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A recent discovery of freshwater sponges in an unexplored hydrographic basin in north-western Australia provided the opportunity to investigate the genusCorvospongillaAnnandale (Spongillida: Spongillidae) using integrative systematics. Emendation of the genus diagnosis is provided. A comparative analysis of aCorvospongillaglobal dataset of morphological traits together with biogeographic patterns disclosed a new AustralasianCorvospongillaspecies and along with molecular analyses provided the basis for a phylogenetic and phylogeographic tree for some Asian, Afrotropical and Australasian lineages.

Sponges in the subfamily Phyllospongiinae are important components of coral reefs. However, significant taxonomic inconsistencies exist in this group due to the lack of useful morphological characters for species delineation. This study assesses the systematics of some common phyllospongiinids in the genera Carteriospongia, Phyllospongia and Strepsichordaia from tropical Australia and the Red Sea, by using a multigene approach that utilizes the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2, the complete ribosomal 18S rRNA and three 28s rRNA gene regions (D1‒D2, D3‒D5 and D6‒D8), which produced a phylogenetic framework in which complementary morphological taxonomic assessments were performed. Type specimens were included, where available, and six species clades were recovered, including the well-established Phyllospongia papyracea and Strepsichordaia lendenfeldi. Carteriospongia foliascens, the type species for the genus Carteriospongia, is transferred to the genus Phyllospongia, resulting in Carteriospongia becoming a synonym of Phyllospongia. Consequently, Carteriospongia flabellifera is removed from Carteriospongia and is reinstated to its original designation of Polyfibrospongia flabellifera. Two new species, Phyllospongia bergquistae sp. nov. and Polyfibrospongia kulit sp. nov., are described. With phyllospongiinid sponges increasingly used as models for assessing the effects of climate change and anthropogenic stressors, this study provides a reliable systematics framework for the accurate identification of common phyllospongiinids across the Indo-Pacific.

Seven new nitrile-bearing polyacetylenes, named albanitriles A–G, were isolated from a marine sponge of the Mycale genus (Order: Poecilosclerida, Family: Mycalidae) collected near Albany, Western Australia. Structural elucidation was achieved using a combination of high-resolution mass spectrometry and ultraviolet/visible, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The compounds were found to possess moderate activity against Giardia duodenalis when compared to a metronidazole positive control.

The sponge genus Corticium has important evolutionary significance and great pharmacological potential, but its diversity remains poorly known. In this contribution we redescribe two poorly-known Indian and Pacific oceans species, viz., Corticium simplex and C. bargibanti, and describe three new species of Corticium from Western Australia. We observed for the first time the presence of rare calthrops in C. simplex, which has a wide distribution and may be a species complex. The three new species are mainly characterized by their spiculation: Corticium furcatum sp. nov. has large calthrops and exclusive candelabra with bifurcated rays in the apical actine; C. monolophum sp. nov. has large monolophose calthrops, smooth calthrops and candelabra; and C. verticillatum sp. nov. has acanthocalthrops with verticillated spines, which are exclusive to this species within the genus. The diversity of Corticium is raised to 11 species worldwide, but it still remains highly underestimated. A key to all valid species is here provided.

The subfamily Acastinae contains a diverse group of barnacles that are obligate symbionts of sponges and alcyonacean and antipatharian corals. Integrating morphological and genetic (COI) data to compare against known species, this paper reports on nine species of sponge-inhabiting barnacles of the subfamily Acastinae, including three undescribed species (Acasta caveata sp. nov., Euacasta acutaflava sp. nov., and E. excoriatrix sp. nov.) and three species previously not recorded in Australian waters (A. sandwichi, Pectinoacasta cancellorum, and P. sculpturata). The new species are distinguished from similar species by a suite of morphological characters as well as genetic distances. A lectotype for Pectinoacasta cancellorum is designated. Sponge hosts were identified for all specimens where possible and are represented by 19 species from eight families and five orders.

The effective management of marine species relies on a comprehensive understanding of how the environment can influence biodiversity and distributions. This study quantified the biodiversity of invertebrates across the phyla Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Mollusca and Porifera from 132 sampling stations along the coast of the Ningaloo Marine Park (NMP) and across depths ranging from 30 to 123 m, providing a broad assessment of the biodiversity of marine invertebrates in mesophotic habitats of the NMP. Benthic sleds were used to sample biodiversity and specimens identified to the highest taxonomic resolution. Single-beam and multibeam surveys of the seabed were performed to derive 58 spatial and bathymetric variables used to assess their relevance to the distributions of benthic diversity. A total of 787 taxa were identified across the four phyla, of which 51% were rare and sampled from a single station. Latitude and depth were significant in structuring the invertebrate diversity in the mesophotic, with Point Cloates notably identified as a significant geographical feature in partitioning diversity to the north and south of the NMP. Depth was more influential at structuring diversity in the northern section of the NMP due to the narrower Ningaloo Shelf, and southern localities including Turtles and Red Bluff were identified as biodiversity hotspots for benthic invertebrates. Importantly, comparisons of diversity within ‘no-take’ and ‘general use’ zones along the NMP indicate that sanctuary zones represent the diversity contained in the marine park, thus highlighting their importance in the protection and conservation of invertebrate diversity for the region.

A new species of sponge-inhabiting barnacle, Membranobalanus porphyrophilussp. nov., is described herein. This species can be distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of characters, in particular by the shapes of the tergum and scutum and the armament of the cirri. COI sequence data from the type specimens have been lodged with GenBank and a morphological key to the species of Membranobalanus is provided to aid future research. The host of the new species is the southern Australian endemic demosponge Spheciospongia purpurea. The new species of barnacle is thought to be host species specific.

Pyrroloquinoline alkaloids are well known bioactive metabolites commonly found from latrunculiid sponges. Two new pyrroloquinoline alkaloids, 6-bromodamirone B (1) and makaluvamine W (2), were isolated from the Tongan sponge Strongylodesma tongaensis. Makaluvamine W (2) contains an oxazole moiety, which is rare in this large group of natural products, and is the first example of a pyrroloquinoline with nitrogen substitution at C-8. Both 1 and 2 lacked activity against a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60), supporting the premise that an intact iminoquinone moiety plays a key role in the cytotoxicity of this compound class. The chemotaxonomic impact of these makaluvamine-type compounds is also discussed.

An anomalous El Nino-associated sea surface temperature stress event was predicted to affect tropical Australian reefs, including those in North Western Australia in the summer of 2015/2016. Thermal stress events are well known to result in widespread hard coral mortality events, but other symbiotic organisms such as soft corals, giant clams and sponges can also be affected. Here, we examine whether the 2016 thermal stress event deleteriously impacted coral reef communities in the remote Bonaparte Archipelago, central inshore Kimberley bioregion, North West Australia. Our results confirm the region experienced a thermal stress event of similar magnitude to other regional localities (i.e., southern Kimberley and Scott Reef), but contrary to those locations that experienced widespread bleaching events, we find no evidence to suggest widespread mortality events occurred among photosymbiotic organisms in the Bonaparte Archipelago. Photosymbiotic organisms in this region are assumed to be well adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions; however, in this instance, a greater magnitude of night-time cooling may have driven variability in regional susceptibility to thermal stress. The Bonaparte Archipelago is emerging as a globally significant ecological refuge for photosymbiotic benthic fauna that are threatened by cumulative anthropogenic and climate stressors in other parts of their distribution.

Sponges represent one of the most species-rich hosts for commensal barnacles yet host utilisation and diversity have not been thoroughly examined. This study investigated the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of sponge-inhabiting barnacles within a single, targeted host group, primarily from Western Australian waters. Specimens of the sponge order Dictyoceratida were surveyed and a total of 64 host morphospecies, representing four families, were identified as barnacle hosts during the study. Utilising molecular (COI, 12S) and morphological methods 42 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) of barnacles, representing Acasta, Archiacasta, Euacasta and Neoacasta were identified. Comparing inter- and intra-MOTU genetic distances showed a barcode gap between 2.5% and 5% for COI, but between 1% and 1.5% in the 12S dataset, thus demonstrating COI as a more reliable barcoding region. These sponge-inhabiting barnacles were demonstrated to show high levels of host specificity with the majority being found in a single sponge species (74%), a single genus (83%) or a single host family (93%). Phylogenetic relationships among the barnacles were reconstructed using mitochondrial (12S, COI) and nuclear (H3, 28S) markers. None of the barnacle genera were recovered as monophyletic. Euacasta was paraphyletic in relation to the remaining Acastinae genera, which were polyphyletic. Six well-supported clades of molecular operational taxonomic units, herein considered to represent species complexes, were recovered, but relationships between them were not well supported. These complexes showed differing patterns of host usage, though most were phylogenetically conserved with sister lineages typically occupying related hosts within the same genus or family of sponge. The results show that host specialists are predominant, and the dynamics of host usage have played a significant role in the evolutionary history of the Acastinae.

Background A basal spicule of the hexactinellid sponge Monorhaphis chuni may reach up to 3 m in length and 10 mm in diameter, an extreme case of large spicule size. Generally, sponge spicules are of scales from micrometers to centimeters. Due to its large size many researchers have described its structure and properties and have proposed it as a model of hexactinellid spicule development. Thorough examination of new material of this basal spicule has revealed numerous inconsistencies between our observations and earlier descriptions. In this work, we present the results of detailed examinations with transmitted light and epifluorescence microscopy, SEM, solid state NMR analysis, FTIR and X-ray analysis and staining of Monorhaphis chuni basal spicules of different sizes, collected from a number of deep sea locations, to better understand its structure and function. Results Three morphologically/structurally different silica layers i.e. plain glassy layer (PG), tuberculate layer (TL) and annular layer (AL), and an axial cylinder (AC) characterize adult spicules. Young, immature spicules display only plain glassy silica layers which dominate the spicule volume. All three layers i.e. PG, TL and AL can substitute for each other along the surface of the spicule, but equally they are superimposed in older parts of the spicules, with AL being the most external and occurring only in the lower part of the spicules and TL being intermediate between AL and PG. The TL, which is composed of several thinner layers, is formed by a progressive folding of its surface but its microstructure is the same as in the PG layer (glassy silica). The AL differs significantly from the PG and TL in being granular and porous in structure. The TL was found to display positive structures (tubercles), not depressions, as earlier suggested. The apparent perforated and non-perforated bands of the AL are an optical artefact. The new layer type that we called the Ripple Mark Layer (RML) was noted, as well as narrow spikes on the AL ridges, both structures not reported earlier. The interface of the TL and AL, where tubercles fit into depressions of the lower surface of the AL, represent tenon and mortise or dovetail joints, making the spicules more stiff/strong and thus less prone to breaking in the lower part. Early stages of the spicule growth are bidirectional, later growth is unidirectional toward the spicule apex. Growth in thickness proceeds by adding new layers. The spicules are composed of well condensed silica, but the outermost AL is characterized by slightly more condensed silica with less water than the rest. Organics permeating the silica are homogeneous and proteinaceous. The external organic net (most probably collagen) enveloping the basal spicule is a structural element that bounds the sponge body together with the spicule, rather than controlling tubercle formation. Growth of various layers may proceed simultaneously in different locations along the spicule and it is sclerosyncytium that controls formation of silica layers. The growth in spicule length is controlled by extension of the top of the axial filament that is not enclosed by silica and is not involved in further silica deposition. No structures that can be related to sclerocytes (as known in Demospongiae) in Monorhaphis were discovered during this study. Conclusions Our studies resulted in a new insight into the structure and growth of the basal Monorhaphis spicules that contradicts earlier results, and permitted us to propose a new model of this spicule’s formation. Due to its unique structure, associated with its function, the basal spicule of Monorhaphis chuni cannot serve as a general model of growth for all hexactinellid spicules.

Two previously reported bis-indole alkaloids, echinosulfone A and echinosulfonic acid B, have been isolated for the first time from a Western Australian marine sponge, Crella sp. (order: Poecilosclerida, family: Crellidae). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of a decomposition product of echinosulfone A prompted our investigation and subsequent structure reassignment of the echinosulfonic acid natural product family, which we report here. The reassignments are supported by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data, MS fragmentation, and DFT calculations of 13C NMR shifts.

Although the Kimberley coast situated in north-western Australia has been recognized as one of the world’s least human-impacted coastal areas, many knowledge gaps remain and the diversity and extent of marine life in the Kimberley nearshore habitats, north-west Australian remains. One region that has not been comprehensively surveyed is the King George River, far north-eastern Kimberley. Consequently, a multi-taxon biodiversity and habitat survey was conducted in 2014. The survey included 146 stations ranging from the base of the King George River twin waterfalls to the mouth of the river and 15 km offshore into the Timor Sea. The King George River region contains at least eleven habitat types. As the river bends some four and a half kilometres upstream from the mouth, there are extensive stands of mangroves. Rocky shores occur along the coast. Lesueur Islet is a low, vegetated islet surrounded by a fringing coral reef. Subtidally, the reef supports a diverse coral fauna and algal flora. Deep-water sedimentary and filter feeder communities occur offshore around and beyond Lesueur Islet. A total of 1374 animal and plant lots were collected, comprising about 3500 specimens. A total of 796 species were recorded. There were at least nine new species discovered of which five have since been named. The new species comprised five crustaceans and four echinoderms. In addition, there were eleven new records for Australia (one Cnidarian, two Echinoderms, multiple molluscs, eight crustaceans) and eighteen new records for Western Australia (all Crustaceans.) Our species accumulation curve analyses suggest true species richness may have been much higher than this and that we sampled a small area from a highly diverse community. Total richness is anticipated to be far higher. It is likely that the results are, in part, due to under sampling of hard bottom substrate in the region.

Seven new nitrile-bearing polyacetylenes, named albanitriles A-G, were isolated from a marine sponge of the

The extraordinary biocompatibility and mechanical properties of chitinous scaffolds from marine sponges endows these structures with unique properties that render them ideal for diverse biomedical applications. In the present work, a technological route to produce "ready-to-use" tissue-engineered products based on poriferan chitin is comprehensively investigated for the first time. Three key stages included isolation of scaffolds from the marine demosponge Ianthella basta, confirmation of their biocompatibility with human mesenchymal stromal cells, and cryopreservation of the tissue-like structures grown within these scaffolds using a slow cooling protocol. Biocompatibility of the macroporous, flat chitin scaffolds has been confirmed by cell attachment, high cell viability and the ability to differentiate into the adipogenic lineage. The viability of cells cryopreserved on chitin scaffolds was reduced by about 30% as compared to cells cryopreserved in suspension. However, the surviving cells were able to retain their differentiation potential; and this is demonstrated for the adipogenic lineage. The results suggest that chitin from the marine demosponge I. basta is a promising, highly biocompatible biomaterial for stem cell-based tissue-engineering applications.

Globally, many temperate marine communities have experienced significant temperature increases over recent decades in the form of gradual warming and heatwaves. As a result, these communities are shifting towards increasingly subtropical and tropical species compositions. Expanding coral populations have been reported from several temperate reef ecosystems along warming coastlines; these changes have been attributed to direct effects of gradual warming over decades. In contrast, increases in coral populations following shorter-term extreme warming events have rarely been documented. In this study, we compared coral populations on 17 temperate reefs in Western Australia before (2005/06) and after (2013) multiple marine heatwaves (2010–2012) affected the entire coastline. We hypothesised that coral communities would expand and change as a consequence of increasing local populations and recruitment of warm-affinity species. We found differences in coral community structure over time, driven primarily by a fourfold increase of one local species, Plesiastrea versipora, rather than recruitment of warm-affinity species. Coral populations became strongly dominated by small size classes, indicative of recent increased recruitment or recruit survival. These changes were likely facilitated by competitive release of corals from dominant temperate seaweeds, which perished during the heatwaves, rather than driven by direct temperature effects. Overall, as corals are inherently warm-water taxa not commonly associated with seaweed-dominated temperate reefs, these findings are consistent with a net tropicalisation. Our study draws attention to processes other than gradual warming that also influence the trajectory of temperate reefs in a changing ocean.

Two new species of the genus Vetulina Schmidt, 1879 (Demospongiae, Vetulinidae, Sphaerocladina) were found off the coast of Western Australia (Indian Ocean). This genus is characterized by acrepid polyaxial desmas (sphaeroclones) equipped with arborescent branched outgrowths with spine-like processes and isometric styles as microscleres. Vetulina indica sp. nov. is an irregular, laterally folded ear-shaped cup with smooth surfaces, and V. rugosa sp. nov. is similar in shape but with a distinctive ribbed inner surface. Both species are very similar in spicule composition, but are distinguished by their gross morphology and pattern of canal openings on the surface. Despite the fact that we could not distinguish the two specimens based on molecular (CO1) data, we consider them as two separate species based on the morphological species concept. Our molecular phylogeny confirms again that Vetulina is sister to spongillids (freshwater sponges). This is the first occurrence of this genus outside the Caribbean Atlantic, and the first report from the Indian Ocean. Such a disjunct distribution is considered here to be a relict of a once widely distributed sponge population in the ancient Tethys Sea.

Two new bromotyrosine alkaloids, ma'edamines C and D, were isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Suberea sp. The structures of ma'edamines C and D were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Ma'edamines C and D were the first natural products possessing a unique tetrasubstituted pyridinium moiety such as N-alkyl-3,5-diethyl-2-propylpyridinium and N-alkyl-3,5-diethyl-4-propylpyridinium, respectively. Ma'edamines C and D exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against murine leukemia cell line L1210 in vitro.

The cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota has been reported throughout the Indo-Pacific including the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The species encrusts live coral, giant clams, and other benthos and can be a threat to benthic communities on coral reefs. The Kimberley region of Western Australia has some of the least impacted reefs globally. We report for the first time the presence of T. hoshinota in the eastern Indian Ocean on Kimberley inshore coral reefs. Given its invasive potential, reef health surveys should include this species, and monitoring approaches developed to audit the remote Kimberley for this and other invasive species.

Naturally occurring three-dimensional (3D) biopolymer-based matrices that can be used in different biomedical applications are sustainable alternatives to various artificial 3D materials. For this purpose, chitin-based structures from marine sponges are very promising substitutes. Marine sponges from the order Verongiida (class Demospongiae) are typical examples of demosponges with well-developed chitinous skeletons. In particular, species belonging to the family Ianthellidae possess chitinous, flat, fan-like fibrous skeletons with a unique, microporous 3D architecture that makes them particularly interesting for applications. In this work, we focus our attention on the demosponge Ianthella flabelliformis (Linnaeus, 1759) for simultaneous extraction of both naturally occurring (&ldquo, ready-to-use&rdquo, ) chitin scaffolds, and biologically active bromotyrosines which are recognized as potential antibiotic, antitumor, and marine antifouling substances. We show that selected bromotyrosines are located within pigmental cells which, however, are localized within chitinous skeletal fibers of I. flabelliformis. A two-step reaction provides two products: treatment with methanol extracts the bromotyrosine compounds bastadin 25 and araplysillin-I N20 sulfamate, and a subsequent treatment with acetic acid and sodium hydroxide exposes the 3D chitinous scaffold. This scaffold is a mesh-like structure, which retains its capillary network, and its use as a potential drug delivery biomaterial was examined for the first time. The results demonstrate that sponge-derived chitin scaffolds, impregnated with decamethoxine, effectively inhibit growth of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus in an agar diffusion assay.

Glass sponges (Class Hexactinellida) are described from the Perth Canyon in the eastern Indian Ocean, resulting in 10 genera being recorded, including 11 species, five of which are new to science. In addition, the study resulted in two new records for Australia, Pheronema raphanus and Monorhaphis chuni, and one new record for the Indian Ocean, Walteria flemmingi. A second species of Calyptorete is described over 90 years after the genus was first established with a single species. A significant difference was noted between the condition of sponges collected on the RV Falkor, which used an ROV, and the earlier RV Southern Surveyor expedition, which used sleds and trawls. The ROV collected specimens were in excellent condition, while those from the sleds and trawls tended to be damaged or fragmented.

Morphological and molecular characters have identified a new family and genus of Verongiida in the Porifera: Demospongiae. The taxa are based on a new study of Dendrilla lacunosa Hentschel, 1912, a species that, using integrative taxonomy, has been found to belong to Verongimorpha instead of Keratosa. The species suite of characters require the erection of a new genus, Ernstilla n. gen. with affinities to Ianthellidae. However, the dendritic skeleton, absence of cells within the fibers, and molecular characters distinguish it from this family and prompts the establishment of a new family, Ernstillidae.

Evolution and multi-functionality of the chitin system in sponges (Porifera) is currently a prime focus in modern experimental zoology including in phylogenetic studies of diverse poriferan taxa. Here, we present the first evidence of chitin in the skeleton of the demosponge originally defined as Dendrilla lacunosa (Porifera: Dendroceratida: Keratosa). The presence of chitin has been clearly confirmed using special Calcofluor white staining, Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), as well as a chitinase digestion assay. This feature is, however, unusual for Keratosa sponges with skeletons usually made of structural protein – spongin, and at the same time is typical for sponges of the Verongiida (subclass Verongimorpha). Consequently, obtained bioanalytical results, together with our findings about distinctive morphological and molecular characters of this Dendrilla-like sponge confirmed the necessity of renaming this organism as a novel species Ernstilla lacunosa in the new family Ernstillidae. This study is the first example of the impact of the reporting of chitin on the systematics of sponges.

Marine sponges remain representative of a unique source of renewable biological materials. The demosponges of the family Ianthellidae possess chitin-based skeletons with high biomimetic potential. These three-dimensional (3D) constructs can potentially be used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this study, we focus our attention, for the first time, on the marine sponge Ianthella labyrinthus Bergquist &amp, Kelly-Borges, 1995 (Demospongiae: Verongida: Ianthellidae) as a novel potential source of naturally prestructured bandage-like 3D scaffolds which can be isolated simultaneously with biologically active bromotyrosines. Specifically, translucent and elastic flat chitinous scaffolds have been obtained after bromotyrosine extraction and chemical treatments of the sponge skeleton with alternate alkaline and acidic solutions. For the first time, cardiomyocytes differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) have been used to test the suitability of I. labyrinthus chitinous skeleton as ready-to-use scaffold for their cell culture. Results reveal a comparable attachment and growth on isolated chitin-skeleton, compared to scaffolds coated with extracellular matrix mimetic Geltrex&reg, Thus, the natural, unmodified I. labyrinthus cleaned sponge skeleton can be used to culture iPSC-CMs and 3D tissue engineering. In addition, I. labyrinthus chitin-based scaffolds demonstrate strong and efficient capability to absorb blood deep into the microtubes due to their excellent capillary effect. These findings are suggestive of the future development of new sponge chitin-based absorbable hemostats as alternatives to already well recognized cellulose-based fabrics.

New bisindole alkaloids, hyrtinadines C (1) and D (2), have been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Hyrtios sp. The structures of hyrtinadines C (1) and D (2) were elucidated based on analyses of the spectral data. Hyrtinadines C (1) and D (2) were the relatively rare alkaloids possessing a 3,4-fused azepinoindole skeleton. Hyrtinadines C (1) and D (2) showed antimicrobial activity.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancers that currently lacks effective targeted therapy. In this study, we found that aurantoside C (C828), isolated from the marine sponge Manihinea lynbeazleyae collected from Western Australia, exhibited higher cytotoxic activities in TNBC cells compared with non-TNBC (luminal and normal-like) cells. The cytotoxic effect of C828 was associated to the accumulation of cell at S-phase, resulting in the decline of cyclin D1, cyclin E1, CDK4, and CDK6, and an increase in p21. We also found that C828 inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt/mTOR and NF-kB pathways and increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK pathways, leading to apoptosis in TNBC cells. These effects of C828 were not observed in non-TNBC cells at the concentrations that were cytotoxic to TNBC cells. When compared to the cytotoxic effect with the chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin and cisplatin, C828 was found to be 20 times and 35 times more potent than doxorubicin and cisplatin, respectively. These results indicate that C828 could be a promising lead for developing new anticancer agents that target TNBC cells.

The biology and ecology of calcarean sponges are not as well understood as they are for demosponges. Here, in order to gain new insights, particularly about symbiotic relationships, the calcarean sponge Leucetta prolifera was sampled from south-western Australia and examined for its assumed photosymbionts. Pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry and extraction of photopigments established that the sponge was photosynthetic. Molecular analysis of the bacterial symbionts via sequencing of the V1–V3 region of the 16S rDNA gene confirmed that between 5 and 22% of all sequences belonged to the phylum Cyanobacteria, depending on the individual sample, with the most dominant strain aligning with Hormoscilla spongeliae, a widely distributed sponge symbiont. Analysis of fatty acids suggested that the sponge obtains nutrition through photosynthates from its symbionts. The relationship is assumed to be mutualistic, with the sponge receiving dietary support and the cyanobacteria sheltering in the sponge tissues. We list all Calcarea presently known to harbour photosymbionts.

Three new oxylipins, manzamenone P ( 1 ), 6′- O -methylmanzamenone K ( 2 ), and 6′- O -ethylmanzamenone K ( 3 ), were isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Plakortis sp. Manzamenone P ( 1 ) is a unique oxylipin possessing two long acyl chains and a novel core unit consisting of spiro-bonded cyclohexanone and β-keto-γ-lactone rings. The structures of 1 – 3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences including 2D NMR and FABMS/MS spectra as well as a comparison of DFT calculated NMR data with those experimental data.

On 3–9 November 2013 the 9th World Sponge Conference was held in Fremantle, Western Australia under the theme ‘New Frontiers in Sponge Science’. The 186 participants were greeted with a banner tethered to the statue of Eliza in the Swan River (Figure 1A; list of participants available in Appendix 1). The conference then started with a Welcome to Country ceremony and an icebreaker function at the Western Australian Maritime Museum on Sunday (Figure 1B), followed by 4 days of conference programme at the Esplanade Hotel with 229 presentations (104 full talks, 17 speed talks, 108 posters; Figure 1C–F), a choice of field trips on Friday and a sponge classification workshop at the University of Western Australia on Saturday (Figure 1G). This was the second time that the international forum of sponge science convened in Australia, after the 5th International Sponge Symposium was held in Brisbane (Hooper, 1999). Inviting delegates to Fremantle in Western Australia offered access to a diverse mix of history, culture, restaurants and nightlife, with everything within walking distance, and buses, trains and ferries connecting to Perth City. The other reason for meeting in Western Australia was the high potential for exchange between the various sectors of science, academia, application-uptake, industries and commercial use, policy making and regulation. As a consequence, on the first day of the conference one session was dedicated to presentations in the context of industrial activities, fisheries, monitoring and managing sponge habitats (Appendix 2). On the last day of the conference two sessions were given to biotechnology presentations (Appendix 2). Other sessions covered general ecology, phylogeny, symbioses, taxonomy and population biology (sequence according to number of oral presentations; Appendix 2). The programme and the book of abstracts, as well as a media release can be found on the event webpage (Sponge Conference Committee, 2012), and additional accounts were given by Marshall (2013); Mazard (2013) and Schonberg (2014).

A new manzamine alkaloid, zamamidine D (1), was isolated from an Okinawan Amphimedon sp. marine sponge. The structure of zamamidine D (1) including the relative configuration was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Zamamidine D (1) is the first manzamine alkaloid possessing a 2,2′-methylenebistryptamine unit as the aromatic moiety instead of a β-carboline unit. Zamamidine D (1) showed antimicrobial activity against several bacteria and fungi.

The isolation of bromotyrosine alkaloids, some of which are enantiomers of previously isolated compounds, has highlighted a possible enantiodivergence in their biosynthesis. Two new (1, 2) and six known bromotyrosine alkaloids (4–9), and the enantiomer (10) of a known compound, have been isolated from a Western Australian marine sponge, Pseudoceratina cf. verrucosa. The compounds inhibited the growth of multidrug-resistant and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with comparable activity to vancomycin. In addition, one possible artifact of extraction (3) containing an ethoxy group was isolated. From analysis of the known bromotyrosine alkaloids, a biogenesis is proposed that explains the formation of antipodal natural products within this family of sponges.