|
SEM of a tooth socket of an Ophiomusium....or perhaps a secret message? For other amazing topics, click on the "Tabloids" section below. Just remember, these stories are TRUE!
|
Quick Basics on the Focus Group |
|||||
|
Who is she? Why does she study ophiuroids? Visit the virtual board room and read the writing on the wall. |
OPHIUROIDS: |
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Learn the hip ophiuran swing, develop a taste for sea cucumbers, and a great band! |
What the 'stars do when they break up; Alien origins; hitch-hiking renegades; flashers and more! |
A review of my current dissertation research, as well as previous undergraduate research |
||||
|
|
||||||
|
UPDATE |
||||||
|
The site is being updated with some new software. Please be patient! |
|
Oldies but Goodies! |
||||
|
|
Museums around the world with collections of echinoderms. |
PDF files of some classic, but quickly deteriorating ophiuroid literature and comments on newer stuff too |
||||
|
|
||||||
|
Links to some of the latest phylogenetic analysis software for download and systematics literature database |
Meetings and societies of interest to echinoderm researchers: a great way to make contacts. |
Do you know all you need to know about echinoderm envenomations? Also, how we will benefit from ophiuroid bacteria! |
||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
An unusual way to collect brittlestars! |
A selection of echinoderm links for your enjoyment |
|||||
|
|
||||||
|
Lets go fishing! |
Tips for funding your graduate research (U.S.) |
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Follow the news!
Starfish Acts As Array of Lenses (AP Wire) | Seeing the Brittlestar in a New Light (NPR story with images) | NPR's "All Things Considered" Audio report Image of lenses (NPR) | Marine creature's ''lenses'' light way for Bell Labs (Reuters and digitalMass) | Eyes in their stars (Nature) | 20/20 lenses coat body of sea creature (Science News Online) | Bell Labs: There's Optics in Them Thar Fish (OpticallyNetworked.com) | Bell Labs Scientists Find Marine Creatures May Lead to Better Optical Networks (Bell Labs Innovations) | Researchers Hope to Replicate Optical System of Tropical Brittlestar (San Francisco Chronicle)
Groundbreaking research was heralded on the cover of the journal ‘Nature’ in 2001. Brittlestars have been thought to have only a basic sensory ability (chemosensory- basically, a sense of smell). But this did not explain how brittlestars could catch motile prey, a recent finding. Shrimp and fish moved too quick
ly to be 'smelled' in time for capture. Similarly, it was difficult to explain the ability of some brittlestars to escape quickly. We knew that all echinoderms were composed of crystals of calcite, but we didn't realize the implications and 'fine tuning' of their structure!! Exciting news!!! Check the Tabloids 'Fashion Report' for related information and the citations of the original research carried out by Drs. Hendler and Byrne which hinted at the presence of a photoreceptor system.
The original research paper can be downloaded from Nature for a small fee or purchase a subscription. (At right: cover of the journal 'Nature')
Breaking Technology News!
An artistic representation of Ophiocoma anaglyptica, a Pacific species
Asteronyx longifissa from the west coast of the U.S. courtesy of B. Lauth
ANTIQUES-
LOVELY RENDITION OF A SNOWFLAKE ON VINTAGE MICROSCOPE SLIDE. FOUND AT MAJOR BRITISH MUSEUM. DELICATE DESIGN RENDERED IN BRITTLESTAR ARM SPINES!
Ophioplocus is a shallow-water Pacific genus. Most are found in tropical waters, but some smaller species are found in cold temperate regions
I hope you have enjoyed your visit! Please sign my guest book!
The 'cool' Antarctic genus Ophiomages Koehler has keeled dorsal arm plates and large disk plates each armed with a central tubercule
Diversity within the dominant deep-sea genus Ophiomusium. More information can be found in "My Science."
Map of the ‘Stars