Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (1987). Taxonomy of Porifera from the N.E. Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. NATO ASI Series G: Ecological sciences, 13. Springer: Berlin. ISBN 3-540-16091-4. VIII, 332 pp.

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Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N.

1987

VIII, 332 pp.

Publication

Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Atlanto-Mediterranean Sponge Taxonomy

Available for editors   [request]

Although sponges are one of the major components of littoral ecosystems, their systematics obviously lags behind that of the majority of other groups of marine invertebrates. Also the evolutionary trends in these most primitive of the Metazoans are poorly understood. The confused state of their taxonomy and the difficulties with their identification prevent their use in ecological studies. The emphasis of interest presently seems to have shifted towards chemistry, but many of the hundreds of interesting chemicals recently described in sponges pro- bably have been found in mistakenly or imprecisely identified animals. This situ- ation will become worse in the next few years, when a number of experts will retire and will not be replaced by new ones, owing to the difficulties that the science of systematics is facing in most countries - as exemplified during this meeting by an informal discussion on the endangered future of European Museums. Under these circumstances, it is the responsability of present sponge taxono- mists to leave a less confused state and tools such as simple fauna or computerized data bases to generations following. These tools do not exist even in one of the best studied areas, the North-Eastern Atlantic (including the Mediterranean Sea). A small group of European sponge taxonomists met in 1983 at Sherkin Island Ma- rine Station (Ireland), in order to initiate the "first action". A few scientific papers, edited by W. C. Jones, have been published in the Journal of Sherkin Island and a decision was made to continue the effort. The present Advanced Research Work- shop, financed by NATO Scientific Division and held, in September 1986, in Mar- seille, is the first step of this decision. The workshop had three broad objectives : (l) To make an attempt to reach a consensus on the major unsolved problems. (2) To establish or reinforce collabo- rative works. For instance, a small group of eight participants will study the cons- titution of a common computerized data base, which is needed drastically, but which can only be established by a joint effort. (3) To introduce or develop new methods and new concepts in the taxonomy of these animals. The introduction of cladistic concepts and methods, the use of field characteristics observed in situ on large populations, enzyme studies, computerized analysis of spicule forms and cha- racteristics, chemical data on secondary metabolites, cytological data at the ultra- structural level, were ideas emphasized during the meeting. They appear most pro- mising both in the distinction and identification of the species and in the defi- nition of higher taxa. However, it must be noted that sponge taxonomy will con- tinue to rely on conventional skeletal features for a long time, although we are still extremely ignorant of the importance of their seasonaI and ecological variations. Most sincere thanks are due to the NATO Scientific Division and to all the people who contributed to the success of this workshop. Lauren Gollahon, who corrected the English of non-anglophone contributors, is greatly acknowledged. A special debt of gratitude is due to Monique Verdenal for her much appreciated work in retyping and preparing all the manucripts in their camera-ready form.

Systematics, Taxonomy

Porifera

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