Bioeroding Sponges and the Future of Coral Reefs

Schönberg, Christine H L; Fang, James Kar–Hei; Carballo, José Luís

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-59008-0_7

Cited by 40 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 430 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Diversity records of bioeroding sponges vary according to marine bioregions. According to Schönberg, Fang, and Carballo () regions with the highest number of species record for the Caribbean (62 spp.). In other regions, species records were lower: India (47 spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and Brazil (25 spp.) (Schönberg, Fang, & Carballo, ). In Brazil, Cliona was the most diverse genus of bioeroding sponges (8 spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abundances of different species of bioeroding sponges (mostly Cliona spp.) have recently increased in different oceans (Schönberg, Fang, & Carballo, ). Our results showed an increase in the abundances of C. carteri which colonized preferentially CCA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bioeroding sponges are key biological agents of carbonate erosion on reefs and globally dominate macroboring rates (Schönberg, Fang, & Carballo, ). Previously quantified sponge bioerosion rates ranged from 0.2 to over 23 kg CaCO 3 m −2 sponge year −1 (Glynn, ; Neumann, ; Schönberg, Fang, & Carballo, ). However, in many bioregions, bioeroding sponges are not included in the monitoring of coral reef communities due to their complex taxonomy and cryptic life form (Schönberg, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a consequence, for some bioregions, a decrease in calcium carbonate production rates was observed (Perry et al, 2013), as well as an increase in bioerosion. Bioeroders appear to be more stress-resistant, and bioerosion is still expected to continue to rise (Schönberg, Fang, & Carballo, 2017;Schönberg, Fang, Carreiro-Silva, Tribollet, & Wisshak, 2017). A relative shift from calcification to erosional processes would affect coral and CCA growth, the geomorphological structure of reefs and ultimately the survival of organisms and the diversity and quality of the habitat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Long‐term temporal and spatial patterns in bioeroding sponge distribution at the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bioeroding sponges belong to the most dominant bioeroders, significantly contributing to the erosion of coral reefs. Some species are tolerant or even benefit from environmental conditions such as ocean warming, acidification, and eutrophication. In consequence, increases in sponge bioerosion have been observed on some coral reefs over the last decades. The Abrolhos Bank is the largest coral reef system in the South Atlantic. It has been affected by sedimentation, eutrophication, overfishing, and climate change, mainly affecting coastal reefs, and at lesser intensity outer ones as well. This study aimed to describe spatial and temporal patterns in bioeroding sponge distribution in carbonate substrates in the Abrolhos Bank. Photo‐quadrats were used to compare bioeroding sponge abundance between two shallow reefs: a coastal, Pedra de Leste (PL), and an outer reef, Parcel dos Abrolhos (PAB). Each individual was delimitated over the substrate by determining the sponge surface through a line connecting the outermost papillae. The study was conducted over 6 years in 2008–2009 and 2013–2016. Four species of bioeroding sponges were identified: Cliona carteri Ridley, 1881, C. delitrix Pang, 1973, C. cf. schmidtii Ridley, 1881, and Siphonodictyon coralliphagum Rützler, 1971. The distribution and abundance of species varied between the inner and outer reefs and across the years, and displayed certain selectivity for the calcareous substrates recorded. Crustose coralline algae (CCA) were the main substrate excavated by the most abundant bioeroding species, C. carteri, and represented 70% of the substrate types occupied by this sponge (CCA, coral overgrown by CCA and plain coral). The highest abundance of bioeroding sponges observed in photo‐quadrats was 21.3 individuals/m2 at the outer reefs (PAB) in 2014. The abundances or areal extents of bioeroding sponges were up to 10 times greater on the outer reefs than on the coastal ones, where sedimentation is higher and more strongly influenced by siliciclastic material. Moreover, a higher herbivorous fish biomass has been reported on outer reefs which could also influence the higher abundance of bioeroding sponges in outer reefs. During the study period of 6 years, an increase in bioeroding sponge abundance was observed at the outer reefs (PAB), with the sea surface temperature increase. As CCA have an important role in reefal cementation and carbonate production in the Abrolhos reefs, a bioerosion impact might be expected, in particular, on the outer reefs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and Brazil (25 spp.) (Schönberg, Fang, & Carballo, ). In Brazil, Cliona was the most diverse genus of bioeroding sponges (8 spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Long‐term temporal and spatial patterns in bioeroding sponge distribution at the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Bioerosion

Weinstein¹,

Maher²,

Correa³

2019

Coral Reefs of the World

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microbiome structure of ecologically important bioeroding sponges (family Clionaidae): the role of host phylogeny and environmental plasticity

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The potential of increased bioerosion by excavating sponges in future environmental scenarios represents a potential threat to coral reef structure and function. If we are to predict changes to coral reef habitats, it is important to understand the biology of these sponges. Little is known about prokaryotic associations in excavating sponges despite the fact that evidence indicates they contribute to the sponge growth through their heterotrophic metabolism and may even act as microborers. Here, we provide the first detailed description of the microbial community of multiple bioeroding sponges from the Clionaidae family (Cliona varians, C. tumula, C. delitrix, Spheciospongia vesparium, Cervicornia cuspidifera) collected in inshore and offshore coral reefs in the Florida Keys. A total of 6,811 prokaryote OTUs identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing was detected in the samples studied, including ambient water, belonging to 39 bacterial phyla and 3 archaeal phyla. The microbiomes of species harboring Symbiodinium (Cliona varians, C. tumula, Cervicornia cuspidifera) and the azooxanthellate S. vesparium were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria that represented from 83 to 96% of total sequences. These clionaid sponges presented species-specific core microbiomes, with 4 OTUs being shared by all sponge samples, albeit with species-specific enrichments. The microbiomes of C. varians and S. vesparium were stable but showed certain plasticity between offshore and inshore reefs. The distantly related Cliona delitrix does not harbor Symbiodinium , and had a microbiome dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, which represented 82% of all sequences. Most of the sponge-exclusive OTUs are found in low abundance and belong to the "rare biosphere" category, highlighting the potential importance of these microbes in the ecology of the holobiont. Sponge microbiomes may enhance functional redundancy for the sponge holobiont and allow it to respond to shifting environments over much short time scales than evolutionary change would

show abstract

Bioeroding Sponges and the Future of Coral Reefs

Cited by 40 publications

References 430 publications

Long‐term temporal and spatial patterns in bioeroding sponge distribution at the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic

Long‐term temporal and spatial patterns in bioeroding sponge distribution at the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic

Bioerosion

Microbiome structure of ecologically important bioeroding sponges (family Clionaidae): the role of host phylogeny and environmental plasticity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About