| Summary: | Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Biologia Marinha e Conservação. Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are grouped into four classes with Demospongiae being the largest and most diverse. The habitats composed of deep-sea sponges are considered biodiversity hotspots, being part of the benthic communities where they play a very important role in the ecosystem. These are, however, considered vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) of conservation priority. This study aimed to identify, by means of DNA barcoding, deep-sea sponges collected in an understudied area of the Northeast Atlantic, Selvagens Islands. Eighteen specimens collected in the EMEPC/M@rBis/Selvagens2010 campaign were analyzed. Of these, eight specimens were identified and assigned to five genera - Axinella, Topsentia, Characella, Petrosia and Calyx - representing five families (Axinellidae, Halichondriidae, Pachastrellidae, Petrosiidae, Phloeodictyidae) on the basis of their COI mtDNA and 28S rRNA barcodes. We further discuss the phylogenetic and biogeographic affinities of the identified taxa in light of the sponge fauna of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. The data generated will be further complemented with morphological characterization to allow accurate species-level identifications. This integrative approach is fundamental to understand the diversity and distribution of deep-sea species and contribute to their conservation. As esponjas (Filo Porifera) estão agrupadas em quatro classes, sendo a Demospongiae a maior e mais diversificada. Os habitats compostos por esponjas de profundidade são considerados hotspots de biodiversidade, sendo parte das comunidades bentónicas onde desempenham um papel muito importante no ecossistema. Estes são, no entanto, considerados ecossistemas marinhos vulneráveis (VMEs) de prioridade de conservação. O objetivo neste trabalho foi identificar, através de códigos de barras de ADN, esponjas de profundidade recolhidas numa área sub ...
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