Marine Research Group

The Marine Research Group meets on the evening of the second Monday of each month at the FNCV's meeting rooms. The group was originally formed as an autonomous body in 1957 and merged with the FNCV during 1997. The group has an active program of field research into marine life and a full program of speakers.

Members of the group include people actively doing research into Foraminifera, hydroids, bryozoans, echinoderms and molluscs (especially nudibranchs).

Contact points

Michael Lyons 9822 8007 (AH)
Leon Altoff 9530 4180 (AH)

Upcoming Marine events

Saturday 6 February 2010
Field trip to Fingal Beach. Meet at 9:50 am. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Monday 8 February 2010
Meeting at 8pm at the FNCV club rooms. Paul Harmer from the DPI speaking about "Trialling Recreational Fishing Reefs in Port Phillip Bay - Impacts on local communities". Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Friday 5 - Monday 8 March 2010
Filed trip to Port Welshpool area. Exact locations to be determined on site. This trip is over the labour day long weekend so please book your accommodation early. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Friday 2 - Tuesday 6 April 2010
Filed trip to Apollo Bay area. Exact locations to be determined on site. This trip is over Easter so please book your accommodation early. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Monday 12 April 2010
Meeting at 8pm at the FNCV club rooms . "Ostracods: Boring but Important" presented by Anna Symes. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Monday 10 May 2010
Meeting at 8pm at the FNCV club rooms . Field trip round up. Discussion and images of the animals found during this year's field work. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Reports of Recent Meetings

Field Nats News

Species of the month

Each month this page will feature information on a marine invertebrate. This month's species is:

Austraeolis ornata (Angas, 1864)

Animal slender, length to 35 mm. Pale or bright orange, mottled with white, cream, and small patches of shining blue; cerata with dark-brown digestive gland, and flecked on surface with orange, red, yellow, brown, green or blue, or combinations thereof. Foot with tentacle-like anterior corners, tail long and tapering; rhinophores with 6-15 annular rings; cerata numerous, fusiform, rather short, in 6 or 7 dense groups along each side of the body.
Habitat
Under stones in lower intertidal areas, or on algae in rock pools. Present all year; eats a variety of hydroids. Common.
Distribution
Victoria: Recorded from western and central regions. Occurs offshore along the whole coast.
Also reported from southern W.A., S.A., Tas., N.S.W., and southern Qld.

Coastal Invertebrates of Victoria (Revised Reprint)

The 1984 book by the Marine Research Group has been reprinted with updated taxonomy and some revisions. It is available from the FNCV book shop.