A novel target‐enriched multilocus assay for sponges (Porifera): Red Sea Haplosclerida (Demospongiae) as a test case

• DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13891
• Publication Date: 2023-11-28T00:55:39Z
• Authors: Joëlle van der Sp...; Nicole Joy de Voogd; Grace Patricia Mc...; Kenneth Sandoval; Simone Schätzle; Oliver Voigt; Dirk Erpenbeck; Gert Wörheide; Sergio Vargas
• Keywords: Marine invertebrates; Phylogenetic diversity

Abstract With declining biodiversity worldwide, a better understanding of species diversity and their relationships is imperative for conservation management efforts. Marine sponges are species‐rich ecological key players on coral reefs, but still poorly understood. This particularly true the demosponge order Haplosclerida, whose systematic contentious due to incongruencies between morphological molecular phylogenetic hypotheses. The single gene markers applied in previous studies did not resolve these discrepancies. Hence, there high need genome‐wide approach derive phylogenetically robust classification understand this group's evolutionary relationships. To end, we developed target enrichment‐based multilocus probe assay Haplosclerida using transcriptomic data. consists 20,000 enrichment probes targeting 2956 ultraconserved elements coding (i.e. exon) regions across genome was tested 26 haplosclerid specimens from Red Sea. Our target‐enrichment correctly placed our samples well‐supported phylogeny, agreement with phylogenies. results demonstrate applicability high‐resolution genomic methods systematically complex marine invertebrate group provide promising phylogenies Haplosclerida. Subsequently, will lead biologically unambiguous taxonomic revisions, interpretations biological observations new avenues research, managing diversity.