# Identification and phylogenetic analysis of marine sponges in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba using DNA barcoding

## TL;DR

This study uses DNA barcoding to identify and classify marine sponges in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba, revealing five sponge genera and an unidentified one.

## Contribution

This is the first morpho-molecular study of marine sponges in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba using DNA barcoding markers.

## Key findings

- Five sponge genera were identified: Axinella, Negombata, Siphonochalina, Diacarnus, and an unidentified genus in Haplosclerida.
- DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis provided a reliable method for sponge identification due to limited morphological traits.
- This study establishes a new protocol for sponge identification at the genus level in the region.

## Abstract

Sponges (Porifera) are the largest biomass component of coral reefs benthic fauna among marine organisms and are very morphologically diverse. In the present work, we aimed to identify marine sponges in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba using the partial 18S rRNA and the 28S rRNA genes as DNA barcoding markers. A total of nine morphologically different marine sponge samples from 6.6m to approximately 22m depth were collected. Sponge fragments were frozen at −80 °C prior to DNA extraction. The sponge's DNA was extracted using a commercial kit and subjected directly to PCR amplification for the 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes. The DNA sequences were analyzed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to determine the sponge's identity, and phylogenetic trees were constructed to clarify the relationship among the samples. The results obtained revealed the presence of the following genera: Axinella, Negombata, Siphonochalina, Diacarnus, and an unidentified genus within the order Haplosclerida. Identification of sponge species was difficult due to the scarcity of diagnostic morphological characters. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba that focuses on the morphological and molecular taxonomy of marine sponges using DNA barcoding markers.

•The marine sponges of the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan, are still unknown.•New protocol to identify different types of sponges at the genus level.•Genera found: Axinella, Negombata, Siphonochalina, Diacarnus and an unidentified genus within the order Haplosclerida.•The phylogenetic approach can achieve a level of confidence for sponge identification.•This is the first morpho-molecular identification of Porifera in the Gulf of Aqaba.

The marine sponges of the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan, are still unknown.

New protocol to identify different types of sponges at the genus level.

Genera found: Axinella, Negombata, Siphonochalina, Diacarnus and an unidentified genus within the order Haplosclerida.

The phylogenetic approach can achieve a level of confidence for sponge identification.

This is the first morpho-molecular identification of Porifera in the Gulf of Aqaba.