The Utilityof 28S rDNA for Barcoding of Freshwater Sponges (Porifera, Spongillida)

Sponges (Porifera, Spongillida) make up the bulk of benthic biomass in Lake Baikal and are represented by family Lubomirskiidae, a collection endemic species, several species cosmopolitan Spongillidae. We conducted an analysis D3 domain 28S rDNA 16 freshwater sponge species. Based on molecular data, we were able to identify all collected Spongillidae specimens whose identification was difficult due lack gemmules. Phylogenetic trees have shown that Ephydatia muelleri, Spongilla lacustris, Eunapius fragilis formed monophyletic clades, can be used for their DNA barcoding. For sponges, use this marker is important since gemmule-less Lubomirskiidae are, some cases, indistinguishable from each other morphology. The has been useful species-level sponges within Spongillida.