspecific communication, sensory ecology, prey selection, the biomechanics of the strike and larval biology. His research group is currently initiating studies on the genetic structure of stomatopod populations attempting to deduce the timing and pathways of dispersal. They have also used stomatopod populations as bio-indicators to assess the health of tropical coastal habitats. He has also become interested in the behavior of blue-ringed and other pygmy octopuses. He is currently studying the reproductive and aggressive behavior of several Indo-Pacific species. Much of his research is centered in the tropical Indo-Pacific including programs at Lizard Island, Moorea, and Indonesia.