• B.S. - Biology/Chemistry, SUNY-Albany 1986

• Ph.D. - Zoology University of Massachusetts 1993

• Post doctoral research - Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 1993-99

• Honorary Research Fellow - University of New South Wales, Australia, 1996-1997

Research Specialities

The primary goal of our research is to determine what kinds of sensory information animals collect from their environment, what they remember of that information and for how long, and how they then use that information to make orientation decisions.

A critical component of our research is to determine how the environment and evolution have shaped the learning and memory capabilities of animals that primarily rely upon nonvisual information to make orientation decisions. Our two model systems are the Chambered Nautilus (for the sense of smell) and the freshwater crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (for the sense of touch).

We have also recently begun a new project examining the effects of EDCs from sewage effluent on the behavior of local fishes.

Highlights of current projects:

• Kristine Kuroiwa: Long-term effects of ethinyl estradiol exposure on the behavior of stickleback fishes.
• Robyn Crook: Behavioral correlates of learning and memory in the Chambered Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius.
• Martin Zartarian/ Jacob Hartog: Tactile and spatial learning in the freshwater crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

A few highlights from publications in major journals (* indicates undergraduate authors):

• Soucier, C.P. and J. Basil (In press) Detection of underwater vibrations by the Chambered Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius. Journal of Malacology.

• *Basil, J., Bahctinova, I., Kuroiwa, K., Lee, N., Preis, M., and C. Soucier (2005) The role that tentacles and rhinophores play in odor-mediated behavior in Chambered Nautilus. Freshwater and Marine Behavior and Physiology 38 (3) pp. 209-221.

• Grasso, F. and J. Basil (2003) How lobsters, crayfishes, and crabs find important sources of odor: current perspectives and future directions. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 12 (6): 721-727.

• *Basil, J., Lazenby, W., Nakanuku, L, and R. Hanlon (2002) Female Nautilus are attracted to the odor of male conspecifics. Bulletin of Marine Science 70: 217-225.

• *Basil, J. A., Sheikh, S., R. Hanlon, and J. Atema (2000) Three-dimensional odor tracking by Nautilus. Journal of Experimental Biology (Cover Article) 203 (9): 1409-1414.

• Basil, J. A. and D. C. Sandeman (2000) Australian freshwater crayfish detect small spatial changes in their habitat using only tactile cues. Ethology106: 247-59.

• Grasso, F., J. Basil, and J. Atema (1999) Toward the convergence: robot and lobster perspectives of tracking odors to their source in the turbulent marine environment. BioMimetic Robots ISIC/CIRA/ISAĠ98: 259-264.

• Belgane, P., Grasso, F., Basil, J., and J. Atema (1997) Far field chemo-orientation in the American lobster, Homarus americanus: effects of unilateral ablation and lesioning of the lateral antennule. Biol. Bull. 193: 214-215.

• Guenther, C.M., Miller, H. A., Basil, J. A. and J. Atema (1996) Orientation behavior of the lobster: Responses to directional chemical and hydrodynamic stimulation of the antennules. Biol. Bull.,191: 310-311.

• Matsumoto, S., Basil, J., Jetton, A., Lehman, M. and E. Bittman (1996) Regulation of the phase and period of circadian rhythms restored by superchiasmatic transplants. J. Biological Rhythms 11 (2): 14-26.

• Basil, J. A., Kamil, A. C., Fite, K. V., and R. P. Balda (1996) Differences in hippocampal volume among food storing Corvids. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 47: 156-166.

• Basil, J., J. Dale, T. Breithaupt, S. Pinto-Torres and J. Atema (1996) Design and characterization of flow in a 14.5 meter flume for behavioral studies. BUMP Technical Report.Pp. 1-22.

• Basil, J. and J. Atema (1994) Lobster orientation in turbulent odor plumes: simultaneous measurement of tracking behavior and temporal odor patterns. Biol. Bull.,187:272-273.

• Kaplan, L., Lowrance, C., Basil, J., and J. Atema. (1993) The role of chemical and visual cues in agonistic interactions of the American Lobster. Biol. Bull., 185: 321-322.