Molecular phylogeny of the freshwater sponges in Lake Baikal

The phylogenetic relationship of the freshwater sponges (Porifera) in Lake Baikal is not well understood. A polyphyletic and/or monophyletic origin have been proposed. The (endemic) Baikalian sponges have been subdivided into two families: endemic Lubomirskiidae and cosmopolitan Spongillidae. In the present study, two new approaches have been made to resolve the phylogenetic relationship of Baikalian sponges; analysis of (1) nucleotide sequences from one mitochondrial gene, the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and of (2) one selected intron from the tubulin gene. Specimens from the following endemic Baikalian sponge species have been studied; Lubomirskia baicalensis, Baikalospongia intermedia, Baikalospongia recta, Baikalospongia bacillifera and Swartschewskia papyracea. They are all grouped to the family of Lubomirskiidae. Sequence comparisons were performed with the ubiquitously distributed freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris (family Spongillidae) as well as with one marine sponge, Suberites domuncula. A sequence comparison of the mitochondrial COI gene revealed a monophyletic grouping of the endemic Baikalian sponges with S. lacustris as the most related species to the common ancestor. The sequences of the COI gene from B. recta, B. intermedia, B. bacillifera and L. baicalensis were found to be identical and separated from those of S. lacustris and S. papyracea . In a second approach, the exon/intron sequences framing the intron-2 of the sponge tubulin gene were chosen for the phylogenetic analysis. The intron sequences were aligned and used for construction of a phylogenetic tree. This analysis revealed again a monophyletic grouping with S. lacustris as the closest related species to the common ancestor. It is concluded that the Baikalian sponges, which have been studied here, are of monophyletic origin. Furthermore, the data suggest that the endemic species S. papyracea is the phylogenetically oldest, extant, endemic Baikalian sponge species.