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Dr. Jeremy J. Wright

Curator of Ichthyology
jeremy.wright@nysed.gov
518-283-9005

My research utilizes my experience as a museum-trained ichthyologist to inform my pursuits as an ecologist and evolutionary biologist, and vice-versa. Broadly speaking, I use biochemical, toxicological, and behavioral information to explore the evolution of venomous fishes, within a rigorously developed phylogenetic framework, which is derived from collections-based morphological and genetic data. This work has resulted in the discovery of previously unrecognized biodiversity and the resolution of evolutionary relationships in my groups of interest, while also representing the first steps to gaining a greater understanding of defensive venoms and the development of an important anti-predatory adaptation in a globally ubiquitous group of organisms, which represent a significant component of many areas’ aquatic vertebrate biodiversity. 

Additionally, I have recently initiated systematic examinations of several of New York’s native fish species, which have revealed the likely presence of undescribed fish species in our state’s watersheds. Because these species are also widely distributed throughout North America, these studies have the potential not only to improve our understanding of the diversity, evolution, and assembly of our own native fauna, but to make significant contributions to the resolution of longstanding ichthyological questions at a broader, national scale.

Publications

2024

J. Wright, J. Fetzner, B. Griffin, M. Ion, C. Bloomer, F. Oficialdegui, N. Shoobs, B. Williams, K. Scheers, M. Clavero, F. Grandjean, M. Collas, T. Baudry, Z. Loughman, T. Ruokonen, C. Chucholl, S. Guareschi, B. Koese, Z. Banyai, J. Hodson, T. ascu, M. Hurt, K. Kaldre, B. Lipták, T. Cancellario, A. Weiperth, J. Birzaks, T. Trichkova, M. Todorov, M. Balalaikins, O. Petko, A. Acevedo-Alonso, G. ia, K. nska, A. Alekhnovich, H. Choong, J. South, N. Whiterod, K. Zorić, P. Haase, I. Soto, D. Brady, P. Haubrock, P. Torres, D. Sadrin, P. Vlach, C. Kaya, Woo Jung, J.-Y. Kim, X. Vermeersch 2024, World of Crayfish™: a web platform towards real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens, PeerJ 12, e18229. 10.7717/peerj.18229

2023

B. Weatherwax, J. Haynes, D. Sanderson-Kilchenstein, J. Andres, D. Carlson, J. Wright, J. Rinchard 2023, Factors associated with extirpation of the last Northern Sunfish (Lepomis peltastes Cope, 1870) population in western New York State, USA, Journal of Freshwater Ecology 38, 2193213. 10.1080/02705060.2023.2193213
J. Wright, R. Schmidt, E. McMullin 2023, Description of the Pre-Settlement Larvae of Sphoeroides spengleri (Pisces: Tetraodontidae), Southeastern Naturalist 22, N52-N57. 10.1656/058.022.0307

2022

J. Wright, R. Schmidt, J. Muller 2022, Capture of Lyre Goby (Pisces: Oxudercidae) in the Tidal Hudson River, Northeastern Naturalist 29, N31–N34. 10.1656/045.029.0208
J. Wright, S. Bruce, D Sinopoli, J. Palumbo, D. Stewart 2022, Phylogenomic analysis of the bowfin (Amia calva) reveals unrecognized species diversity in a living fossil lineage, Scientific Reports 12, 16514. 10.1038/s41598-022-20875-4

2021

J. Wright, Elizabeth Hunt, Kevin Conway, Kathryn Hamilton, Eric Hilton, Kyle Piller, David Portnoy 2021, Molecular Phylogenetics of the Chub Suckers (Teleostei: Catostomidae: Erimyzon) Inferred from Nuclear and Mitochondrial Loci, Ichthyology \& Herpetology 109, 626–635. 10.1643/i2020115
B. Weatherwax, J. Wright, Robert Schmidt, Erin McMullin 2021, Description of larvae of Eleotris perniger (Teleostei: Eleotridae) in transition from saltwater to freshwater from Montserrat, West Indies, Novitates Caribaea , 38-45. 10.33800/nc.vi1810.33800/nc.vi18.263

2020

Bruce, S., Wright, J., 2020. Identifying Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Populations of the Upper Hudson River and its Tributaries, in: Yozzo, D., Fernald, S., Andreyko, H. (Eds.), Final Reports of the Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship Program, 2017. Hudson River Foundation, , pp. .
J. Wright, Spencer Bruce, Scott George, Barry Baldigo 2020, Elucidating the impact of anthropogenic supplementation, isolation and ecological heterogeneity on Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) genetic structure, Landscape Ecology 35, 403-420. 10.1007/s10980-019-00955-z
J. Wright, Kenneth Oswald, Emily Spinks, Garrett Duktig, Justin Baker, Marc Kibbey, Brian Zimmerman, Holly Tucker, Charles Boucher, Daniel Cincotta, Wayne Starnes, Andor Kiss, Douglas Carlson, Max Bangs, Mark Roberts, Joseph Quattro 2020, Drainage History, Evolution, and Conservation of Tonguetied Minnow (Exoglossum laurae), a Rare and Imperiled Teays River Endemic, Copeia 108, 381-391. 10.1643/CI-18-118