Images and microbiome data of Antarctic deep-water sponges (Demospongiae and Hexactinellida) collected during expeditions PS96 and JR17003a in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Sponges (Porifera) host diverse and species-specific communities of microbial symbionts with which they maintain tight interactions. However, knowledge on the microbiomes of sponges from deep waters and remote polar areas is still scarce, especially for the sponge class Hexactinellida. Therefore, our aim was to describe the community composition, richness and density of microbial symbionts of Antarctic deep-water sponges, including several species of hexactinellids, and relate the findings to host ultrastructure and histology. […]