James Albert
Encyclopedia
James S. Albert is a professor
of biology
at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
. Albert is an author of over 70 scientific papers on the evolution
and diversity of fish
es, and is an expert in the systematics
and biodiversity
of Neotropical electric fish
es (Gymnotiformes
). Albert and his colleagues to date have described 38 new species. He is co-editor with Roberto E. Reis of the book Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes, which explores the evolutionary forces underlying the formation of the Amazon
and Neotropical
fish faunas.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
. Albert is an author of over 70 scientific papers on the evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and diversity of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es, and is an expert in the systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
and biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of Neotropical electric fish
Electric fish
An electric fish is a fish that can generate electric fields. It is said to be electrogenic; a fish that has the ability to detect electric fields is said to be electroreceptive. Most electrogenic fish are also electroreceptive. Electric fish species can be found both in the sea and in freshwater...
es (Gymnotiformes
Gymnotiformes
The Gymnotiformes are a group of teleost bony fishes commonly known as the Neotropical or South American knifefishes. They have long bodies and swim using undulations of their elongated anal fin...
). Albert and his colleagues to date have described 38 new species. He is co-editor with Roberto E. Reis of the book Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes, which explores the evolutionary forces underlying the formation of the Amazon
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and Neotropical
Neotropical fishes
The freshwater fishes of tropical South and Central America represent one of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems on Earth, with more than 5,600 species, representing about 10% all living vertebrate species...
fish faunas.