Michela Mitchell

Michela specialises in Sea Anemone (Actiniaria) Taxonomy and promotes the cataloguing of marine species to assist in marine conservation. Background.

After growing up in outback Australia Michela undertook a University degree that was polar opposites to living in the outback. As an undergraduate, Michela completed her degree in Environmental Science - Coastal Management at Southern Cross University. Michela’s interest in sea anemone taxonomy started when she discovered that there was little known about Australian sea anemones and no one had ever been dedicated to working on the Order in Australia. Previous taxonomic work completed on Australian Sea Anemone fauna had been undertaken by sending preserved specimens to overseas experts (as recently as 1970).

As a consequence, in 2006, Michela commenced her Masters by Research on sea anemones and is now the first resident taxonomist of Actiniaria in Australia. Her research to date has concentrated on cataloguing the sea anemone fauna of Port Phillip Bay and researching the taxonomy of the Oulactis species (Sand anemones) that occur around Southern Australia and in New Zealand. Michela has been associated with the Melbourne Museum since 2001 as a volunteer in the marine invertebrates’ lab and is now a Research Associate. Though sea anemones are number one in her book she has a diverse interest in all fauna and flora.

Memberships

Museums Australia http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/site/

Australian Marine Sciences Association http://www.amsa.asn.au/

Coral Reef Society http://www.australiancoralreefsociety.org/

Australian Entomological Society http://www.austentsoc.org.au/wordpress/

The Malacological Society of Australia http://www.malsocaus.org/