First comprehensive biodiversity assessment of the sponge fauna of Wallis (Wallis et Futuna) in the Tropical Pacific. Wallis Sponge Biodiversity

Polynesia is a hotspot for marine biodiversity in the South Pacific Ocean, yet the distribution of many invertebrate taxa in this region is still often poorly assessed. Information on the diversity and phylogeography of sponges in particular remains limited in spite of their importance for coral reef ecosystems. Recent expeditions to the island group of Wallis and Futuna enabled the first comprehensive assessment of the Wallis Island sponge fauna, resulting in the molecular identification of 87 unique molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) from 331 sponge samples based on 28S C-region rDNA and CO1 mtDNA data. Faunal comparison with both adjacent archipelagos and more distant Indo-Pacific ecoregions suggests high levels of endemism of sponges in Wallis and Futuna, corroborating previous data on the biodiversity of sponges and other marine phyla in the South Pacific. The results of this molecular taxonomic survey of the Wallis and Futuna sponge fauna aim to represent a foundation in the framework of a sustainable "Blue Economy" in Wallis and Futuna for the conservation of their local coral reefs.