1 Introduction Marine sponges, one of the most ancient metazoans, emerged approximately 600 million years ago and are a significant component of the benthic fauna in modern oceans (Taylor et al. 2007; Bell 2008). They play crucial ecological roles, including substrate modification, bentho-pelagic coupling, and habitat provision for various marine organisms (Bell 2008). Sponges host a complex and diverse community of microorganisms, forming what is known as the sponge holobiont.
