Rock sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the North Atlantic: taxonomy, diversity and biogeographic patterns

Prosjekttittel

Rock sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the North Atlantic: taxonomy, diversity and biogeographic patterns

Veiledere

Hans Tore Rapp, Joana R. Xavier (CIIMAR)

Prosjektbeskrivelse

Rock sponges, also known as lithistid demosponges, are a polyphyletic group of sponges characterized by the possession of articulated spicules (desmas) that usually give them a hard consistency. In the North Atlantic Ocean, their diversity and distribution is mainly known from the Macaronesian islands, Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean. They are a still a poorly understudied group and their diversity has proven to be much higher than previously thought. In my thesis, I’m revising the diversity and distribution of lithisitids with a focus on the NE Atlantic, describing new species and also comparing their biogeographic patterns across the North Atlantic Ocean.