Faculty Bio

Professional Bio

Education

1998 Ph.D., Biology (Systematics and Ecology), University of Kansas, Lawrence. Advisor, E. O. Wiley. Dissertation Title: Systematics and taxonomy of the Superfamily Poecilioidea (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes), with Emphasis on the Family Anablepidae

1992 B.S., Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Professional Experience

2010-present. Professor of Biology, Regis University, Denver
2004-present. Affiliate Curator, J.F. Bell Museum of
2004-2010. Associate Professor of Biology, Regis University, Denver
2006-2009. Chairperson of Biology, Regis University, Denver (rotating elected position)
1998-2004. Assistant Professor of Biology, Regis University, Denver
1992-1998. Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Kansas, Lawrence
1995-1997. Identification Specialist (Fishes), Summers, Kansas Dept. of Wildlife & Parks
1994-1998. Public Education Instructor, U. of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence
1993-1998. Curatorial Assistant (Ichthyology), Summers, U. of Kansas Natural History Museum

Research & Scholarship

My primary areas of research are diversification patterns in fishes and the evolution of fish anatomy.  Focused in two areas:  (1) the patterns of diversification and anatomical evolution of the livebearers, topminnows, and killifishes (known as cyprinodontiform fishes), and  (2) deep-sea fish diversification and anatomical evolution. 

Two current projects where students may be able to participate are:

Exploration of the evolutionary relationships of fossil killifishes from the western United States to answer the question “How and when did the North American killifishes and topminnows diversify, and how and when did the disjunct geographic distribution of western U.S. killifish and topminnows arise?”

Exploration of the anatomy of the visceral bioluminescent organs of the deep sea barracudinas and sabertooth fishes to answer the question “How anatomically do they generate bioluminescence and how many times has bioluminescence evolved in this group?”

PUBLICATIONS

Ghedotti, M.J. and M.P. Davis. In press, expected 2014. Poeciliidae, The Livebearers. Chapter in M. Warren and B. Burr (Eds.) The Freshwater Fishes of North America, Volume II. Johns Hopkins University Press. Expected to be printed in 2014.

Ghedotti, M.J. and M.P. Davis. 2013. The phylogeny, classification, and evolution of salinity tolerance of the North American topminnows and killifishes, Family Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Fieldiana, Life and Earth Sciences 7(1564):1-65.

Lucinda, P.H.F., M.J. Ghedotti, and J.G. Weferson. 2006. Jenynsia diphyes (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes) a new species of anablepid fish from southern Brazil and its phylogenetic position. Copeia 2006: 613-622.

Ghedotti, M.J., A.M. Simons, & M.P. Davis*. 2004. Morphology and phylogeny of the studfish clade, subgenus Xenisma (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Copeia 2004(1): 53-61.

Ghedotti, M.J., C. Fielitz, & D.J. Leonard*. 2004. Using independent research projects to foster learning in the comparative vertebrate anatomy laboratory. Bioscene, Journal of College Biology Teaching. 30(1): 19-24.
Ghedotti, M. J. 2003. Family Anablepidae (Four-eyed fishes, onesided livebearers and the white eye). Section In R. E. Reis, S. O. Kullander, & C. J. Ferraris, Jr. (Eds.) Check List of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre, Brazil, Edipucrs. Pp. 582-585.

Ghedotti, M.J. & E.O. Wiley. 2002. Anablepidae, Poeciliidae, Rivulidae. Three separate family accounts in: K.E. Carpenter (Ed.) United Nations FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes, The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 2. Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). FAO of the UN, the European Commission, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (Special Pub. 5).

Wiley, E.O. & M.J. Ghedotti. 2002. Cyprinodontidae, Fundulidae. Two separate family accounts in: K.E. Carpenter (Ed.) United Nations FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes, The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 2. Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). FAO of the UN, the European Commission, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (Special Pub. 5).

Ghedotti, M.J., A.D. Meisner, & P.H.F. Lucinda. 2001. A new species of Jenynsia (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) from southern Brazil and its phylogenetic relationships. Copeia 2001(3): 726-736.

Dimmick, W.W., M.J. Ghedotti, M.J. Grose, A.M. Maglia, D. Meinhardt, and D. Pennock. 2001. The evolutionarily significant unit and adaptive criteria: a response to Young. Conservation Biology 15(3): 788-790.

Ghedotti, M.J. 2000. Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the poecilioid fishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Teleostei). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 130: 1-53.

Meisner, A.D., J.R. Burns, & M.J. Ghedotti. 2000. Mode of embryonic nutrition in four species of Jenynsia (Teleostei: Atherinomorpha: Anablepidae). In B. Norberg, O.S. Kjesbu, G.L. Taranger, E. Anderson, & S.O. Stefansson. (Eds.) Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish. Bergen, Norway, University of Bergen Press. Pp. 178.

Dimmick, W.W., M.J. Ghedotti, M.J. Grose, A.M. Maglia, D. Meinhardt, and D. Pennock. 1999. The importance of systematic biology in defining units of conservation. Conservation Biology 13(3):1-9.

Ghedotti, M.J. 1998. Phylogeny and classification of the Anablepidae (Cyprinodontiformes: Teleostei). Chapter In L.R. Malabarba, R.E. Reis, R.P. Vari, Z.M.S. Lucena, & C.A.S. Lucena. (Eds.) Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes. Porto Alegre, Brazil, Edipucrs. Pp. 561-582.

Ghedotti, M.J. 1998. An annotated list of the crayfishes of Kansas with first records of Orconectes macrus and Procambarus acutus in Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Sciences 101(1–2):54–57.

Ghedotti, M.J. and M.J. Grose. 1997. Phylogenetic relationships of the Fundulus nottii species group (Fundulidae, Cyprinodontiformes) as inferred the cytochrome-b gene. Copeia 1997(4):858–862.

Ghedotti, M.J. and S.H. Weitzman. 1996. A new species of Jenynsia (Cyprinodontiformes: Anablepidae) from Brazil with comments on the composition and taxonomy of the genus. Occasional Papers of the University of Kansas Natural History Museum 179:1–25.

Ghedotti, M.J. and S.H. Weitzman. 1995. Two new species of Jenynsia (Cyprinodontiformes, Anablepidae) from southeastern Brazil. Copeia 1995(4): 939–946.

Ghedotti, M.J., J.C. Smihula, and G. R. Smith. 1995. Zebra mussel predation by round gobies in the laboratory. Journal of Great Lakes Research 21(4): 665–669.

PRESENTATIONS

Ghedotti, M. J. and M.P. Davis. Cephalic sensory variation in the deep-sea ipnopid fishes (Teleostei: Aulopiformes). (Poster) American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Annual Meeting. Vancouver, BC, 2012.

Ghedotti, M. J. and D. Brym*. A Re-evaluation of Phylogenetic Relationships Among the Cyprinodontoid Killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes, Teleostei), Based on Morphological Data. (Poster) American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Annual Meeting. St. Louis, MO, 2007.

Ghedotti, M. J. and M. Maulis*. Variation in trophic morphology in poeciliine fishes (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes). (Poster) American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA, 2006.

Clifford, A. M., M. H. Barnes, and M. J. Ghedotti. A Conversation on Intelligent Design: A Panel Discussion. (Short Individual Presentations Followed by a Panel Discussion) College Theology Society, Annual Meeting. Regis University, Denver, CO, 2006.

Ghedotti, M. J., R. M. Moroze*, and M. P. Davis*. Phylogenetic relationships of Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) as inferred from morphological data. (Oral Presentation) American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL, 2005.

Ghedotti, M. J. and M. P. Davis*. Phylogenetic relationships of Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) as inferred from morphological data. (Poster) American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Annual Meeting. Norman, OK, 2004.

Ghedotti, M. J. & M. P. Davis*. Phylogenetic Relationships of the Pliocene Killifish Fundulus detillae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (Poster). St. Paul, MN, 2003.

Ghedotti, M. J. Phylogenetic relationships of the killifishes of the subgenus Xenisma, genus Fundulus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) as inferred from morphological data. ASIH (Talk). State College, PA, 2001.

Ghedotti, M. J. Phylogenetic relationships of the Oligocene fossil fish Prolebias cephalotes (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). ASIH (Talk). State College, PA, 1999.

Downing Meisner, A., J. R. Burns, & M. J. Ghedotti. Mode of embryonic nutrition in four species of Jenynsia (Teleostei: Atherinomorpha: Anablepidae). 6th International Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish (Poster). Bergen, Norway, 1999.

Ghedotti, M. J. Phylogenetic relationships of the superfamily Poecilioidea (Cyprinodontiformes: Teleostei) as inferred from morphological data. ASIH (Talk). Guelph, ON, 1998. Stoye Award Recipient

Ghedotti, M. J. The systematic relationships of the Pliocene fossil fish Fundulus detillae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Association of Southwestern Naturalists (Poster). Albuquerque, NM, 1998.

Ghedotti, M. J. Phylogeny and Classification of the Anablepidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). International Symposium on Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes (Talk). Porto Alegre, Brazil, 1997.

Ghedotti, M. J. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Poecilioidea (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) using morphological data. ASIH (Talk). Seattle, WA, 1997.

Ghedotti, M. J. The systematics of the family Anablepidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) including a preliminary phylogenetic analysis. ASIH/NIA (Talk). New Orleans, LA, 1996.

Ghedotti, M. J. and E. O. Wiley. Phylogenetic relationships within the Fundulus nottii species group as inferred by cyt-b gene sequence data. ASIH (Talk). Edmonton, AB, 1995.

Ghedotti, M. J. and G. R. Smith. Feeding preferences of a goby species (Neogobius melanostomus) introduced into the Great Lakes. ASIH (Poster). Austin, TX, 1993.

*= Regis College Undergraduate

Awards & Recognition

Awards

2008. Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College, Regis College.

2007. Faculty Lecturer of the Year, in recognition of “creative achievement in teaching and/or publication in the academic areas of the College”.

2004. Charter Faculty Membership, for distinguished teaching and service —Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honor Society, Gamma Chapter, Regis University.

2002. Honorary Faculty Membership, for distinguished teaching and service—Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society, Regis University.

1998. Stoye Award for Best Student Presentation in Ichthyology—American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (Guelph, Ontario meetings).

1997. Carlin Graduate Teaching Assistant Award—Chancellor, University of Kansas.

1995. Kenneth B. Armitage Award for Excellence in Teaching—Division of Biology, University of Kansas.

Grants

2004-2010. NSF RUI DEB-0415633, PI: Michael Ghedotti, The evolution of placentas in the poeciliid fishes: An empirical study of the evolution of complexity, $166,000 over five years, extended to six.

2006. NSF REU Supplement DEB-0620242 to RUI DEB-0415633, PI: Michael Ghedotti. $6,000.

2000. SPARC Research Grant, Regis University, SPARC, PI: Michael Ghedotti, The phylogenetic relationships of the fossil North American fishes in the genus Fundulus, $2310.

1997. Panorama Society Grant, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, PI: Michael Ghedotti, Systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the family Anablepidae, $900.

1996. Ernst Mayr Grant, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, PI: Michael Ghedotti,  Systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the family Anablepidae, $800.

Invited Presentations

2012. Ghedotti, M.J. From the Shoreline to the Deep Sea: Fish Evolution in “Extreme” Environments. Department of Biology Seminar Series, Regis College, Denver, CO. 9 September 2012.

2007. Ghedotti, M.J. Narratives of Evolution: The Evolution of Placentas and Other Fish Tales. Faculty Lecturer of the Year, Regis College, Denver, CO (Talk) 2 March 2007.

2002. Ghedotti, M.J. Shifting Paradigms and the Evolution of Livebearing in Fishes. Annual Nancy Pence Groseclose Lecture, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA (Talk) 14 March 2002.