Dr. William Wright
- Scholarly Works:
- Digital Commons
- Education:
- University of California, Santa Cruz, Bachelor of Arts
University of California, San Diego, Ph.D.
Biography
Bill Wright is an organismal biologist who studies the behavior of marine invertebrates at neurobiological, ecological, and evolutionary levels. He incorporates training from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Friday Harbor Laboratories (University of Washington), and Yale University into his cross-disciplinary analyses of natural behavior. His current research examines questions about the chemical, and behavioral defenses of sea hares, ecology of spiny lobsters, territorial ecology of intertidal limpets, and non-lethal effects of global warming.
Teaching
- BIOL 204 From Molecules to Cells: Evolution of Life on Earth
- BIOL 205 Evolution & Diversity of Multicellular Organisms
- BIOL 250 Biostatistics
- BIOL 329 Advances in Neuroethology: The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Behavior and Behavioral Plasticity
- BIOL 384 Directed Research
- BIOL 440 Marine Biology
Research
- Evolution of mechanisms of learning in marine mollusks
- Intertidal Ecology
Funding
National Science Foundation (2001-2005 and 2007-2010)
Memberships- Society for Neuroscience
- Society for Integrated and Comparative Biology
- Western Society of Naturalists
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Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications
- Wright, W. G. Adaptive evolution of learning and memory in a model lineage. Chapter 2. In Krause, M., M. R. Papini, K. Hollis (Eds.) Evolution of learning and memory mechanisms. Cambridge University Press.
- Kabala, R.T., N. A. Swinford, M. J. Mason, and W.G. Wright. The role of dislodgement in the territorial ecology of the owl limpet, Lottia gigantea. Ethol. Ecol. & Evol. Accepted with revisions.
- Gould, N. G. , T. Gunanto, J. Martinez, W.G. Wright. Field experiments demonstrate that heat spells can reduce territory defense in the owl limpet, Lottia gigantea. West. Soc. Nat. Ann Meeting. 41
- 2015 Berriman, J. S. , M. Kay, D. Reed, A. Rassweiler, D. Goldstein, and W.G. Wright. Shifts in attack behavior of an important kelp forest predator within marine reserves. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 522: 193-201.
- M. J. Mason, A. J. Watkins, M. Brown, J. Wakabayashi, J. Buechler, and W. G. Wright. Lobster attack induces long-term sensitization and decreased sensory-neuron threshold in the sea hare, Aplysia californica. Learning & Memory: 21: 363-367.
- Takagi, K. K., C. R. James, and W. G. Wright. A model system for predicting the effects of global warming: Acute and chronic effects of warm temperature on feeding behavior of Pagurus samuelis. Soc. Integr. Comp. Biol. Ann. Meeting P3.33.
- Gomez, S. F., K. K. Takagi, and W. G. Wright. Hermit-crab assay reveals heterogeneity in deterrence by actively secreted chemical defenses in Aplysia californica. Soc. Integr. Comp. Biol. Ann. Meeting P1.44.