Systematics and faunistics of sponges
For some years an investigation of the taxonomic composition and distribution of the sponge fauna of the region from off West Spitzbergen, along the Scandinavian coasts, across the NE Atlantic to S. Greenland and Maine has been undertaken. The work is based on collections from the BIOFAR and BIOICE projects, Sweden, Norway, Spitzbergen, Greenland and Maine, as well as museum collections (O. Tendal). A study of a special phenomenon: mass occurrences of large sponges located along the shelf edge in many local areas, and the associated fauna has been completed (A.B. Klitgaard, ph.d. project). In Maine a detailed taxonomic and biological investigation of the sponge fauna, especially around the Darling Marine center (University of Maine), has been carried through*; this includes a review of the sponge fauna of the Damariscotta fjord and a revision of eastern American species of Polymastia (O. Tendal with D. Barthel, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel).
The taxonomic composition, geographical and bathymetric distribution, and general biology of the sponge fauna of the Weddell Sea (Antarctica) has been studied on the basis of the rich collections made personally during expeditions onboard the German research vessel "Polarstern" in 1989 and 1996. Apparently, no sponge specialist took part in any of the previous Antarctic expeditions. Our sorting of the material on deck, with careful search for small and odd-looking specimens, has provided a material which has led to a better understanding of the taxonomy, distribution and biology of the difficult group Hexactinellida* (O. Tendal, with D. Barthel).