Dr Tim O'Hara

Senior Curator, Marine

About me

Connect with me: ResearchGate; The Conversation; Marine Biodiversity Hub; ORCID

Contact me: Contact me through our enquiries team

I use museum collections to answer large-scale questions about the distribution of seafloor animals around the globe. This research includes aspects of biogeography, macroecology, phylogeny, and phylogeography.

My taxonomic speciality is the Ophiurodea (brittle-stars), a class of echinoderms that are a dominant component of the seafloor fauna.

Qualifications

PhD

Key publications

Woolley, S.N.C., Tittensor, D.P., Dunstan, P.K., Guillera-Arroita, G., Lahoz-Monfort, J.J., Wintle, B.A., Worm, B. & O’Hara, T.D. (2016) Deep-sea diversity patterns shaped by energy availability. Nature 533: 393–396, doi: 10.1038/nature17937

O’Hara, T.D., Hugall, A.F., Thuy, B. & Moussalli, A. (2014). Phylogenomic resolution of the Class Ophiuroidea unlocks a global microfossil record. Current Biology 24: 1874-1879. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.060.

Hugall, A. F., O'Hara, T. D., Hunjan, S., Nilsen, R. & Moussalli, A. (2015). An exon-capture system for the entire class Ophiuroidea. Molecular Biology and Evolution 33: 281–294, doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv216.

Stöhr, S., O’Hara T.D., & Thuy, B. (2012). Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). PLosOne 7(3): e31940. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031940

O’Hara, T.D., Rowden, A.A. & Bax, N.J. (2011). A southern hemisphere bathyal fauna is distributed in latitudinal bands. Current Biology 21: 226–230. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.002

Projects and events

Projects

National Environment Science Program’s Marine Biodiversity Hub. Project D4: Expanding our spatial knowledge of marine biodiversity to support future best practice reviews. (Lead).

Sampling The Abyss: Latitudinal biodiversity patterns along the base of australia’s eastern continental margin. A voyage of the Marine National Facility RV Investigator, May-June 2017 (Chief Scientist)

GOBI Stage 2 proposal to the International Climate Change Initiative: WP1: Biogeographies (co-PI)

The Ophiuroid Project: A global understanding of the origin and distribution of deep-sea life (Lead).

Teaching and students

I'm available for student supervision.

Publications

Byrne, M & O’Hara, T.D. (2017). Australian echinoderms: biology, ecology and evolution. CSIRO publishing, Clayton

O’Hara, T.D., Hugall, A.F., Thuy, B., Stöhr, S. & Martynov, A. (2017) Restructuring higher taxonomy using broad-scale phylogenomics: the living Ophiuroidea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 107: 415–430, doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.006

Pocklington, J.B., Jenkins, S.R., Bellgrove, A., Keough, M.J., O'Hara, T.D., Masterson-Algar, P.E. & Hawkins, S.J. (2017) Disturbance alters ecosystem engineering by a canopy-forming alga. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1-12, doi: 10.1017/s0025315416002009.

Woolley, S.N.C., Foster, S.D., O'Hara, T.D., Wintle, B.A. & Dunstan, P.K. (2016) Characterising uncertainty in Generalised Dissimilarity Models. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.12710.

Teasdale, L.C., Kohler, F., Murray, K.D., O'Hara, T.D. & Moussalli, A. (2016) Identification and qualification of 500 nuclear, single-copy, orthologous genes for the Eupulmonata (Gastropoda) using transcriptome sequencing and exon capture. Molecular Ecology Resources 16(5), 1107-23, doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12552.

O’Hara, T.D., Hugall, A.F., MacIntosh, H., Naughton, K.M., Williams, A. & Moussalli, A. (2016) Dendrogramma is a siphonophore. Current Biology 26: R457-R458, doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.051

O’Hara, T.D., Schlacher, T.A., Rowden, A.A., Tittensor, D.P. (2016). Chapter 17: Data analysis considerations. Pp 386-403 in Clark, M.R., Consalvey, M. & Rowden, A.A. (eds) Biological sampling in the deep-sea. John Wiley & Sons.

Glover, A., Wiklund, H., Rabone, M., Amon, D., Smith, C., O'Hara, T., Mah, C. & Dahlgren, T. (2016). Abyssal fauna of the UK-1 polymetallic nodule exploration claim, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, central Pacific Ocean: Echinodermata. Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7251. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e7251.

O’Hara, T.D. & Harding, C. (2015). Enigmatic ophiuroids from the New Caledonian region. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 73: 47–57. https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2015.73.06

Martynov, A.V., Ishida, Y., Irimura, S., Tajiri, R., O’Hara, T.D. & Fujita, T. (2015). When ontogeny matters: a new Japanese species of brittle star illustrates the importance of considering both adult and juvenile characters in taxonomic practice. PLosOne 10(10): e0139463, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139463.

Schönberg, C.H.L., Hosie, A.M., Fromont, J., Marsh, L. & O’Hara, T.D. (2015). Apartment-style living on a kebab sponge. Marine Biodiversity, doi:10.1007/s12526-015-0393-x

Sands, C.J., O’Hara, T.D., Barnes, D.K.A. & Martín-Ledo, R. (2015). Against the flow: evidence of multiple recent invasions of warmer continental shelf waters by a Southern Ocean brittle star. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 3(63): 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00063

Brogger, M.I. & O’Hara, T.D. (2015). Revision of some ophiuroid records from Argentina. Zootaxa 3972 (3): 432–440 doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3972.3.8

Naughton, K.M. & O’Hara, T.D. (submitted). Resolution of the South Pacific Clarkcoma bollonsi species complex (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiacanthidae) based on morphological and molecular data, including two new species descriptions. Invertebrate Systematics

O’Hara, T.D. & Harding, C. (2014). A new species of Sigsbeia and additional records of ophiuroids from the Great Australian Bight. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 72: 131-140. https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2014.72.08

Naughton, K.M., O’Hara, T.D., Appleton, B. & Cisternas, P.A. (2014). Antitropical distributions and species delimitation in a group of ophiocomid brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiocomidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 78: 232-244. DOI 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.020.

Naughton, K.M., O’Hara, T.D., Appleton, B. & Gardner, M.G. (2014). Sympatric cryptic species in the crinoid genus Cenolia (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comasteridae) delineated by sequence and microsatellite markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 78: 160-171. DOI 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.006.

Connolly, S.R., MacNeil, M.A., Caley, M.J., Knowlton, N., Cripps, E., Hisano, M., Thibaut, L.M., Bhattacharya, B.D., Benedetti-Cecchi, L., Brainard, R.E., Brandt, A., Bulleri, F., Ellingsen, K.E., Kaiser, S., Kröncke, I., Linse, K., Maggi, E., O’Hara, T.D., Plaisance, L., Poore, G.C.B., Sarkar, S.K., Satpathy, K.K., Schückel, U., Williams, A. & Wilson, R.S. (2014). Commonness and rarity in the marine biosphere. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111: 8524-8529. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1406664111.

Clark, M.R., Rowden, A.A., Schlacher, T.A., Guinotte, J., Dunstan, P.K., Williams, A., O’Hara, T.D., Watling, L., Niklitschek, E. & Tsuchida, S. (2014). Identifying ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSA): A systematic method and its application to seamounts in the South Pacific Ocean. Ocean & Coastal Management 91: 65-79. DOI 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.01.016.

Schlacher, T.S., Baco-Taylor, A., Rowden, A.A., O’Hara, T.D., Clark, M., Kelley, C. & Dower, J. (2014). Seamount benthos in a cobalt-rich crust region of the Central Pacific: implications for conservation challenges posed by future seabed mining. Diversity and Distributions 20, 491–502. DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12142

O’Hara, T.D., England, P.R., Gunasekera, R. & Naughton, K.M. (2014). Limited phylogeographic structure for five bathyal ophiuroids at continental scales. Deep-Sea Research I 84: 18-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr2013.09.009

Woolley, S.N.C., McCallum, A.W., Wilson, R., O'Hara, T.D. & Dunstan, P.K. (2013). Fathom out: biogeographical subdivision across the Western Australian continental margin – a multispecies modelling approach. Diversity and Distributions 19: 1506–1517. DOI 10.1111/ddi.12119.

McCallum, A.W., Poore, G.C.B., Williams, A., Althaus, F., & O'Hara, T. (2013). Environmental predictors of decapod species richness and turnover along an extensive Australian continental margin (13–35° S). Marine Ecology 34(3): 298-312. DOI: 10.1111/maec.12016

Byrne, M., O’Hara, T.D. & Lawrence, J. (2013). Asterias amurensis. Pp 174-180 in Lawrence, J. (ed). Starfish: Biology and Ecology of the Asteroidea. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Mills, V.S. & O’Hara, T.D. (2013). Ophiuroids of biogenic habitats on the continental shelf of New Zealand. Zootaxa 3613: 401–444.

O’Hara, T.D., Smith, P.J., Mills, V.S., Smirnov, I & Steinke, D. (2013). Biogeographical and phylogeographical relationships of the bathyal ophiuroid fauna of the Macquarie Ridge, Southern Ocean. Polar Biology 36:321–333. DOI: 10.1007/s00300-012-1261-9

Stöhr, S., O’Hara T.D., & Thuy, B. (2012). Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). PLosOne 7(3): e31940. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031940

Okanishi, M., O’Hara, T.D. & Fujita, T. (2011). A new genus Squamophis of Asteroschematidae (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea, Euryalida) from Australia. ZooKeys 129: 1-15. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.129.1202

Okanishi, M., O’Hara, T.D. & Fujita, T. (2011). Molecular phylogeny of the order Euryalida (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), based on mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 61: 392–399. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2011.07.003

Dettai, A., Adamowizc, J.J., Allcock, L., Arango C.P., Barnes, D.K.A., Barratt, I., Chenuil, A., Couloux, C., Cruaud, C., David, B., Denis, F., Denys, G., Dı´az, A., Eléaume, Féral, J.P., Froger, A., Gallut, C., Grant, R., Griffiths, H.J., Held, C., Hemery, L.G., Hosie, G., Kuklinski, P., Lecointre, G., Linse, K., Lozouet, P., Mah, C., Monniot, F., Norman, M.D., O’Hara, T.D., Ozouf-Costaz, C., Piedallu, C., Pierrat, B., Poulin, E., Puillandre, N., Riddle, M., Samadi, S., Saucède, T., Schubart, C., Smith, P.J., Stevens, D.W., Steinke, D., Strugnell, J.M., Tarnowska, K., Wadley, V. & Ameziane, N. (2011). DNA barcoding and molecular systematics of the benthic and demersal organisms of the CEAMARC survey. Polar Science 5: 298-312. DOI: 10.1016/j.polar.2011.02.002

O’Hara, T.D., Rowden, A.A. & Bax, N.J. (2011). A southern hemisphere bathyal fauna is distributed in latitudinal bands. Current Biology 21: 226–230. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.002

O’Hara, T.D., Consalvey, M., Lavrado, H.P. & Stocks, K.I. (2010). Environmental predictors and turnover of biota on a seamount chain. Marine Ecology 31 (Suppl. 1): 84-94. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2010.00379.x

O’Hara, T.D. & Tittensor, D.P. (2010). Which environmental factors drive variation in species richness on seamounts? Marine Ecology 31 (Suppl. 1): 26-38. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2010.00373.x

Costa, T.L., O’Hara, T.D. & Keough, M.J. (2010). Measures of taxonomic distinctness do not reliably assess anthropogenic impacts on intertidal mollusc communities. Marine Ecology Progress Series 413: 81–93. DOI: 10.3354/meps08713

O’Hara, T.D., Addison, P.F.E., Gazzard, R., Costa, T.L. & Pocklington, J.B. (2010). A rapid biodiversity assessment methodology tested on intertidal rocky shores. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 20: 452–463. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.1111

Mills, V.S. & O’Hara, T.D. (2010). Amphilepis neozelandica sp. nov., the first record of the Amphilepididae in New Zealand waters (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Zootaxa 2514: 47–54

Clark, M.R., Rowden, A.A., Schlacher, T.S., Williams, A., Consalvey, M., Stocks, K.I., Rogers, A.D., O’Hara, T.D., White, M., Shank, T.M., Hall-Spencer, J.M. (2010). The Ecology of Seamounts: Structure, Function, and Human Impacts. Annual Review of Marine Science 2: 253-278. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081109

Bennett, A.F., Haslem, A., Cheal, D.C., Clarke, M.F., Jones, R.N., Koehn, J.D., Lake, P.S., Lumsden, L.F., Lunt, I.D., Mackey, B.G., MacNally, R., Menkhorst, P.W., New, T.R., Newell, G.R., O’Hara, T.D., Quinn, G.P., Radford, J.Q., Robinson, D., Watson, J.E.M., Yen, A.L. (2009). Ecological processes: a key element in strategies for nature conservation. Ecological Management and Restoration 10: 192-199. DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-8903.2009.00489.x

Naughton, K.M. & O’Hara, T.D. (2009). Cryptic species within the southern Australian biscuit star Tosia distinguished by reproductive mode, larval development, morphological and molecular characters (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Goniasteridae). Invertebrate Systematics 23: 348–366. DOI: 10.1071/IS08021

Franklin, A.M. & O´Hara, T.D. (2008). A new species in the genus Ophiomyxa from South-west Australian waters (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiomyxidae). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 65: 57-62. https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2008.65.5

Benavides-Serrato, M. & O´Hara, T.D. (2008). A new species in the Ophiocoma erinaceus complex from the South-west Pacific Ocean (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiocomidae). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 65: 51-56. https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2008.65.4

Ward, R.D., Holmes, B.H. & O’Hara, T.D. (2008). DNA barcoding discriminates echinoderm species. Molecular Ecology Resources 8: 1202–1211. DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02332.x

Addison, P.F.E., Koss, R.S. & O’Hara, T.D. (2008). Recreational use of a rocky intertidal reef in Victoria: Implications for ecological research and management. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. 15: 169-179. DOI: 10.1080/14486563.2008.9725199

O’Hara, T.D., Rowden, A.A. & Williams, A. (2008). Cold-water coral habitats on seamounts: do they have a specialist fauna? Diversity and Distributions 14: 925-934. DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2008.00495.x

Byrne, M., Cisternas, P. & O’Hara, T.D. (2008). Brooding of pelagic-type larvae in Ophiopeza spinosa: reproduction and development in a tropical ophiodermatid brittlestar. Invertebrate Biology 127: 98–107. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2007.00110.x

O’Hara, T.D. (2007). Seamounts: Centres of endemism or species-richness for ophiuroids? Global Ecology and Biogeography 16: 720-732. DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2007.00329.x

Poore, G.C.B & O’Hara, T.D. (2007). Marine biogeography and biodiversity of Australia. Pp 177-198 in Connell, S.D. & Gillanders, B.M. (eds) Marine Ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

O’Hara, T.D. & Stöhr, S. (2006). Deep water Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) of New Caledonia: Ophiacanthidae and Hemieuryalidae. Tropical Deep Sea Benthos 24: 33-141