Characterization of macrofaunal assemblages associated with sponges and tunicates collected off the southeastern United States

Abstract

Abstract. Sponges can serve as hosts to invertebrate assemblages that live and reproduce within them. Sponges also constitute a major part of the benthic epifaunal community on the continental shelf of the southeastern United States; however, little is known about these sponges and the assemblages they harbor. In this study, the associated fauna from a variety of sponges and one species of tunicate collected by submersible from the continental shelf and slope of the southeastern United States at depths in the range 18–875 m were examined. Seventeen sponges, comprising eight species (Ircinia campana, Topsentia sp., Geodia sp., Characella sp., Erylus sp., Apylsina archeri, Cliona sp., and Pheronema carpenteri), and three tunicate colonies (Didemnidae) were fully dissected and all associated organisms were identified and counted. Additionally, the sponges Pheronema annae (951 m) and P. carpenteri (770 m) represent new records for the region. The diversity (H′) and density of associates varied considerably among hosts; the densities of associates ranged 0.4–11,684 per 1 L of host volume. Polychaete worms were the most common organisms found, with one species, Haplosyllis spongicola, being especially abundant in I. campana, Topsentia sp., and Cliona sp. The amphipods Ericthonius punctatus and Leucothoe cf. spinicarpa, as well as decapods such as snapping shrimp (Synalpheus sp.) and crabs (e.g., Pilumnus floridana, Micropanope urinator), were also common. The number of symbiont taxa did not significantly increase as the sponge size increased. However, weak positive trends were found between the diversity of associates and increasing canal diameter. Sponges and tunicates were judged to represent legitimate ecological communities harboring a complete food web as well as gravid and juvenile individuals.

Growing or reproducing in a temperate sea: optimization of resource allocation in a colonial ascidian

“…Thus, the study of their population dynamics and life cycles is useful to explain processes such as space occupation and community diversity patterns (Dijkstra et al. ; Dijkstra & Harris ; Fiore & Cox Jutte ). The colonial ascidian Didemnum fulgens ( Milne ‐ Edwards 1841) was first described in the Celtic Sea (Atlantic, NW France), and is widely distributed in the Mediterranean (Lafargue & Wahl ; Koukouras et al.…”

Temporal variation of epi- and endofaunal assemblages associated with the red sponge Tedania ignis on a rocky shore (São Sebastião Channel), SE Brazil

“…These studies found a positive relationship between macrofaunal diversity and sponge biomass or volume when comparing these effects within sponge species. In contrast, Fiore & Jutte (2010) found a negative relationship between species richness and sponge biomass when comparing different species of sponges, suggesting that other factors can influence macrofaunal colonization. Although sponges have many functional roles in coastal habitats, the provision of habitat, protection for predation, and settlement surfaces can be of great importance to increase biodiversity in these regions (Bell, 2008).…”

“…In São Sebastião, the faunal groups found associated with Tedania ignis are also commonly found associated with macroalgae (Nascimento & Rosso, 2007), as also observed for the fauna associated with sponges elsewhere (Peattie & Hoare ,1981;Klitgaard, 1995;Voultsiadou et al, 2007;Huang et al, 2008;Fiore & Jutte, 2010). Epifaunal activities may clean sponge surfaces from debris, by feeding and building tubes, while the sponge provides a perennial and physically stable structure for the fauna (Costello & Myers, 1987).…”

“…There is a strong relationship between sponge internal space (channel sizes) and the densities and sizes of endofaunal organisms (Abdo, 2007). Fiore & Jutte (2010) found that channel diameter could negatively influence endofaunal densities, and therefore, endofaunal diversity. There are no studies on internal space availability and channel diameters of T. ignis, but we could note visually that the channels are narrow.…”

“…Epifaunal activities may clean sponge surfaces from debris, by feeding and building tubes, while the sponge provides a perennial and physically stable structure for the fauna (Costello & Myers, 1987). Endofaunal abundances within sponges can be lower than epifaunal abundances on sponge surfaces and on other biological surfaces, so that fewer organisms may have adequate traits to inhabit the interior of these animals (Fiore & Jutte, 2010). There is a strong relationship between sponge internal space (channel sizes) and the densities and sizes of endofaunal organisms (Abdo, 2007).…”