We describe the first species of the genus Paraleucilla Dendy 1892 from the Atlantic Ocean. P. magna sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of triactines composing the atrial skeleton and the absence of giant diactines, which are characteristic of P. cucumis (Haeckel 1872), a species from Australia, the only known Paraleucilla that also presents atrial triactines. P. magna sp. nov. is the most abundant calcareous sponge in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), and shows a strong seasonality, disappearing in autumn.

Shotgun proteomics aims to identify and quantify the thousands of proteins in complex mixtures such as cell and tissue lysates and biological fluids. This approach uses liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and typically generates hundreds of thousands of mass spectra that require specialized computational environments for data analysis. PatternLab for proteomics is a unified computational environment for analyzing shotgun proteomic data. PatternLab V (PLV) is the most comprehensive and crucial update so far, the result of intensive interaction with the proteomics community over several years. All PLV modules have been optimized and its graphical user interface has been completely updated for improved user experience. Major improvements were made to all aspects of the software, ranging from boosting the number of protein identifications to faster extraction of ion chromatograms. PLV provides modules for preparing sequence databases, protein identification, statistical filtering and in-depth result browsing for both labeled and label-free quantitation. The PepExplorer module can even pinpoint de novo sequenced peptides not already present in the database. PLV is of broad applicability and therefore suitable for challenging experimental setups, such as time-course experiments and data handling from unsequenced organisms. PLV interfaces with widely adopted software and community initiatives, e.g., Comet, Skyline, PEAKS and PRIDE.

The structure and distribution of the sponge community in ¢ve sites and four habitats in Cagarras Archipelago, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are described. The archipelago has three major islands (Cagarra, Palmas, and Comprida), and four islets. Qualitative samples were taken by SCUBA diving in the three islands and in two islets, and quantitative samples were taken in Palmas Island only. Cluster analysis using Jaccard's coe⁄cient on qualitative data grouped the two islets (Cagarra Bank and Cagarra Islet), which are more exposed to wave action, and the three islands formed a group of relatively sheltered sites. Cluster analysis using Bray^Curtis coe⁄cient on quantitative data from di¡erent habitats in Palmas Island allowed distinction of three groups of samples: overhangs, shallow horizontal surfaces (6 m depth), and vertical walls plus deeper horizontal surfaces (17 m depth). Sponge abundance was greater in overhangs (61.2 ind m À2 ), which were dominated by Protosuberites sp. and Clathrina conifera. Abundance was reduced in vertical walls (31.1ind m À2 ) and deep horizontal surfaces (16.8 ind m À2 ). Pachychalina sp. dominated the deep horizontal surfaces and Clathrina conifera was dominant in overhangs. Values of Shannon's diversity in overhangs, vertical walls (both with H 0 ¼2.1bits ind À1 ) and deep horizontal surfaces (H 0 ¼1.7 bits ind À1 ) were moderate and similar, whereas in shallow horizontal surfaces the sponges were both less diverse (H 0 ¼0.37) and less abundant (8.5 ind m À2 ). Shallow horizontal surfaces were dominated by Hymeniacidon heliophila. The reduced species richness of the sponge community in Cagarras Archipelago when compared with other sites in Brazil and elsewhere is probably due in part to the pollution from the city of Rio de Janeiro. Wave action appears to reduce the number of sponge species at a local scale, whereas substrate inclination a¡ects more strongly the species composition and abundance than the diversity of sponges.

In this paper we describe two species of the cosmopolitan sponge genus Haliclona from Rio de Janeiro State, SE Brazil, one of which is new to science and the other a new record to Brazil. Haliclona (Rhizoniera) fugidia sp. nov. is brownish-pink, salmon or cream, thickly encrusting, without oscular tubes and tangential ectosomal reticulation. Choanosomal skeleton is a mostly unispicular ladder-like reticulation of oxeas, very organized near the sponge surface and denser and more disorganized in the interior of the sponge. Haliclona (Halichoclona) vansoesti de Weerdt et al., 1999 was originally described from the Caribbean. It has a very loose connection between ectosome and choanosome, a whitish translucent ectosome combined with a purplish choanosome, a cavernous structure and a friable or crispy consistency. The conspecificity of SE Brazilian and Caribbean populations of H. (Halich.) vansoesti was verified through phylogenetic analysis of small subunit 18S rRNA (18S) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed with 18S sequences indicates that specimens of H. (Halich.) vansoesti from Rio de Janeiro were phylogenetically closer to the same species from the Caribbean than to other species of Haliclona. Although not available for H. (Halich.) vansoesti from the Caribbean, COI sequences of our specimens were also quite distinct from those of other Haliclona species. Molecular identification based on DNA sequences is a useful complement to traditional morphology-based taxonomy, especially in highly plastic sponges such as Haliclona spp. and other haplosclerids.

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