First fossil record of parasitism in Devonian calcareous sponges (stromatoporoids)

Abstract

Diminished growth rates around the infesting organism demonstrate a negative influence on the host, similar to that seen in the modern demosponge-polychaete association of Verongia-Haplosyllis. This is demonstrated by changes in growth bands. As in the above-mentioned association, the endosymbiont might have been feeding directly upon the tissues of the host. The Torquaysalpinx organisms were gaining habitat and possibly also food resources - for them this interaction was clearly positive. This long-term association can therefore be classified as parasitism. This is the first evidence for parasitism in Palaeozoic sponges.

Earliest known rugosan-stromatoporoid symbiosis from the Llandovery of Estonia (Baltica)

“…This is similar to the effects of aggression in modern scleractinian corals (Tapanila, 2008). Zapalski and Hubert (2011) found a decrease in host stromatoporoid growth rates associated with symbiotic Torquaysalpinx sp. The Devonian Torquaysalpinx sp.…”

“…The Devonian Torquaysalpinx sp. may have been a parasite gaining living space and possibly also food resources from its host (Zapalski and Hubert, 2011). It is impossible to detect whether the host stromatoporoids were colonized immediately by the rugosans and the younger symbiont generations represent offspring of earlier colonists, or if the stromatoporoid was colonized by symbionts multiple times during its life.…”

Intergrowth of Orbignyella germana Bassler, 1911 (Bryozoa) and Lambelasma carinatum Weyer, 1993 (Rugosa) in the pelmatozoan-bryozoan-receptaculitid reefs from the Late Ordovician of Estonia

“…Intergrown organisms are common in reef stromatoporoids too, but they can occur also in bedded limestone (Kershaw, 2013). Both tabulate and rugose corals are the most abundant, but numerous tube-shaped fossils, probably worms (e.g., Tourneur et al, 1994;Zhen and West, 1997;Zapalski and Hubert, 2011), also occur (Kershaw, 2013). It is possible that reef faunas may have played a key role in the evolution of many Palaeozoic symbiotic associations.…”

Differentiating Parasitism and Other Interactions in Fossilized Colonial Organisms

“…According to Zapalski (2007), perforation of the skeleton (and soft tissues) of the host and modification of its morphology are evidence for parasitism. Stromatoporoids from the Devonian (Givetian) of France described by Zapalski and Hubert (2011) contain helical tubes that they identified as Torquaysalpinx. According to these authors, Torquaysalpinx biomineralized its own calcareous walls, delineating tubes on average 0.33 mm in diameter.…”