Echinoderms include sea stars, brittle stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Echinoderm research at Museum Victoria, led by Dr Tim O'Hara, includes the following current projects:
Systematics and biogeography of deep-water ophiuroids (brittlestars)
This ongoing project is documenting the distribution of brittle-stars from deep water around Australia and the South-west Pacific Ocean. This large dataset can then be used to 1) model species habitat suitability, 2) prepare bioregionalisations of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, and 3) test biogeographical hypotheses regarding the distribution and evolution of the deep-sea fauna in our region. The data contributes to the ‘Voyages of Discovery’ program surveying seafloor habitats across Australian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Another series of projects is analysing the relationships between groups of closely related echinoderms using molecular (DNA) technology. Current projects include the global phylogeny of the Ophiocomid brittlestars and the seastar genus Tosia.
Finally, the ecological health of rocky reefs along the Victorian coast is being assessed using an intensive survey program and multivariate and spatial statistics.