The shape and arrangement of skeletal structures (spicules) in marine sponges are used in their taxonomic classification but shared spicule patterns often do not correspond to relationships postulated by molecular data, particularly for members of the order Haplosclerida. A chemical and spectroscopic analysis of spicules using FTIR-ATR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry) and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) was undertaken for nine Haliclona species from Irish and Mediterranean coasts to determine whether the chemical composition of the spicules could reflect a phylogenetic signal. The analysis indicates differences in the amounts of major and minor elements present in spicules across the nine species but differences do not reflect phylogenetic relationships. H. indistincta (a shallow sublittoral species) harbours much higher amounts of some elements in the spicules than the remaining (subtidal) species with H. viscosa showing much higher levels of zinc.

海洋海绵中骨骼结构（刺）的形状和排列用于其分类学分类，但是共享的刺状图案通常与分子数据所推定的关系不符，特别是对于单倍体科的成员而言。针对九个Haliclona，使用FTIR-ATR（傅里叶变换红外光谱法），ICP-OES（电感耦合等离子体光谱法）和ICP-MS（电感耦合等离子体质谱法）对针头进行了化学和光谱分析。来自爱尔兰和地中海沿岸的物种来确定这些针状体的化学成分是否可以反映出系统发生信号。分析表明，九个物种的针叶中主要和次要元素的含量存在差异，但差异并未反映出系统发育关系。H. indistincta（一种浅的近沿海物种）在针刺中的某些元素的含量远高于其余（潮下）物种，其中H. viscosa的锌含量更高。