B Science (Advanced) (Hons)
Contact details for Ms Joanna Browne jbrowne@museum.vic.gov.au
Thesis
Gelatinous plankton and their symbionts in Eastern AustraliaDescription
My project involves the study of parasites of gelatinous zooplankton. Jellyfish are increasingly being recognised as an important part of the marine ecosystem. In regions around the world jellyfish are increasing in abundance and frequency of occurrence, however, their parasites are poorly studied. I am investigating relationships between parasitic hyperiid amphipods, isopods, parasitic anemomes and the blue blubber (Catostylus mosaicus) in Port Phillip Bay. The other parts of my project involve studying digenean flukes (Platyhelminthes) which use jellyfish as in intermediate host, between their first host (a mollusc) and their final host (a fish). I am studying the spatial variation of the digeneans from the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea sp., as well as studying diversity of digeneans across a range of jellyfish and ctenophore hosts. This has been the first study of digeneans in jellyfish in Australia since an observation was made in 1886. Using DNA analysis I am linking the larval digeneans found in the jellyfish with the adult form found in fish.
Supervisors
- Dr Kylie Pitt
- Professor Rod Connolly
- Dr Mark Norman
Research expertise
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- Zooplankton identification
- Phytoplankton identification
- Ecology and biology of gelatinous zooplankton
Publications
- Browne JB, Kingsord MJ. (2005) A commensal relationship between the scyphozoan Catostylus mosaicus and the copepd Paramacrochiron mosaicus. Marine Biology. 146:1157-1168
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