Fossil and Recent Sponges

This volume contains articles on the taxonomic, phyllogenetic and ecological aspects of sponges of both biological and palaeontological interest. The discussion focuses on three main topics: phyllogeny and systematics, biology and palaeoecology. The reader is offered an overview of the most important aspects of current sponge research, including the establishment of a new taxonomy based on monophyletic groups (phyllogenetic systematics), new concepts of the biomineralization of sponge skeletons and the palaeo-environmental analysis of fossil sponge buildings.