@article{fdi:010091182,
  title = {{M}olecular genetic biodiversity assessment of the {W}allis {I}sland sponge fauna in the {T}ropical {P}acific},
  author = {{G}alitz, {A}. and {E}kins, {M}. and {R}eddy, {M}. {M}. and {F}olcher, {E}. and {D}umas, {M}. and {B}utscher, {J}ohn and {T}homas, {O}. {P}. and {V}oigt, {O}. and {W}{\¨o}rheide, {G}. and {P}etek, {S}ylvain and {E}rpenbeck, {D}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}olynesia is a hotspot for marine biodiversity in the {S}outh {P}acific {O}cean, yet the distribution of many invertebrate taxa in this region is still often poorly assessed. {I}nformation on the diversity and phylogeography of sponges in particular remains limited in spite of their importance for coral reef ecosystems. {R}ecent expeditions to the island group of {W}allis and {F}utuna enabled the first larger-scale assessment of the {W}allis {I}sland sponge fauna, resulting in the molecular identification of 82 unique {M}olecular {O}perational {T}axonomic {U}nits ({MOTU}s) from 339 sponge samples based on 28{S} {C}-region r{DNA} and {CO}1 mt{DNA} data. {F}aunal comparisons with both adjacent archipelagos and more distant {I}ndo-{P}acific regions were predominantly based on the {MOTU}s obtained from {W}allis {I}sland ecoregions, and suggest high levels of endemism of sponges in {W}allis and {F}utuna, corroborating previous data on the biodiversity of sponges and other marine phyla in the {S}outh {P}acific. {T}he results of this molecular taxonomic survey of the {W}allis and {F}utuna sponge fauna aim to lay solid foundations for a sustainable '{B}lue {E}conomy' in {W}allis and {F}utuna for the conservation of their local coral reefs.},
  keywords = {{C}entral {P}olynesia ; {E}astern {I}ndo-{P}acific ; molecular taxonomy ; {P}orifera ; {PACIFIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of the {M}arine {B}iological {A}ssociation of the {U}nited {K}ingdom},
  volume = {104},
  numero = {},
  pages = {e56 [11 p.]},
  ISSN = {0025-3154},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1017/s0025315424000432},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091182},
}