I'm an Assistant Researcher and leader of the Deep-Sea Biodiversity and Conservation Team at CIIMAR, University of Porto (Portugal), and an invited Associate Professor in Deep-Sea Biology at the Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Bergen (Norway). My research focusses in the understanding of basin- to global-scale diversity, biogeographic, and connectivity patterns of deep-sea sponges and the habitats they form (i.e. sponge grounds), using a combination of disciplines (taxonomy, systematics, ecology and genomics). I collaborate with a vast network of European and North American scientists, and have trained and mentored 15+ students (from BSc to PhD levels) in the fields of sponge taxonomy, systematics, phylogenetics, and population genomics. I coordinate the DEEPbaseline project, an awardee of the Ocean Conservation Fund; and was scientific manager and co-lead WP3 of the H2020 SponGES project, funded by the European Commission. 

Supervision of (under)graduate students

PhD candidate Anna Patova (ongoing) - Conservation genomics of North Atlantic deep-sea sponge grounds: assessing diversity, connectivity and vulnerability of habitat-forming species (PhD, main supervisor).

PhD Heidi Meyer (2018-2022) - Biodiversity and spatial ecology of arctic sponge grounds in the Nordic Seas (PhD, co-supervisor). 

PhD Francisca Carvalho (2015-2020) - Rock sponges (Lithistid Demospongiae) of the North Atlantic: diversity, phylogeny and biogeography. (PhD, co-supervisor).  

PhD Adriana Alvizu (2013-2019) - Taxonomy and phylogeny of calcaronean sponges (Porifera, Calcarea). (PhD, co-supervisor). 

MSc Tone Ulvatn (2015-2017) - A reverse taxonomic approach to asess the community composition of sponge grounds in the Nordic Seas. (MSc, main supervisor). 

MSc Nickolas Hawkes (2015-2017) - Epibenthic megafauna associated with sponge grounds formed by the unique glass sponge Vazella pourtalesii in Emerald Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada. (MSc, co-supervisor).  

MSc Ida Vee (2015-2016) - Towards improved management of deep-sea sponge grounds in Norwegian waters. (MSc, co-supervisor).  

Academic article

• Christine Rooks; James Kar-Hei Fang; Pål Tore Mørkved et al. (2020). Deep-sea sponge grounds as nutrient sinks: Denitrification is common in boreo-Arctic sponges. (external link)
• Ana Patrícia Graca; Flávia Viana; Joana Bondoso et al. (2015). The antimicrobial activity of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the marine sponge Erylus deficiens (Astrophorida, Geodiidae). (external link)
• Eva Martins; Hans Tore Rapp; Joana R. Xavier et al. (2020). Macro and Microstructural Characteristics of North Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponges as Bioinspired Models for Tissue Engineering Scaffolding. (external link)
• Olesia Dudik; Sara Amorim; Joana R. Xavier et al. (2021). Bioactivity of Biosilica Obtained From North Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponges. (external link)
• Berta Ramiro-Sanchez; Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Irusta; Lea-Anne Henry et al. (2019). Characterization and mapping of a deep-sea sponge ground on the tropic seamount (Northeast Tropical Atlantic): Implications for spatial management in the high seas. (external link)
• Eva Ramirez-Llodra; Heidi Kristina Meyer; Bodil Annikki Ulla Barbro Bluhm et al. (2024). The emerging picture of a diverse deep Arctic Ocean seafloor: From habitats to ecosystems. (external link)
• Helena Gaspar; Adele Cutignano; Laura Grauso et al. (2016). Erylusamides: Novel atypical glycolipids from Erylus cf. deficiens. (external link)
• Olesia Dudik; Isabel Leonor; Joana R. Xavier et al. (2018). Sponge-derived silica for tissue regeneration: Bioceramics of deep-sea sponge. (external link)
• Inês Gregório; Joana R. Xavier; Andrew J. Davies (2024). Present and future distribution of the deep-sea habitat-forming sponge - Pheronema carpenteri ( Thomson, 1869) in a changing ocean. (external link)
• Andreu Santin; Maria-Jesus Uriz; Javier Cristobo et al. (2021). Unique spicules may confound species differentiation: Taxonomy and biogeography of Melonanchora Carter, 1874 and two new related genera (Myxillidae: Poecilosclerida) from the Okhotsk Sea. (external link)
• Neus Campanyà-Llovet; Amanda E. Bates; Daphne Cuvelier et al. (2023). FUN Azores: a FUNctional trait database for the meio-, macro-, and megafauna from the Azores Marine Park (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). (external link)
• Javier Cristobo; Pilar Rios; Shirley A. Pomponi et al. (2015). A new carnivorous sponge, Chondrocladia robertballardi sp. nov. (Porifera: Cladorhizidae) from two Northeast Atlantic seamounts. (external link)
• Joana R. Xavier; Paco A. Cárdenas; Javier Cristobo et al. (2015). Systematics and biodiversity of deep-sea sponges of the Atlanto-Mediterranean region. (external link)
• CC Hardoim; M Cardinale; AC Cúcio et al. (2014). Effects of sample handling and cultivation bias on the specificity of bacterial communities in keratose marine sponges. (external link)
• Dominik Scepanski; Nico Augustin; Manon Dünn et al. (2024). Vertical distribution of epibenthic megafauna of a large seamount west of Cape Verde islands (tropical North Atlantic). (external link)
• Javier Cristobo; Pilar Rios; Shirley A. Pomponi et al. (2014). A new carnivorous sponge, Chondrocladia robertballardi sp. nov. (Porifera: Cladorhizidae) from two north-east Atlantic seamounts. (external link)
• Elham Karimi; Miguel Ramos; Jorge M.S. Gonçalves et al. (2017). Comparative metagenomics reveals the distinctive adaptive features of the Spongia officinalis endosymbiotic consortium. (external link)
• Nickolas James Hawkes; Michelle Korabik; Lindsay Beazley et al. (2019). Glass sponge grounds on the Scotian Shelf and their associated biodiversity. (external link)
• Saskia Brix; Stephanie Kaiser; Anne-Nina Lörz et al. (2022). Habitat variability and faunal zonation at the Aegir Ridge, a canyon-like structure in the deep Norwegian Sea. (external link)
• Ana Riesgo; Sergi Taboada; Rocío Pérez-Portela et al. (2019). Genetic diversity, connectivity and gene flow along the distribution of the emblematic Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis (Haplosclerida, Demospongiae). (external link)
• Pilar Ríos; Elena Prado; Francisca Correia De Carvalho et al. (2020). Community Composition and Habitat Characterization of a Rock Sponge Aggregation (Porifera, Corallistidae) in the Cantabrian Sea. (external link)
• Sergi Taboada; Connie Whiting; Shuangqiang Wang et al. (2023). Long distance dispersal and oceanographic fronts shape the connectivity of the keystone sponge Phakellia ventilabrum in the deep northeast Atlantic. (external link)
• Alejandra Mejía-Saenz; Erik Simon-Lledó; Louis S. Partridge et al. (2023). Rock outcrops enhance abyssal benthic biodiversity. (external link)
• Lindsay Beazley; Zeliang Wang; Ellen Kenchington et al. (2018). Predicted distribution of the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesi on the Scotian Shelf and its persistence in the face of climatic variability. (external link)
• Adriana Alvizu; Mari Heggernes Eilertsen; Joana R. Xavier et al. (2018). Increased taxon sampling provides new insights into the phylogeny and evolution of the subclass Calcaronea (Porifera, Calcarea). (external link)
• Lucie Cassarino; Christopher D. Coath; Joana R. Xavier et al. (2018). Silicon isotopes of deep sea sponges: New insights into biomineralisation and skeletal structure. (external link)
• Inês Tojeira; Miguel Souto; Manfred Kaufmann et al. (2025). From physics to fish: 50 Years of research at Great Meteor Seamount, NE Atlantic. (external link)
• João Canning-Clode; Francesca Gizzi; Andreia Braga-Henriques et al. (2024). A pioneering longterm experiment on mesophotic macrofouling communities in the North Atlantic. (external link)
• Jon Thomassen Hestetun; Hans Tore Rapp; Joana R. Xavier (2016). Carnivorous sponges (Porifera, Cladorhizidae) from the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge seamounts. (external link)
• Joana R. Xavier; Inês Tojeira; Rob W.M. Van Soest (2015). On a hexactinellid sponge aggregation at the Great Meteor seamount (North-east Atlantic). (external link)
• Francisca Correia De Carvalho; Paco Cárdenas; Pilar Ríos et al. (2020). Rock sponges (lithistid Demospongiae) of the Northeast Atlantic seamounts, with description of ten new species. (external link)
• Adriana Alvizu; Joana R. Xavier; Hans Tore Rapp (2019). Description of new chiactine-bearing sponges provides insights into the higher classification of Calcaronea (Porifera: Calcarea). (external link)
• Cátia Figueiredo; Miguel Caetano; Mário Mil-Homens et al. (2021). Rare earth and trace elements in deep-sea sponges of the North Atlantic. (external link)
• Heidi Kristina Meyer; A.J. Davies; Emyr Martyn Roberts et al. (2022). Beyond the tip of the seamount: Distinct megabenthic communities found beyond the charismatic summit sponge ground on an arctic seamount (Schulz Bank, Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge). (external link)
• Joana R. Xavier; David John Rees; Raquel Pereira et al. (2021). Diversity, distribution and phylogenetic relationships of deep-sea lithistids (Porifera, Heteroscleromorpha) of the Azores archipelago. (external link)
• K.R. Hendry; H. Pryer; S.L. Bates et al. (2024). Spicule morphology impacts stable silicon isotopic composition of sponge archives. (external link)
• Franziska I. Theising; Ute Hentschel; Kathrin Busch et al. (2025). Does an arctic circumpolar distribution exist for deep-sea sponges? Unravelling the systematics of Stylocordyla borealis (Porifera: Demospongiae) through integrative taxonomy. (external link)
• Sergi Taboada; Pilar Ríos; Alex Mitchell et al. (2022). Genetic diversity, gene flow and hybridization in fan-shaped sponges (Phakellia spp.) in the North-East Atlantic deep sea. (external link)
• Robert van Syoc; Rob W.M. Van Soest; Joana R. Xavier et al. (2015). A Phylogenetic Overview of Sponge-inhabiting Barnacles and Their Host Specificity (Crustacea, Cirripedia). (external link)
• Anna Patova; Pedro Ribeiro; Francisco J. Murillo et al. (2025). Population genomics and connectivity of Vazella pourtalesii sponge grounds of the northwest Atlantic with conservation implications of deep sea vulnerable marine ecosystems. (external link)
• Francisca Carvalho; Shirley A. Pomponi; Joana R. Xavier (2015). Lithistid sponges of the upper bathyal of Madeira, Selvagens and Canary Islands, with description of a new species of Isabella. (external link)
• Kathrin Busch; Beate M. Slaby; Wolfgang Bach et al. (2022). Biodiversity, environmental drivers, and sustainability of the global deep-sea sponge microbiome. (external link)
• Paco Cardenas; Jean Vacelet; Pierre Chevaldonné et al. (2018). From marine caves to the deep sea, a new look at caminella (Demospongiae, geodiidae) in the atlanto-Mediterranean region. (external link)
• Sergi Taboada; Ana Riesgo; Gema Blasco et al. (2015). Development of 10 microsatellite markers for the Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis. (external link)
• Kerry L. Howell; Jaime S. Davies; A. Louise Allcock et al. (2019). A framework for the development of a global standardised marine taxon reference image database (SMarTaR-ID) to support image-based analyses. (external link)
• Ole Bjørn Brodnicke; Heidi Kristina Meyer; Kathrin Busch et al. (2023). Deep-sea sponge derived environmental DNA analysis reveals demersal fish biodiversity of a remote Arctic ecosystem. (external link)
• Kerry L. Howell; Ana Hilário; A. Louise Allcock et al. (2021). A decade to study deep-sea life. (external link)
• P. Daniël Van Denderen; Helen Holah; Laura M. Robson et al. (2022). A policy-based framework for the determination of management options to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems under the EU deep-sea access regulations. (external link)

Journal corrigendum

• Kathrin Busch; Beate M. Slaby; Wolfgang Bach et al. (2022). Publisher Correction: Biodiversity, environmental drivers, and sustainability of the global deep-sea sponge microbiome (Nature Communications, (2022), 13, 1, (5160), 10.1038/s41467-022-32684-4). (external link)

Lecture

• Raquel Pereira; José Nuno Gomes Pereira; Fernando Tempera et al. (2014). Sponge assemblages of the Condor Seamount (Azores) characterized from underwater imagery. (external link)
• Francisca Correia De Carvalho; Shirley A. Pomponi; Paco A. Cárdenas et al. (2015). Diversity, distribution and phylogenetic relationships of bathyal lithistid sponges of the Macaronesian Islands and northeast Atlantic seamounts. (external link)
• Joana R. Xavier; Hans Tore Rapp (2014). Towards the conservation of deep-sea sponge grounds. (external link)
• Ana Esteves; Cristiane Hardoim; Joana R. Bogalho T Xavier et al. (2013). Diversity of bacteria cultured from Irciniidae sponges. (external link)
• Rodrigo Costa; Cristiane Hardoim; Ana Esteves et al. (2013). Challenging the specificity of the marine sponge microbiome - a biogeographical approach. (external link)
• Raquel Pereira; José Pereira; Fernando Tempera et al. (2013). Sponge assemblages of the Condor Seamount (Azores) characterized from underwater imagery. (external link)
• Michelle Klautau; Pedro Leocorny; Johanna Frotscher et al. (2014). Calcareous sponges from the Azores. (external link)
• Joana R. Bogalho T Xavier; Jorge Marco; Javier Diaz-Castillo (2013). Predicting suitable habitat for the bird's nest sponge Pheronema carpenteri (Hexactinellida, Pheronematidae) in the Northeast Atlantic. (external link)
• Francisca Carvalho; Shirley A. Pomponi; Paco A. Cárdenas et al. (2014). Lithistid demosponges of the Macaronesian Islands and Northeast Atlantic seamounts: diversity, distribution and phylogenetic relationships. (external link)
• Helena Gaspar; Vanda Monteiro; Joana R. Bogalho T Xavier et al. (2013). Portuguese marine sponge extracts libraries for drug discovery: ASYN-TAU, TTR and IDO modulators. (external link)
• Joana R. Xavier; Jorge Marco; Hans Tore Rapp et al. (2015). Predicting suitable habitat for the bird’s nest sponge Pheronema carpenteri (Porifera, Hexactinellida) in the Northeast Atlantic. (external link)
• Francisca Carvalho; Shirley Pomponi; Paco Cardenas et al. (2013). Lithistid demosponges of the Macaronesian Islands and Northeast Atlantic Seamounts: Diversity, distribution and phylogenetic relationships. (external link)

Conference poster

• María Lago-Lestón; Cristiane Hardoim; Francisco Pires et al. (2013). Unravelling the structure of the marine sponge microbiome across biogeographical gradient. (external link)
• Jon Thomassen Hestetun; Hans Tore Rapp; Joana R. Xavier (2015). Carnivorous sponges from the Southwestern Indian Ocean Ridge seamounts. (external link)
• Francisco Pires; Cristiane Hardoim; Rodrigo Costa et al. (2013). A new species of Spongia (Dictyoceratida, Spongiidae) from theAzores. (external link)
• Raquel Pereira; José Nuno Gomes Pereira; Fernando Tempera et al. (2015). Sponge assemblages of the Condor seamount (Azores) characterized from underwater imagery. (external link)
• Joana R. Xavier; Marte Mjånes Torkildsen; Sigfrid Tangen et al. (2015). Sponge assemblages of the Schultz seamount – Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. (external link)
• Pilar Rios; Joana R. Bogalho T Xavier; Araceli Munoz et al. (2013). Coral boring Porifera (Phloeodictyidae) from Galicia Bank (Atlantic Ocean). (external link)
• Cristiane Hardoim; Massimiliano Cardinale; Ana Cúcio et al. (2013). Degrees of host specificity, effects of sample handling, and extent of cultivation bias elucidated for bacterial communities in closely related marine sponges. (external link)
• Inês Tojeira; Joana R. Xavier; José Nuno Gomes Pereira et al. (2014). Deep-sea sponge habitats in Madeira-TORE Rise. (external link)
• Joana R. Bogalho T Xavier; SPECIAL Consortium (2013). SPECIAL - Sponge Enzymes and Cells for Innovative AppLication. (external link)
• Francisco Pires; Helena Gaspar; Ana Graça et al. (2013). The culturable heterotrophic bacteria associated with Erylus spp. (Astrophorida, Geodiidae). (external link)

Editorial/Leader article

• Joana R. Xavier; Shirley A. Pomponi; Ellen L. Kenchington (2023). Editorial: Deep-sea sponge ecosystems: Knowledge-based approach towards sustainable management and conservation. (external link)

Academic literature review

• A. Louise Allcock; Diva J. Amon; Amelia E.H. Bridges et al. (2025). Deep-sea ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean: discovery, status, function and future challenges. (external link)
• Irene Martins; Alexandra Guerra; Ana Azevedo et al. (2023). A modelling framework to assess multiple metals impacts on marine food webs: Relevance for assessing the ecological implications of deep-sea mining based on a systematic review. (external link)
• Kerry L. Howell; Ana Hilário; A. Louise Allcock et al. (2020). A Blueprint for an Inclusive, Global Deep-Sea Ocean Decade Field Program. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Martins I, Guerra A, Azevedo A, Harasse O, Colaço A, Xavier JR, Caetano M, Carreiro-Silva M, Martins I, Neuparth T, Raimundo J, Soares J, Santos MM (2023) A modelling framework to assess multiple metals impacts on marine food webs: Relevance for assessing the ecological implications of deep-sea mining based on a systematic review. Marine Pollution Bulletin 191:114902.

Mejía-Saenz A, Simon-Lledó E, Partridge LS, Xavier JR, Jones DOB (2023) Rock outcrops enhance abyssal benthic biodiversity. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 195:103999.

Taboada S, Whiting C, Wang S, Ríos P, Davies AJ, Mienis F, Kenchington E, Cardenas P, Cranston A, Koutsouveli V, Cristobo J, Rapp HT, Drewery J, Baldó F, Morrow C, Picton B, Xavier JR, Arias MB, Leiva C, Riesgo A (2023) Long distance dispersal and oceanographic fronts shape the connectivity of the keystone sponge Phakellia ventilabrum in the deep northeast Atlantic. Frontiers in Marine Science 10:1177106.

Xavier JR, Pomponi SA, Kenchington EL (2023) Editorial: Deep-sea sponge ecosystems: Knowledge-based approach towards sustainable management and conservation. Frontiers in Marine Science 10:1132451.

Campanyà-Llovet N, Bates AE, Cuvelier D, Giacomello E, Catarino D, Gooday AJ, Berning B, Figuerola B, Malaquias MAE, Moura CJ, Xavier JR, Sutton TT, Fauconnet L, Ramalho SP, Neves BdM, Machado GM, Horton T, Gebruk AV, Minin K, Bried J, Molodtsova T, Silva MA, Dilman A, Kremenetskaia A, Costa EFS, Clarke J, Martins HR, Pham CK, Carreiro-Silva M, Colaço A (2023) FUN Azores: a FUNctional trait database for the meio-, macro-, and megafauna from the Azores Marine Park (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11:1050268.

Brodnicke OB, Meyer HK, Busch K, Xavier JR, Knudsen SW, Moller PR, Hentschel U, Sweet M (2023) Deep-sea sponge derived environmental DNA analysis reveals demersal fish diversity of a remote Arctic ecosystem. Environmental DNA 00:1-13.

Baco AR, Ross R, Althaus F, Amon D, Bridges AEH, Brix S, Buhl-Mortensen P, Colaço A, Carreiro-Silva M, Clark MR, Du Preez C, Franken M, Gianni M, Gonzalez-Mirelis G, Hourigan T, Howell K, Levin LA, Lindsay DJ, Molodtsova TN, Morgan N, Morato T, Mejia-Mercado BE, O’Sullivan D, Pearman T, Price D, Robert K, Robson L, Rowden AA, Taylor J, Taylor M, Victorero L, Watling L, Williams A, Xavier JR, Yesson C (2023) Towards a scientific community consensus on designating Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems from imagery. PeerJ 11:e16024

Meyer HK, Davies AJ, Roberts EM, Xavier JR, Ribeiro PA, Glenner H, Birkely SR, Rapp HT (2022) Beyond the tip of the seamount: distinct megabenthic communities found beyond the charismatic summit sponge ground on an arctic seamount (Schulz Bank, Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge). Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers: 103920.

Busch K, Slaby BM, Bach W, Boetius A, Clefsen I, Colaço A, Creemers M, Cristobo J, Federwisch L, Franke A, Gavriilidou A, Hethke A, Kenchington E, Mienis F, Mills S, Riesgo A, Ríos P, Roberts EM, Sipkema D, Pita L, Schupp PJ, Xavier JR, Rapp HT, Hentschel U (2022) Biodiversity, environmental drivers, and sustainability of the global deep-sea sponge microbiome. Nature Communications 13, 5160.

Brix S, Kaiser S, Lörz A-N, Le Saout M, Schumacher M, Bonk F, Egilsdottir H Olafsdottir SH, Tandberg AHS, Taylor J, Tewes S, Xavier JR, Linse K (2022) Habitat variability and faunal zonation at the Ægir Ridge, a canyon-like structure in the deep Norwegian Sea. PeerJ 10:e13394.

Taboada S, Ríos P, Mitchell A, Cranston A, Busch K, Tonzo V, Cárdenas P, Sánchez F, Leiva C, Koutsouveli V, Cristobo J, Xavier JR, Hentschel U, Rapp HT, Morrow C, Drewery J, Romero PE, Arias MB, Whiting C, Riesgo A (2022) Genetic diversity, gene flow and hybridization in fan-shaped sponges (Phakellia spp.) in the North-East Atlantic deep sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 181: 103685.

Santín A, Uriz M-J, Cristobo J, Xavier JR, Ríos P (2022) Unique spicules may confound species differentiation: taxonomy and biogeography of Melonanchora Carter, 1874 and two new related genera (Myxillidae: Poecilosclerida) from the Okhotsk Sea. PeerJ 9: e12515.

van Denderen PD, Holah H, Robson LM, Hiddink JG, Menot L, Pedreschi D, Kazanidis G, Llope M, Turner PJ, Stirling D, Murillo FJ, Kenny A, Campbell N, Allcock AL, Braga-Henriques A, González-Irusta JM, Johnston G, Orejas C, Serrano A, Xavier JR, Hopkins P, Kenchington EL, Nixon E, Valanko S (2021) A policy-based framework for the determination of management options to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems under the EU deep-sea access regulations. ICES Journal of Marine Science 79(1): 34-49.

Xavier JR, Rees DJ, Pereira R, Colaço A, Pham CK and Carvalho FC (2021) Diversity, Distribution and Phylogenetic Relationships of Deep-Sea Lithistids (Porifera, Heteroscleromorpha) of the Azores Archipelago. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:600087.

Dudik O, Amorim S, Xavier JR, Rapp HT, Silva TH, Pires RA and Reis RL (2021) Bioactivity of Biosilica Obtained From North Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponges. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:637810.

Figueiredo C, Caetano M, Mil-Homens M, Tojeira I, Xavier JR, Rosa R, Raimundo J (2021) Rare earth and trace elements in deep-sea sponges of the North Atlantic. Marine Pollution Bulletin 166: 112217. 

Martins E, Rapp HT, Xavier JR, Diogo GS, Reis RL, Silva TH (2021) Macro and Microstructural Characteristics of North Atlantic Deep-Sea Sponges as Bioinspired Models for Tissue Engineering Scaffolding. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:613647.

Howell KL, Hilário A, Allcock AL, …, Xavier JR (2020) A Decade to Study Deep-Sea Life. Nature Ecology and Evolution 5, 265-267.

Howell KL, Hilario A, Allcock AL, …, Xavier JR (2020) A blueprint for an inclusive, global deep-sea Ocean Decade field programme. Frontiers in Marine Science 7. 

Carvalho FC, Cárdenas P, Rios P, Cristobo J, Rapp HT, Xavier JR (2020) Rock sponges (lithistid Demospongiae) of the Northeast Atlantic seamounts, with the description of ten new species. PeerJ 8, e8703. 

Ríos P, Prado E, Carvalho FC, Sánchez F, Rodríguez-Basalo A, Xavier JR, Ibarrola TP, Cristobo J (2020) Community Composition and Habitat Characterization of a Rock Sponge Aggregation (Porifera, Corallistidae) in the Cantabrian Sea. Frontiers in Marine Science 7.

Rooks C, Fang JKH, Mørkved PT, Zhao R, Rapp HT, Xavier JR, Hoffmann F (2020) Deep-sea sponge grounds as nutrient sinks: High denitrification rates in boreo-arctic sponges. Biogeosciences, 17, 1231–1245. 

Xavier JR, Carreiro-Silva M, Colaço A, Le Bris N, Levin L (2019) Vulnerabilities: invertebrate taxa (VME indicators). In: Levin L, Baker M, Thompson T (Eds.) Deep-ocean climate change impacts on habitat, fish and fisheries. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 638. Rome, FAO. 186 pp.

Otero, MM, Serena F, Gerovasileiou V, Barone M, Bo M, Arcos M, Vulcano A, Xavier JR (2019) Identification guide of vulnerable species incidentally caught in Mediterranean fisheries. Malaga, Spain. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Hawkes N, Korabik M, Beazley L, Rapp HT, Xavier JR, Kenchington E (2019) Glass sponge grounds on the Scotian Shelf and their associated biodiversity. Marine Ecology Progress Series 614, 91-109. 

Howell KL, Davies JS, Allcock AL, Braga-Henriques A, Buhl-Mortensen P, Carreiro-Silva M, Dominguez-Carrió C, Durden JM, Foster NL, Game CA, Hitchin B, Horton T, Hosking B, Jones DOB, Mah C, Marchais CL, Menot L, Morato T, Pearman TRR, Piechaud N, Ross RE, Ruhl HA, Saeedi H, Stefanoudis PV, Taranto GH, Thompson MB, Taylor JR, Tyler P, Vad J, Victorero L, Vieira RP, Woodall LC, Xavier JR, Wagner D (2019) A framework for the development of a global standardised marine taxon reference image database (SMarTaR-ID) to support imagebased analyses. PLoS ONE 14.

Ramiro-Sánchez B González-Irusta JM, Henry L-A, Cleland J, Yeo I, Xavier JR, Carreiro-Silva M et al (2019) Characterization and Mapping of a Deep-Sea Sponge Ground on the TropicSeamount (Northeast Tropical Atlantic): Implications for Spatial Management in the High Seas. Frontiers in Marine Science 6.

Riesgo A, Taboada S, Pérez-Portela R, Melis P, Xavier JR, Blasco G, López-Legentil S (2019) Genetic diversity, connectivity and gene flow along the distribution of the emblematic Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis (Haplosclerida, Demospongiae). BMC Evolutionary Biology 19: 24.

Alvizu A, Xavier JR, Rapp HT (2019) Description of new chiactine-bearing sponges provides insights into the higher classification of Calcaronea (Porifera: Calcarea). Zootaxa 4615, 201-251. 

Cassarino L, Coath CD, Xavier JR, Hendry KR (2018) Silicon isotopes of deep-sea sponges: new insights into biomineralisation and skeletal structure. Biogeosciences 15, 6959-6977. 

Beazley LI, Wang Z, Kenchington EL, Yashayaev Y, Rapp HT, Xavier JR, Murillo FJ, Fenton D, Fuller SD (2018) Predicted distribution of the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesi on the Scotian Shelf and persistence in the face of climatic variability. PLoS ONE 13(10): e0205505. 

Cárdenas P, Vacelet J, Chevaldonnée P, Pérez T, Xavier JR (2018) From marine caves to the deep sea, a new look at Caminella (Demospongiae, Geodiidae) in the Atlanto-Mediterranean region. Zootaxa 4466(1), 174-196.

Alvizu A, Eilertsen MH, Xavier JR, Rapp HT (2018) Increased taxon sampling provides new insights into the phylogeny and evolution of the subclass Calcaronea (Porifera, Calcarea). Organisms Diversity and Evolution 18(3), 279-290.

Dudik O, Leonor I, Xavier JR, Rapp HT, Pires RA, Silva TH, Reis RL (2018) Sponge-derived silica for tissue regeneration. Materials Today 21(5), 577-578. 

Karimi E, Ramos M, Gonçalves JMS, Xavier JR, Reis MP and Costa R (2017) Comparative Metagenomics Reveals the Distinctive Adaptive Features of the Spongia officinalis Endosymbiotic Consortium. Frontiers in Microbiology 8, 2499.

Xavier JR, Bo M (2017) Deep-sea sponges of the Mediterranean Sea. http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/df94258d-ed23-4a65-9fd9-d344f75f746e/

Hestetun JT, RappHT, Xavier JR (2017) Carnivorous sponges (Porifera, Cladorhizidae) from the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge seamounts. Deep Sea Research II 137, 166-189.

Gaspar H, Cutignano A, Grauso L, Neng N, Cachatra V, Fontana A, Xavier JR, Cerejo M, Vieira, H, Santos S (2016) Erylusamides: Novel Atypical Glycolipids from Eryluscf. deficiens. Marine Drugs 14(10), 179.

Taboada S, Riesgo A, Blasco G, Solà J, Xavier JR, López-Legentil S (2015) Development of 10 microsatellite markers for the Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis. Conservation Genetics Resources 7(4), 895-897.

Xavier JR, Cárdenas P, Cristobo J, Van Soest RWM, Rapp HT (2015) Systematics and biodiversity of deep-sea sponges of the Atlanto-Mediterranean region (Foreword). JMBA of the UK 95(7), 1285-1286.

Xavier JR, Tojeira I, Van Soest RWM (2015) On a hexactinellid sponge aggregation at the Great Meteor seamount (North-east Atlantic). JMBA of the UK 95(7), 1389-1394.

Carvalho F, Pomponi SA, Xavier JR (2015) Lithistid sponges of the upper bathyal of Madeira, Selvagens and Canary Islands with description of a new species of Isabella. JMBA of the UK 95(7), 1287-1296.

Cristobo J, Pomponi SA, Rios P, Xavier JR (2015) A new carnivorous sponge, Chondrocladia robertballardi sp. nov. (Porifera: Cladorhizidae) from two Northeast Atlantic seamounts. JMBA of the UK 95(7), 1345-1352.

Van Syoc, Van Soest RWM, Xavier JR, Hooper JNA (2015) A Phylogenetic Overview of Sponge-inhabiting Barnacles and Their Host Specificity (Crustacea, Cirripedia). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62(11), 331-357.

Graça AP, Viana F, Bondoso J, Correia MI, Gomes L, Humanes M, Reis A, Xavier JR, Gaspar H, Lage OM (2015) The antimicrobial activity of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the marine sponge Erylus deficiens (Astrophorida, Geodiidae). Front. Microbiol. 6, 389.

Hardoim, CCP, Cardinale M, Cúcio ACB, Esteves, AIS, Berg G, Xavier JR, Cox CJ, Costa R (2014) Effects of sample handling and cultivation bias on the specificity of bacterial communities in keratose marine sponges. Frontiers in Microbiology 5, 611.

Graça AP, Bondoso J, Gaspar H, Xavier JR, Monteiro MC, de la Cruz M, Oves-Costales D, Vicente F, Lage OM (2013) Antimicrobial activity of heterotrophic bacterial communities from the marine sponge Erylus discophorus (Astrophorida, Geodiidae). PLoS ONE 8(11): e78922.

Esteves AIS, Hardoim CCP, Xavier JR, Gonçalves MS, Costa R (2013) Molecular richness and biotechnological potential of bacteria cultured from Irciniidae sponges in the Northeast Atlantic. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 85(3): 519-536.

Hardoim CCP, Esteves AIS, Pires FR, Gonçalves JMS, Cox CJ, Xavier JR, Costa R (2012) Phylogenetically and spatially close marine sponges harbour divergent bacterial communities. PLoS ONE 7(12), e53029.

Xavier JR, Van Soest RWM (2012) Diversity patterns and zoogeography of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean shallow-water sponge fauna. Hydrobiologia 687(1), 107-125.

Araújo M, Xavier JR, Nunes CD, Vaz PD, Humanes M (2012) Marine sponge melanin: a new source of an old biopolymer. Structural Chemistry 23(1), 115-122.

Cárdenas P, Xavier JR, Reveillaud J, Schander C, Rapp HT (2011) Molecular phylogeny of the Astrophorida (Porifera, Demospongiae) reveals an unexpected high level of spicule homoplasy. PLoS ONE 6(4): e18318 

Xavier JR, Van Soest RWM, Breeuwer JAJ, Frias Martins AMF, Menken SBJ (2010b) Phylogeography, genetic diversity and structure of the poecilosclerid sponge Phorbas fictitius at oceanic islands. Contributions to Zoology 79, 119-129.

Xavier JR, Rachello-Dolmen PG, Parra-Velandia F, Schönberg CHL, Breeuwer JAJ, Van Soest RWM (2010a) Molecular evidence of cryptic speciation in the “cosmopolitan” excavating sponge Cliona celata (Porifera, Clionaidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56, 13-20.

Reveillaud J, Remerie T, Van Soest RWM, Erpenbeck D, Cárdenas P, Sofie Derycke S, Xavier JR, Rigaux A, Vanreusel A (2010) Species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships between Atlanto-Mediterranean shallow-water and deep-sea coral associated Hexadella species (Porifera, Ianthellidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56, 104-114.

Webster N, Xavier JR, Freckleton M, Motti C, Cobb R (2008) Shifts in microbial and chemical patterns within the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba during a disease outbreak. Environmental Microbiology 10(12), 3366-3376. 

Marques D, Esteves A, Almeida M, Xavier JR, Humanes M (2008) Superoxide dismutase in the marine sponge Cliona celata. Marine Biology 153, 807-813.

Xavier JR, Van Soest RWM (2007) Demosponge fauna of Ormonde and Gettysburg Seamounts (Gorringe Bank, Northeast Atlantic): diversity and zoogeographical affinities. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 87, 1643-1653.

Cárdenas P, Xavier JR, Tendal O, Schander C, Rapp HT (2007) Redescription and resurrection of Pachymatisma normani (Demospongiae: Geodiidae), with remarks on the genus Pachymatisma. J. Mar.Biol. Ass. U. K. 87, 1511-1525.