Sponge TaxonOMICs V2

• Applicants: Dr. Dirk Erpenbeck; Privatdozent Dr. Sergio Vargas Ramírez; Professor Dr. Gert Wörheide
• Subject Area: Systematics and Morphology (Zoology) ; Evolution, Anthropology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 351280491

Sponges (Porifera) are important players in the world's ecosystems, but difficult to identify and for this, standard DNA barcoding is insufficient. In this project, we will build on the novel species identification assay developed during the first phase of the Priority Program, which was based on target enrichment and Illumina technology, and further develop and apply this assay to a taxonomically very difficult group of Demosponges, the Haplosclerida. For this, we will use fresh and recently collected specimens from the Red Sea as well as material from museum collections including (holo)types ("museomics") to further reliable species discovery and distinction in the Haplosclerida, one of the most speciose order of sponges.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1991: Taxon-Omics: New approaches for discovering and naming biodiversity
• International Connection: Ireland
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Grace McCormack