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- tunicate taxonomy
and marine invertebrate research
This research initiative aims to make information on the southern African inter
and subtidal benthic hard substrate fauna more accessible. To improve our current
understanding of the environment and the organisms associated with it, we would
like to bring the research closer to everybody and make is more accessible to everyone.
Very little is know of our subtidal hard substrate and of the benthic organism associated
with it. We aim to provide introductory information on various aspects of the southern
African Marine environment and provide answers to commonly asked questions.
 The main thrust of this program
is in tunicate taxonomy. The southern African coast is home to a diverse but relatively
poorly understood ascidian fauna. Little work has been done in the past and although
the southern African coast is home to a large number of species, only some 170 species
have been described in the past. Renewed interest in this group due to natural product
research and anti-cancer research has highlighted the enormous amount of new and
unknown compounds that are found in not only ascidians, but also sponges, bryozoans
and other marine invertebrates commonly found off our coast.
 Ascidians
or tunicates, commonly known as sea squirts. They are found in abundance on our
shores, occur in many shapes, sizes and colours. They make out a significant component
of our fauna on our rocky shores. One of the bigger species most of you are familiar
with is commonly known as Red bait (Pyura stolonifera), a popular fish bait
used by anglers. See our Ascidian research
page for more information.
Southern Africa is blessed with a large number of habitat types, each filled with
its own peculiar and interesting array of life. We are all aware of our rich terrestrial
pant and animal life, it's uniqueness and diversity in Africa and in southern Africa.
But few of us are aware of our marine fauna and flora. The lack of information or
knowledge is directly related to the cost involved in monitoring and studying these
unique environments. As we all know the marine environment (intertidal reefs, subtidal
reefs, sandy beaches and estuarine environments) are partially or completely covered
by water. We need sophisticated sampling apparatus and skilled divers to look, photograph,
record the organisms found, and skilled researchers to investigate these organisms
and the processes taking place.
Please feel free to look at:
- About - More information about us
- Ascidian reference search - Search
for references on Ascidians by author and / or title
- Habitats - Habitats along the shore
- Dive sites - Information about the dives
sites in and around Algoa Bay
- Interesting facts - Some interesting
facts about the sea and what lives in it
- Questions and Answers - Some interesting
questions and answers about the sea and what lives in it
- Research - Articles, conferences and symposiums,
projects, publications, reports, visiting scientists and visists
- Software - Software development projects that
Just Blue has been involved in
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