NSU Currents Spring 2014 Newsletter - Volume XXIV, Issue 1

15 Student and Faculty Study Amphipods in New Zealand OC Professor James Thomas , Ph.D., and M.S. student Megan Christopher went to New Zealand last year to conduct research on commensal marine amphipod crustaceans in collaboration with Leigh Marine Lab researchers Mark Costello, Ph.D.; Richard Taylor, Ph.D.; and Ph.D. graduate student Anna Berthelson. While there, they discovered a new species of Leucothoe amphipod, only the second species in the genus ever reported from New Zealand waters. This represents a significant discovery, due to the relatively high level of endemic marine species in New Zealand. There is mounting concern about invasive species in New Zealand waters, especially sponges and tunicates, which themselves can house invasive endosymbionts that could potentially displace native species. Discussions are now in progress to produce and distribute an illustrated flyer to SCUBA divers in the north and south islands to help collect and preserve representative tunicates and their commensals as part of a wider project to investigate issues of biosecurity in New Zealand. Tunicate host Asterocarpa coerulea A new species of Leucothe amphipod from the tunicate Asterocarpa coerulea Professor James Thomas, Ph.D., and M.S. student Megan Christopher pose before a dive into the cold New Zealand waters.