16S amplicon bacterial sequences for Stylocordyla borealis, Stylocordyla eous comb. nov., Suberites japonicus, and Halichondria panicea

Understanding species boundaries is crucial for understanding deep-sea sponge biodiversity and biogeographical patterns, which aids in conservation efforts such as the establishment of Marine Protected Areas. This study examines the Arctic circumpolar distribution of the demosponge Stylocordyla borealis and its North Pacific subspecies Stylocordyla borealis eous. Morphological traits, phylogenetic reconstruction with genetic markers (COI, 28S), and 16S amplicon sequencing of microbial communities were used to explore phenotypic and genetic diversity within S. borealis Atlantic and Pacific populations.Samples SMF1498, SMF1499, and the sequenced ethanol supernatant, in which the samples were preserved (marked with "preservingethanol"), are not biologically relevant for this study and were removed from further analysis.Paper: Theising, F.I., Hentschel, H., Busch, K., Brandt, A., Carvalho, F., Xavier, J.R., Muriel, A.S. Does an Arctic circumpolar distribution exist for deep-sea sponges? Unravelling the systematics of Stylocordyla borealis (Porifera: Demospongiae) through integrative taxonomy.