Project 2448: P. M. Erwin, R. W. Thacker. 2007. Phylogenetic analyses of marine sponges within the order Verongida: a comparison of morphological and molecular data. Invertebrate Biology. 126 (3):220-234.
Specimen: Aplysina cauliformis (unvouchered)
View: whole animal

Abstract

Because the taxonomy of marine sponges is based primarily on morphological characters that can display a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, current classifications may not always reflect evolutionary relationships. To assess phylogenetic relationships among sponges in the order Verongida, we examined 11 verongid species, representing six genera and four families. We compared the utility of morphological and molecular data in verongid sponge systematics by comparing a phylogeny constructed from a morphological character matrix with a phylogeny based on nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. The morphological phylogeny was not well resolved below the ordinal level, likely hindered by the paucity of characters available for analysis, and the potential plasticity of these characters. The molecular phylogeny was well resolved and robust from the ordinal to the species level. We also examined the morphology of spongin fibers to assess their reliability in verongid sponge taxonomy. Fiber diameter and pith content were highly variable within and among species. Despite this variability, spongin fiber comparisons were useful at lower taxonomic levels (i.e., among congeneric species); however, these characters are potentially homoplasic at higher taxonomic levels (i.e., between families). Our molecular data provide good support for the current classification of verongid sponges, but suggest a re-examination and potential reclassification of the genera Aiolochroia and Pseudoceratina. The placements of these genera highlight two current issues in morphology-based sponge taxonomy: intermediate character states and undetermined character polarity.


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Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2007.00092.x

Project DOI: 10.7934/P2448, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P2448
This project containsMatrices
  • 10 Media
  • 1 Matrix
  • 13 Taxa
  • 10 Specimens
  • 13 Characters
Total size of project's media files: 2.12M

Download Project SDD File
Total scored cells: 169
Total media associated with cells: 10
Total labels associated with cell media: 0
Characters
Total characters: 13
Total characters with associated media: 0
Total characters with media with labels: 0
Total character states: 54
Total character states with associated media: 0
Total character states with media with labels:0
Total unordered/ordered characters:13/0
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MorphoBank Project 2448

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    Authors' Institutions

    • University of Alabama



    Members

    member name taxa specimens media chars character
    media
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    (scored, NPA, "-")
    cell
    medialabels
    rules
    MorphoBank Curator
    Project Administrator
    1310101300169
    (161, 0, 8)
    1000


    Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M24010' (13 Taxa)

    taxon unscored
    cells
    scored
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    no cell
    support
    NPA
    cells
    "-" cellscell images labels on
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    [1] Aiolochroia crassa
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [2] Aplysina aerophoba
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [3] Aplysina cauliformis
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [4] Aplysina fistularis
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131300001
    [5] Aplysina fulva
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [6] Aplysinella rhax
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0111102001
    [7] Ianthella basta
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [8] Pseudoceratina arabica
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131300001
    [9] Smenospongia aurea
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    010803201
    [10] Verongula gigantea
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [11] Verongula reiswigi
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131300001
    [12] Verongula rigida
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    0131200101
    [13] Chondrilla nucula
    Last Modified in 06/23/16
    010903101


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