Introduction

The Biodiversity, phylogeny and ecology of Porifera Training Course took place between July 17th and July 30th, 2005, at the Station Marine d'Endoume (SME) in Marseille, France. It was organised by the Unit 'Diversity, evolution and MARine functional ecology' (DIMAR) with the financial support of the CNRS, the European Network of Excellence MarBEF, the IRD and the PACA Region, in addition to the collaboration with different services of the Centre d'Oceanologie de Marseille (COM).

Sponges are among the most common hard-substrate organisms from the coastal zone to the deep sea communities. Beyond their fundamental role in ecosystem functioning, sponges have an important economic role. They produce secondary metabolites which have important potential applications in the pharmacological industry. Sponges may also be powerful indicators of the environmental health.

These applications require precise identification of the sponges. Their taxonomy, however, is generally considered to be very difficult. These difficulties arise from the characteristics of the sponges themselves, but also in certain deficiencies and contradictions in there taxonomic frame. Currently, a complete review of sponge phylogeny is being done using cladistic methods and a molecular approach. An ongoing review of the morphological criteria in light of these new results suggests a complete revision of our understanding of this group.

All the fields in which knowledge of biology, ecology and chemistry of the sponges is necessary have been covered during this training course. The participants were completely immersed in the subject by alternating lectures, tutorials, laboratory work and field work during two weeks, led by specialists from all countries invited to the Marine Station. Beyond the theoretical lectures, the aim of the course was to share practical experience of field and laboratory work by organising diving sessions and practical working groups in the laboratory.

About forty persons of eighteen nationalities (all the continents were represented!) participated in this course, motivated by the possibility to acquire information and savoir-faire from specialists happy to transfer and exchange their knowledge. The fact that marine biodiversity is one of the objectives of several European Networks of Excellence (MarBEF, Marine Genomics) underlines the importance of understanding the organisms structuring the underwater landscape. This field of study suffers from important erosion due to the disappearance of taxonomy experts. This training course met a continuing demand from young scientists (researchers and technicians) of different disciplines, such as molecular phylogeny, embryology, ecology or chemistry. It was the first training course of this type organised in Europe by a team that has more than fifty years of experience in the field. The scientific Unit DIMAR, with its coastal location facilitating diving activities and its exceptional archives covering all the aspects of the course, was the only French entity able to organise such an event.

Indeed, the Station Marine d'Endoume combines logistic means, and an important documentation in addition to specimen collections and unique photographic archives. The participants benefited from the SME premises, from the diving facilities and service, and from the histology and cytology service which offered the possibility to learn different laboratory techniques. An important collection of documents including rare historic documents of the Marine Station library provided most of the pertinent articles on sponges. Furthermore, participants were able to use a bibliographic database built up by the DIMAR Unit containing more then 10 000 references. An important sample collection gathered over 50 years, facilitated the demonstration to participants of specimens from all the main families including correspondent skeleton preparations and histological slides. In addition, the trainees had access to photographic archives which include photographs in situ of Mediterranean sponges and specimens from other regions as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy photographs.

What appears to have been also important during this training course is the informal exchanges between participants during meals or breaks, leading to projects and eventual collaborations. After this course the participants felt the need to organise future training courses and workshops on the subjects. This underlines the importance of exchanging knowledge and experience between people working on a same subject from different disciplines or with different approaches.

What did the participants think of the training course?

Twenty four questionnaires out of 26 (students) were turned back concerning the quality of the course. The numerous comments suggest that the course offered theoretical knowledge and techniques that were useful for all the students. Also, the two weeks schedule of the course that proposed lectures, tutorials, practical work in the lab and the field seems to have been efficient for the acquisition of knowledge and furthered exchanges between scientists.

...It was very useful for me as a beginner and I hope some other training courses or schools could be organised soon. Thank you very much. Very good practical view of sponges with specialists. Very good exchanges, thank you. The lectures were the most useful for me.

This course should be continued by a training course with emphasis on practicals both in the field (dive trips) and laboratory work. It was a very well organised workshop. The lecturers were approachable throughout the course and encouraged interactions. With their vast knowledge the lecturers made the lecture material easy to comprehend without being too technical. Excellent opportunity for one to one discussions. Question and answer sessions at the end of each lecture allowed participants to clarify things which were not clear. ...

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