Ethan D. Clotfelter

Ethan D. Clotfelter is Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Amherst College, where he maintains his laboratory in the McGuire Life Sciences building. His work bridges animal behavior, physiology, and environmental science, with particular emphasis on how organisms respond to environmental challenges.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin (1998)
• M.S., University of Wisconsin (1994)
• B.A., University of North Carolina (1991)

Clotfelter's research program spans multiple systems and approaches. Since 2004, he has conducted field studies of tree swallows in the Amherst College Wildlife Sanctuary, examining reproductive decisions, incubation behavior, and the effects of environmental factors on breeding success. His laboratory research focuses on fish behavior, particularly how environmental contaminants affect neuroendocrine function and behavior in convict cichlids. His work on cerebral lateralization explores how aggression relates to the partitioning of cognitive functions between brain hemispheres. Additional research examines carotenoid allocation in fish and biomechanics of swimming in crayfish.

Professor Clotfelter teaches courses including Biology 181: Adaptation and the Organism; Biology 264 and 265: Form and Function; Biology 280 and 281: Animal Behavior; and Biology 454: Tropical Biology. His teaching integrates his research interests, providing students with opportunities to engage in field and laboratory work on animal behavior and physiology.

His work combines field observations with controlled laboratory experiments to address fundamental questions about how animals navigate environmental challenges through behavioral and physiological adaptations.