Steven Auscavitch

About

I am a scientist studying the biodiversity and biogeographic patterns of life in the deepest parts of the world ocean. I employ state-of-the-art imaging systems, traditional taxonomic approaches, and next-generation molecular tools to answer long-standing questions about how life is distributed in the under-explored areas of seabed. My current research focuses on characterizing the distribution, diversity, and community structure patterns of deep-water corals on seamounts and other large submarine features. Current geographic areas of research target the central Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. My research objectives have relied on blending traditional deep-sea survey and characterization methods with emergent technologies, like environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing, to understand the biology inhabiting these environments. I am most excited about applying phylogenomic tools, useful for understanding taxonomic and evolutionary relationships among deep-water corals, in areas that have been unexplored, undersampled, or are data deficient. My findings have led to the taxonomic description of new deep-sea species and an understanding how oceanography influences the seafloor benthos, which in turn shape conservation priorities in our world ocean.

Education

Publications