Phylogenetic analyses of marine sponges within the order Verongida: a comparison of morphological and molecular data

Erwin, Patrick M.; Thacker, Robert

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2007.00092.x

Cited by 49 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Marine invertebrates commonly produce secondary metabolites with the largest incidence found within the phylum Porifera (Erwin & Thacker, 2007). The prevalence of such compounds in marine invertebrate taxa has not gone unnoticed taxonomically (Bergquist & Wells, 1983;Lee & Gilchrist, 1985) and has helped to identify new species and to clarify species complexes in the past (Thompson et al, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative variation in colour morphotypes of Ianthella basta (Porifera: Verongida)

et al. 2011

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Natural populations of marine invertebrates often exhibit measureable morphologic variation resulting in taxonomic confusion. This potentially has severe consequences for experimental design and data management. Species of the sponge genus Ianthella embody a number of different morphologies and a diverse range of secondary metabolites. Among them, Ianthella basta (Pallas, 1776), a common sponge in Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), exhibits two dominant colour morphotypes: yellow and purple. Specimens collected from Orpheus Island on the GBR were investigated using phylogenetic (CO1, ITS-2 sequence analysis), chemical (mass spectrometry) and microbial (DGGE and 16S rRNA clone library) techniques in an effort to fully characterise the two colour morphs. Phylogenetic analyses indicated sharp genetic discontinuities within I. basta sensu lato independent of colour variation. The two morphotypes did, however, correspond to distinct DGGE profiles largely due to the presence of additional bands in the purple morpho-group. Further comparison of the microbial communities by 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that whilst both colour morphs were dominated by only two bacterial symbionts (residing within the Gamma and Alphaproteobacteria), the purple morph also contained minor representatives of the Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi and Verrucomicrobia. Untargeted metabolic profiling by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) indicated two distinct clusters corresponding to the different sponge colours. A clear association was found between the araplysillin class of compounds and the purple morphotype of I. basta, indicating the utility of a metabolomic approach to assess differences between colour morphs. These results have important implications for ecological investigations in sponges and other invertebrate taxa whose morphology is fundamentally dynamic, stressing the need for precise taxonomic, chemical and microbial descriptions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative variation in colour morphotypes of Ianthella basta (Porifera: Verongida)

et al. 2011

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“…Verongid sponges form a cohesive and distinct order of marine sponges (Erwin and Thacker, 2007). Although clearly delineated from other orders, the intraordinal relationships among verongid sponges are rather complicated and poorly understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chitin-based scaffolds are an integral part of the skeleton of the marine demosponge Ianthella basta

Brunner

Ehrlich

Schupp

et al. 2009

Journal of Structural Biology

161

136

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The skeletons of demosponges, such as Ianthella basta, are known to be a composite material containing organic constituents. Here, we show that a filigree chitin-based scaffold is an integral component of the I. basta skeleton. These chitin-based scaffolds can be isolated from the sponge skeletons using an isolation and purification technique based on treatment with alkaline solutions. Solid-state 13 C NMR, Raman, and FT-IR spectroscopies, as well as chitinase digestion, reveal that the isolated material indeed consists of chitin. The morphology of the scaffolds has been determined by light and electron microscopy. It consists of cross-linked chitin fibers approximately 40-100 nm in diameter forming a micro-structured network. The overall shape of this network closely resembles the shape of the integer sponge skeleton. Solid-state 13 C NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize the sponge skeleton on a molecular level. The 13 C NMR signals of the chitin-based scaffolds are relatively broad, indicating a high amount of disordered chitin, possibly in the form of surfaceexposed molecules. X-ray diffraction confirms that the scaffolds isolated from I. basta consist of partially disordered and loosely packed chitin with large surfaces. The spectroscopic signature of these chitin-based scaffolds is closer to that of α-chitin than β-chitin.

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“…These characteristics are often not diagnostic beyond the genus level and show high levels of intra-specific variability (e.g. Maldonado and Uriz, 1996;Erwin and Thacker, 2007a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic plasticity in the Caribbean sponge <i>Callyspongia vaginalis</i> (Porifera: Haplosclerida)

López‐Legentil¹,

Erwin²,

Henkel³

et al. 2010

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: Sponge morphological plasticity has been a long-standing source of taxonomic difficulty. In the Caribbean, several morphotypes of the sponge Callyspongia vaginalis have been observed. To determine the taxonomic status of three of these morphotypes and their relationship with the congeneric species C. plicifera and C. fallax, we compared the spicule composition, spongin fiber skeleton and sequenced fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S and COI and nuclear genes 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA. Phylogenetic analyses with ribosomal markers 18S and 28S rRNA confirmed the position of our sequences within the Callyspongiidae. None of the genetic markers provided evidence for consistent differentiation among the three morphotypes of C. vaginalis and C. fallax, and only C. plicifera stood as a distinct species. The 16S mtDNA gene was the most variable molecular marker for this group, presenting a nucleotide variability (p = 0.024) higher than that reported for COI. Unlike recent studies for other sponge genera, our results indicate that species in the genus Callyspongia maintain a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, and that morphological characteristics may not reflect reproductive boundaries in C. vaginalis.Keywords: sponge, spicule, COI mtDNA, 16S mtDNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, morphotypes, Callyspongia, phenotype. RESUMEN: Plasticidad fenotípica de la esponja Callyspongia vaginalis (Porifera: Haplosclerida). -La gran plasticidad morfológica de ciertas esponjas dificulta una correcta clasificación taxonómica. En el Caribe, se han observado varios morfotipos de la esponja Callyspongia vaginalis a nivel de colores y formas. Con el fin de determinar su clasificación taxonómica, se muestrearon y analizaron tres morfotipos de C. vaginalis y sus especies congenéricas C. plicifera y C. fallax. Para cada muestra, se observó la composición espicular y del esqueleto dermal y se secuenciaron parte de los genes mitocondriales 16S y COI y parte de los genes ribosomales 28S y 18S. Los análisis filogenéticos con los genes ribosomales 18S y 28S confirmaron la posición taxonómica de las secuencias obtenidas. Ninguno de los marcadores genéticos utilizados reveló diferencias consistentes entre los tres morfotipos de C. vaginalis y C. fallax, y sólo C. pleicifera apareció en los análisis como una especie distinta. El gen mitocondrial 16S fue el marcador molecular más variable para este grupo, presentando una variabilidad nucleotídica (p = 0.024) superior a la descrita para COI. Nuestros resultados indican que las especies del género Callyspongia presentan una gran plasticidad fenotípica y que estas diferencias morfológicas no suponen barreras reproductivas para C. vaginalis.

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Phylogenetic analyses of marine sponges within the order Verongida: a comparison of morphological and molecular data

Cited by 49 publications

References 43 publications

Qualitative variation in colour morphotypes of Ianthella basta (Porifera: Verongida)

Qualitative variation in colour morphotypes of Ianthella basta (Porifera: Verongida)

Chitin-based scaffolds are an integral part of the skeleton of the marine demosponge Ianthella basta

Phenotypic plasticity in the Caribbean sponge <i>Callyspongia vaginalis</i> (Porifera: Haplosclerida)

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