Nicole her scientific interests are integrative taxonomy, population dynamics, population genetics, life story, systematics, phylogeny, ecology and biogeography of Porifera and she has published about 140 papers on these topics. Since on year, she is actively involved in maintaining and updating the Mediterranean species for the World Porifera Database, for which she has checked most of the available primary sources. She’s also an active editor for the sponge groups Homoscleromorpha, Keratosa, Verongimorpha and Polymastiida. She pays particular attention to the precise geographic location of sponge species, so good maps with a clear repartition of the species can be generated on the species pages. So far, she has processed about 7.000 of these records.
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Institut National de Science de l'Univers; Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille; Station Marine d'Endoume, more
Function: Responsible for group on biodiversity and evolution
Boury-Esnault, N.; Bellan, G.; Bellan-Santini, D.; Boudouresque, C.-F.; Chevaldonné, P.; Dias, A.; Faget, D.; Harmelin, J.-G.; Harmelin-Vivien, M.; Lejeusne, C.; Perez, T.; Vacelet, J.; Verlaque, M. (2023). The Station Marine d’Endoume, Marseille: 150 years of natural history. Zootaxa 5249(2): 213-252. https://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5249.2.3
Horton, T.; Gofas, S.; Kroh, A.; Poore, G.C.B.; Read, G.; Rosenberg, G.; Stöhr, S.; Bailly, N.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Brandão, S.N.; Costello, M.J.; Decock, W.; Dekeyzer, S.; Hernandez, F.; Mees, J.; Paulay, G.; Vandepitte, L.; Vanhoorne, B.; Vranken, S. (2017). Improving nomenclatural consistency: a decade of experience in the World Register of Marine Species. Eur. J. Taxon. 389: 1-24. https://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.389
Perez, T.; Diáz, M.C.; Ruiz, C.; Cóndor-Luján, B.; Klautau, M.; Hajdu, E.; Lôbo-Hajdu, G.; Zea, S.; Pomponi, S.A.; Thacker, R.W.; Carteron, S.; Tollu, G.; Pouget-Cuvelier, A.; Thélamon, P.; Marechal, J.-P.; Thomas, O.P.; Ereskovsky, A.V.; Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (2017). How a collaborative integrated taxonomic effort has trained new spongiologists and improved knowledge of Martinique Island (French Antilles, eastern Caribbean Sea) marine biodiversity. PLoS One 12(3): e0173859. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173859
Hill, M.S.; Hill, A.L.; Lopez, J.; Peterson, K.J.; Pomponi, S.; Diaz, M.C.; Thacker, R.W.; Adamska, M.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Cárdenas, P.; Chaves-Fonnegra, A.; Danka, E.; De Laine, B.-O.; Formica, D.; Hajdu, E.; Lôbo-Hajdu, G.; Klontz, S.; Morrow, C.C.; Patel, J.; Picton, B.; Pisani, D.; Pohlmann, D.; Redmond, N.E.; Reed, J.; Richey, S.; Riesgo, A.; Rubin, E.; Russell, Z.; Rützler, K.; Sperling, E.A.; di Stefano, M.; Tarver, J.E.; Collins, A.G. (2013). Reconstruction of family-level phylogenetic relationships within Demospongiae (Porifera) using nuclear encoded housekeeping genes. PLoS One 8(1): e50437. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0050437
Cardenas, P.; Perez, T.; Boury-Esnault, N. (2012). Sponge systematics facing new challenges, in: Becerro, M.A. et al.Adv. Mar. Biol. 61: Advances in sponge science: phylogeny, systematics, ecology. Advances in Marine Biology, 61: pp. 79–209. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387787-1.00010-6
Van Soest, R.W.M.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Vacelet, J.; Dohrmann, M.; Erpenbeck, D.; de Voogd, N.J.; Santodomingo, N.; Vanhoorne, B.; Kelly, M.; Hooper, J.N.A. (2012). Global diversity of sponges (Porifera). PLoS One 7(4): e35105. dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035105
Gazave, E.; Carteron, S.; Chenuil, A.; Richelle-Maurer, E.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Borchiellini, C. (2010). Polyphyly of the genus Axinella and of the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiaep). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 57(1): 35-47. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.05.028
Perez, T.; Perrin, B.; Carteron, S.; Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (2006). Celtodoryx girardae gen. nov. sp. nov., a new sponge species (Poecilosclerida: Demospongiae) invading the Gulf of Morbihan (North East Atlantic, France). Cah. Biol. Mar. 47(2): 205-214
Richelle-Maurer, E.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Itskovich, V.B.; Manuel, M.; Pomponi, S.A.; Van de Vyver, G.; Borchiellini, C. (2006). Conservation and phylogeny of a novel family of non-Hox genes of the Antp class in Demospongiae (Porifera). J. Mol. Evol. 63(2): 222-230. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00239-005-0294-x
Loukaci, A.; Muricy, G.; Brouard, J.-P.; Guyot, M.; Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (2004). Chemical divergence between two sibling species of Oscarella (Porifera) from the Mediterranean Sea. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 32(10): 893-899. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2004.02.012
Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (2002). A new species of carnivorous deep-sea sponge (Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae) associated with methanotrophic bacteria. Cah. Biol. Mar. 43(2): 141-148, more
Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Vacelet, J. (2000). A revision of the supraspecific classification of the subclass Calcaronea (Porifera, class Calcarea). Zoosystema 22(2): 203-263, more
Klautau, M.; Russo, C.A.M.; Lazoski, C.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Thorpe, J.P.; Solé-Cava, A.M. (1999). Does cosmopolitanism result from overconservative systematics? A case study using the marine sponge Chondrilla nucula. Evolution 53(5): 1414-1422. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1999.tb05406.x
Chombard, C.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Tillier, A.; Vacelet, J. (1997). Polyphyly of "sclerosponges" (Porifera, Demospongiae) supported by 28S ribosomal sequences. Biol. Bull. 193(3): 359-367. https://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1542938, more
Muricy, G.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Bézac, C.; Vacelet, J. (1996). Cytological evidence for cryptic speciation in Mediterranean Oscarella species (Porifera, Homoscleromorpha). Can. J. Zool. 74(5): 881-896. https://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z96-102
Vacelet, J.; Fiala-Medioni, A.; Fisher, C.R.; Boury-Esnault, N. (1996). Symbiosis between methane-oxidizing bacteria and a deep-sea carnivorous cladorhizid sponge. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 145(1-3): 77-85
Boury-Esnault, N.; Pansini, M.; Uriz, M.-J. (1992). A new Discorhabdella (Porifera, Demospongiae), a new Tethyan relict of pre-Messinian biota? J. Nat. Hist. 26(1): 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222939200770011
Solé-Cava, A.M.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Vacelet, J.; Thorpe, J.P. (1992). Biochemical genetic divergence and systematics in sponges of the genera Corticium and Oscarella (Demospongiae: Homoscleromorpha) in the Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 113: 299-304. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00347284
Solé-Cava, A.M.; Klautau, M.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Borejecic, R.; Thorpe, J.P. (1991). Genetic evidence for cryptic speciation in allopatric populations of two cosmopolitan species of the calcareous sponge genus Clathrina. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 111(3): 381-386. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01319410
Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N.; De Vos, L.; Donadey, C. (1989). Comparative study of the choanosome of Porifera: 2. The keratose sponges. J. Morphol. (1931) 201(2): 119-129
Boury-Esnault, N. (1976). Ultrastructure de la larve parenchymella d'Hamigera hamigera (Schmidt) (Démosponge, Poecilosclerida): origine des cellules grises = Ultrastructure of the parenchymella larva of Hamigera hamigera (Schmidt): origin of grey-cells. Cah. Biol. Mar. 17(1): 9-20 (6plates)
Boury-Esnault, N. (1970). Un phénomène de bourgeonnement externe chez l'éponge Axinella damicornis (Esper). Cah. Biol. Mar. 11(4): 491-496, 1 plate
Laubier, L.; Pérez, T.; Lejeusne, C.; Garrabou, J.; Chevaldonné, P.; Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Harmelin, J.-G. (2003). La Méditerranée se réchauffe-t-elle? Mar. Life 13(1-2): 71-81, more
Barnathan, G.; Mirallès, J.; Kornprobst, J.-M.; Mangoni, A.; Fattorusso, E.; Boury-Esnault, N. (2000). Unusual sterol composition and classification of two marine sponge families, in: Baudimant, G. et al.Marine lipids: Proceedings of the Symposium held in Brest, 19-20 November 1998. Actes de Colloques - IFREMER, 27: pp. 87-94
Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (1996). A new species of carnivorous sponge (Demospongiae: Cladorhizidae) from a Mediterranean cave. Bull. Kon. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet. Biologie 66(Suppl.): 109-115, more
Boury-Esnault, N.; Pansini, M.; Uriz, M.-J. (1994). Spongiaires bathyaux de la mer d'Alboran et du golfe ibéro-marocain. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Série A, Zoologie, 160. Éditions du Muséum: Paris. ISBN 2-85653-213-6. 174 pp.
De Vos, L.; Rützler, K.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Donadey, C.; Vacelet, J. (1991). Atlas of sponge morphology = Atlas de morphologie des esponges. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington D.C.ISBN 1-56098-022-2. XII, 117 pp., more
Vacelet, J.; Boury-Esnault, N. (Ed.) (1987). Taxonomy of Porifera from the N.E. Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. NATO ASI Series G: Ecological sciences, 13. Springer: Berlin. ISBN 3-540-16091-4; e-ISBN 978-3-642-70892-3. VIII, 332 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70892-3
Levi, C.; Boury-Esnault, N. (Ed.) (1979). Biologie des spongiaires, Paris, 18-22 décembre 1978 = Sponge biology, Paris, 18-22 December 1978. CNRS: Paris. ISBN 2-222-02546-x. 533 pp.
Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Manuel, M.; Vacelet, J. (2002). Order Baerida Borojevic, Boury-Esnault & Vacelet, 2000, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al.Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 1193-1200
Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Manuel, M.; Vacelet, J. (2002). Order Clathrinida Hartman, 1958, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al.Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 1141-1152
Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Manuel, M.; Vacelet, J. (2002). Order Leucosolenida Hartman, 1958, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al. (Ed.) Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 1157-1184
Boury-Esnault, N. (2002). Family Polymastiidae Gray, 1867, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al. (Ed.) Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 201-219
Boury-Esnault, N. (2002). Order Chondrosida Boury-Esnault & Lopès, 1985. Family Chondrillidae Gray, 1872, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al. (Ed.) Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 291-297
Manuel, M.; Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Vacelet, J. (2002). Class Calcarea Bowerbank, 1864, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al. (Ed.) Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 1103-1110
Vacelet, J.; Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Manuel, M. (2002). Order Lithonida Vacelet, 1981, recent, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al. (Ed.) Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 1185-1192
Vacelet, J.; Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Manuel, M. (2002). Order Murrayonida Vacelet, 1981, in: Hooper, J.N.A. et al. (Ed.) Systema Porifera: a guide to the classification of Sponges. pp. 1153-1156
Borojevic, R.; Boury-Esnault, N. (1987). Calcareous sponges collected by N.O. Thalassa on the continental margin of the Bay of Biscaye: 1. Calcinea, in: Vacelet, J. et al. (Ed.) Taxonomy of Porifera from the N.E. Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. NATO ASI Series G: Ecological sciences, 13: pp. 1-27
Boury-Esnault, N. (1987). The Polymastia species (Demosponges, Hadromerida) of the Atlantic area, in: Vacelet, J. et al. (Ed.) Taxonomy of Porifera from the N.E. Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. NATO ASI Series G: Ecological sciences, 13: pp. 29-66, more
Gerovasileiou, V.; Martínez, A.; Baas Becking, L.M.G.; Muricy, G.; Alvarez, F.; Boxshall, G.A.; Humphreys, W.F.; Jaume, D.; van Hengstum, P.J.; Yamasaki, H.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Perez, T.; Voultsiadou, E.; Dekeyzer, S.; Decock, W.; Vanhoorne, B.; Vandepitte, L.; Bailly, N.; Iliffe, T.M. (2017). World Register of marine Cave Species (WoRCS): a tool for evaluating sponge diversity in marine caves and anchialine systems of the world, in: Picton, B. et al. (Ed.) 10th World Sponge Conference, NUI Galway 23-30 June 2017: Book of Abstracts. pp. 215
Gooday, A.J.; Billett, D.S.M.; Copley, J.; Cuvelier, D.; Colaço, A.; Desbruyéres, D.; Boury-Esnault, N.; Galeron, J.; Klages, M.; Kalogeropoulou, V.; Lampadaiou, N.; Arbizu, P.M.; Paterson, G.; Perez, T.; Santos, R.S.; Sarrazin, J.; Tatje, S.; Tyler, P.; Vanreusel, A. (2007). DEEPSETS – Deep-sea and extreme environments, patterns of species and ecosystem time series, in: Marbef General Assembly - Science Meeting. The value of biodiversity observatories and monitoring for science and society, Sopot & Gdynia, Poland, 14-16 May 2007: book of abstracts. pp. 8
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