Freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillidae) of eastern Canada: taxonomy, distribution, and ecology

Abstract

RICCIARDI, A., and REISWIG, H. M. 1993. Freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillidae) of eastern Canada: taxonomy, distribution, and ecology. Can. J. Zool. 71: 665 -682. During a recent survey of the freshwater sponges of eastern Canada (from Ontario to Newfoundland), 15 species were recorded, representing approximately 50% of the total number of species known from North America. Radiospongilla crureriformis, Spongillu uspinosa, and Trochospongilla horrida are reported from Canada for the first time. Two problematic species, Cowosporigillu novuererrue and Spongilla johunseni, are reviewed and their status is revised. Detailed notes on taxonomy, morphology, distribution, and ecology are given. New limits of tolerance with respect to pH, water temperature, and calcium and magnesium concentrations are established for several species. A taxonomic key to the freshwater sponges of eastern Canada is presented. RICCIARDI, A., et REISWIC, H. M. 1993. Freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillidae) of eastern Canada: taxonomy, distribution, and ecology. Can. J. Zool. 71 : 665 -682. Un inventaire recent des eponges d'eau douce de 1'Est canadien, de I'Ontario Terre-Neuve, indique la presence de 15 especes, soit environ 50% des especes connues en Amerique du Nord. Rcldiospongillrr crureriformis, Spongilla uspinosrr et Trochospongilla horrida sont signalees au Canada pour la premiere fois. Deux especes, qui presentaient des problemes taxonomiques, Cowospongilla novaererrae et Spongilla johanseni, ont fait l'objet d'une revision et leur status a ete amende.On trouvera aussi des notes detaillees sur la taxonomie, la morphologie, la repartition geographique et l'ecologie des especes. De nouvelles limites de tolerance au pH, a la temperature, au calcium et au magnesium sont notees chez plusieurs especes. Une clef permet l'identification des especes de 1'Est du Canada.[Traduit par la redaction]

Paleoenvironmental significance of a new species of freshwater sponge from the Late Miocene Quillagua Formation (N Chile)

“…dubia are alkaliphilous species, the former typical of some eastern African sodium chloride-type lakes with pHs of approximately 8 (Gasse, 1986). Both species are typical of meso-to eutrophic waters According to Harrison (1988) and Ricciardi and Reiswig (1992), E. fluviatilis, which is most similar in spiculation to the fossil species described here, occurs in alkaline waters rich in calcium. However, Pennak (1989) states that all common species of Recent freshwater sponges, including E. fluviatilis, occur in waters with less than 12.0 ppm of calcium, whereas E. muelleri seems restricted to waters with at least 5.6 ppm of calcium.…”

“…The investigated material resembles the Recent cosmopolitan species E. fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) (e.g. Wierzejski, 1935;Penney and Racek, 1968;Pennak, 1989;Ricciardi and Reiswig, 1992) but differs from this species in having smaller diameter gemmules, longer shafts on the gemmoscleres (which are also thicker), and larger diameter rotules. The species described herein also has many long, conical spines on the gemmoscleres shaft; such spines occur very rarely, and in small number, on E. fluviatilis.…”

Coordinated contractions effectively expel water from the aquiferous system of a freshwater sponge

“…Collecting and culturing of sponges Gemmules (reduction bodies) and pieces of the freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri (Lieberkuhn 1955) were scraped from sunken trees or submerged rocks in Frederick Lake, BC, Canada (48°47Ј51.7559Љ; 125°2Ј58.5600Љ) at a depth of 0-3·m and stored in unfiltered lake water at 4°C in the dark until use (Ricciardi and Reiswig, 1993). Bags with sponge pieces were aerated monthly, and gemmules stored in this way were viable for at least one year.…”

Wisconsin Freshwater Sponge Species Documented by Scanning Electron Microscopy

“…In cases where subsequent researchers (e.g., Reiswig and Ricciardi 1993) have revealed errors in Penney and Racek (1968), that differing information is cited. For comparison with our results, Tables 1 and 2 give ranges for gemmule and spicule measurements reported by Penney and Racek (1968) and Ricciardi and Reiswig (1993). A high degree of ecomorphic variation in certain sponge traits has been noted by many researchers, but our focus was confined to the examination of voucher specimens, and we have not attempted an analysis of this intraspecific variation.…”

“…Gemmoscleres are birotulate, of two size classes (Penney and Racek 1968). In contrast, Ricciardi and Reiswig (1993) reported a single size class. Longer gemmoscleres protrude through the outer surface of the gemmule.…”