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[Image: Robert B. Suter]

Robert B. Suter

Professor of Biology on the John Guy Vassar Chair of Natural History and Associate Dean of the Faculty

Olmsted Hall Room 229
Phone: 845-437-7421
Fax 845-437-7315

Website

Contact Robert B. Suter

  • B.A. 1968. Zoology Swarthmore College
  • Ph. D. 1977, Animal Behavior Indiana University

Research Interests

Dr. Suter's recent work concerns biomechanics and fluid dynamics at small scales. This thread of his work began with the study of locomotion by spiders on the surface of water and now has two additional components: the bioenergetics and soil ecology of burrowing by wolf spiders, and the biomechanical fluid dynamics of silk ejection by spitting spiders. His work invariably involves both laboratory and field research, often with the goal of understanding the influence of a biomechanical capacity or impediment upon the behavioral ecology of the organism in its natural habitat.

Teaching Interests

Because of his involvement in both the Department of Biology and the Program of Neuroscience and Behavior, Dr. Suter teaches not only introductory biology (105, Communication and Reproductive Success) and an advanced biology course (340, Animal Behavior), but also introductory neuroscience (201, Neuroscience & Behavior).

Selected Publications

  • Suter, R. B., G. Stratton, & P. R. Miller (2004). Taxonomic variation among spiders in the ability to repel water: Surface adhesion and hair density. Journal of Arachnology 32: 11-21. PDF available.
  • Stratton, G., R. B. Suter, & P. R. Miller (2004). Evolution of water surface locomotion by spiders: a comparative approach. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 81:63-78. PDF available.
  • Suter, R. B., G. Stratton, P. R. Miller (2003). Water surface locomotion by spiders: Distinct gaits in diverse families. Journal of Arachnology 31:428-432. PDF available.
  • Suter, R. B. (2003). Trichobothrial mediation of an aquatic escape response: directional jumps by the fishing spider, Dolomedes triton, foil frog attacks. Journal of Insect Science 3:19 [http://www.insectscience.org/3.19/] PDF available.
  • Suter, R. B., and Horatio Wildman (1999). Locomotion on the water surface: Hydrodynamic constraints on rowing velocity require a gait change. Journal of Experimental Biology 202:2771-2785. PDF available.

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