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A new species of Echinochalina sponge discovered by the Queensland Museum during biodiversity studies. Sessile Marine Invertebrates Dr John Hooper
Mr Stephen Cook
Ms Monika Schlacher-Hoenlinger
Mr Daniel Schmidt ...
Mrs Susan List-armitage Section Many organisms on the seabed, particularly in soft sediments, are sponges, but they are still relatively unknown. There are about 15,000 species worldwide with about one-third of these living in Australian waters. Since 1994, we have discovered more than 1000 species new to science. In addition to their ecological importance in reef systems and on the soft seabed, these animals are exciting sources of new therapeutic compounds with potential values to the pharmaceutical industry. Our current work Biodiversity, molecular phylogeny and ultrastructural studies of Calcarean sponges from the GBR (funded by the Australian Biological Resources Study and AzGu). Seabed biodiversity on the continental shelf of the GBR World Heritage Area (funded by CRC Coral Reef Centre, in collaboration with CSIRO Marine Research and the Australian Institute of Marine Science) (commencing 1 July 2001). | |
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