Jonathan W. Armbruster

Associate Professor and Curator of Fishes

Ichthyology, Systematics, Morphology, Ecology

OFFICE: 303 Funchess

LAB: 308 Funchess

FISH COLLECTION: 5 Physiology Building

PHONE: Office-(334) 844-9261, Lab-(334-844-9258)

FAX: (334) 844-9234

e-mail: armbrjw@mail.auburn.edu 


Curriculum vitae 
 
 
 

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Honors and awards:

Research/Interests

I am particularly interested in reconstructing the evolution of the genera of the South American suckermouth armored catfishes or plecos (Loricariidae) using morphological characteristics. I also explore in detail various types of morphological systems such as those related to wood-eating in some loricariid catfishes and accessory respiratory structures. Wood-eating is found in two genera of loricariid catfishes and is accompanied by changes in the bones and the evolution of large spoon-shaped teeth. Many loricariids breathe air and there is a large number of adaptations the fishes use to do so including what appears to be a unique evolution of a lung and a unique evolution of a swim-bladder from that lung. I am also involved in taxonomic revisions of many groups of loricariids as well as other fishes . In addition, I am active in exploring the biodiversity of the planet, particularly that of South America. Studies are underway in Venezuela and Guyana (photo above is taken at Kaiteur Falls in Guyana) to determine what fish species are there and what impact humans may be having on them.  My NSF grant will explore some remote areas of Guyana, Venezuela, and Brazil for new species of loricariids through three field trips between 2001-2004. I have also collected extensively across the US and am beginning a project on sound production in the cavefishes of the family Amblyopsidae, and I have students working on geographical variation in the brook silverside and life history of the pirate perch.


Dekeyseria pulcher, photo by K.S. Cummings

With over 600 described species, Loricariidae is the largest family of catfishes in the world and among the top five largest fish families.  As part of my interests in the taxonomy of loricariid catfishes such as the one shown above, I have written a web-key to the genera of three of the subfamilies of Loricariidae.  These three subfamilies (Hypostominae, Neoplecostominae, and a new subfamily) total at least three-fourths of the genera of Loricariidae, and previously no reliable information was available to recognize the genera.  GO TO LORICARIID HOME PAGE.


Etheostoma caeruleum, photo by P.A. Ceas

Another part of my research is the maintenance of the Auburn University Museum Fish Collection.  The fish collections at Auburn University are among the most important collections of fishes from the southeastern United States.  Currently, over 300,000 preserved specimens in 31,000 lots are cataloged in the collection and at least ten thousand more lots await cataloging.  The fish collection is now searchable via the internet (GO TO SEARCH).  I would like to invite anyone interested in fishes or in curation of natural history collection to volunteer in the fish collection.

Recently, we have also begun the All Catfish Species Inventory, Phase I of a survey of the Otophysi.  Catfishes are incredibly diverse and many species are left to be described from all over the world.  I have recently received funding (with Larry Page (University of Florida), John Lundberg and Mar Sabaj (Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia), John Friel (Cornell University), and Carl Ferraris (California Academy of Sciences)) for one of the largest taxonomic projects ever.  The grant is to describe all catfish species in 5 years.  Funding is available to senior researchers and graduate students wordlwide, and participants are active all over the worlf.

Classes

I teach in the General Biology Program and also teach Comparative Anatomy and Systematic Ichthyology. Comparative Anatomy is the study of the evolution of the morphological systems of vertebrates. The syllabus and other course material for Comparative Anatomy is available on the web (View Comparative Anatomy Home Page). Systematic Ichthyology is a graduate level class designed to explore the systematics of fishes with a particular emphasis on the fishes of Alabama. Systematic Ichthyology is taught every other spring.
Jon with electric ray
Jon with electric ray

Students

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Publications

Popular articles on or about my research.

Educational Publications

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