Research project: Systematics of freshwater isopods (Phreatoicidea)

Dates

Start date:
1999

Museum investigators

Funded by

  • Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS)

Description

Isopods in the suborder Phreatoicidea are found in surface streams, burrowing in the soil in moist areas, in yabbie burrows, in ground waters, and other hypogean waters. They have a fossil record extending 325 million years into the Paleozoic, and their biogeography and the fossil record reveals that they have been living on the Australian continent longer than the marsupial mammals, yet they show surprisingly little morphological differentiation or change from their fossil ancestors.

This research on the Phreatoicidea improves our knowledge of their taxonomy and distribution, and provides the basic data for understanding their biogeography.


Dr George D. F. (Buz) Wilson , Principal Research Scientist
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