Spatial Variability of Sponge Assemblages on the Wellington South Coast,New Zealand

Berman, Jade

doi:10.2174/1874450801004010012

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…The fact that the spatial variability of sponge communities is influenced by a combination of environmental, biological and stochastic processes, resulting in strong differences in abundance and diversity, is already known (Pansini & Pronzato ; Pansini & Musso ; Duckworth et al . ; Berman & Bell ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of the sponge assemblage ofMediterranean coralligenous concretions along a millennial time span

et al. 2013

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The Mediterranean coralligenous substratum is a hard bottom of biogenic origin, mainly composed of calcareous algae, growing in dim light conditions. Sponges are among of the most representative taxa of the coralligenous assemblages, with more than 300 recorded species of different habits: massive, erect, boring and insinuating. When sponges die, their siliceous spicules remain trapped in the biogenic concretion, offering the opportunity to describe the coralligenous spongofauna over a very long span of time, virtually dating back to a large part of the Holocene period. The data reported here were obtained from core samples collected from four coralligenous concretions. Each block was collected in a different locality of the Ligurian Sea: Santo Stefano Shoals, Bogliasco, Punta del Faro (Portofino Promontory) and Punta Manara. Radiocarbon age determinations indicate for these conglomerates a maximal age between 1600 and 3100 years. The spicules trapped in the cores show deep dissolution marks in the form of circular holes on their surface or present an enlargement of the axial canal. However, their original shape, generally intact, suggests the absence of mechanical injuries and allows a tentative identification at the species level. The analysis of these old spicules reveals an ancient sponge assemblage composed of 30 recognisable species. This indicates that almost one half of the sponge community today settled on coralligenous substrata has been present in the conglomerates for their entire existence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of the sponge assemblage ofMediterranean coralligenous concretions along a millennial time span

et al. 2013

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“…The understory is dominated by crustose coral line algae (CCA), and the overall abundance of The Sirens Rocks; 6: Trig Point; 7: Kaiwharawhara Point sessile invertebrates has been reported to be low (Shears & Babcock 2007). Nevertheless, recently Berman & Bell (2010) reported a diverse sponge as semb lage in this region, where sponge cover ex ceeds 50% of the substratum at some sites. Kapiti Island is located off the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, ~50 km north of Wellington.…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 92%

Correlations between algal abundance, environmental variables and sponge distribution patterns on southern hemisphere temperate rocky reefs

Cárdenas

Davy²,

Bell³

2012

Aquat. Biol.

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Sponges are important components of temperate rocky reefs whose abundance and diversity are influenced by a range of biological and physical factors. In high light environments, sponges are generally less abundant and are often restricted to shaded microhabitats. However, this generalisation stems primarily from research conducted in the northern hemisphere, with comparatively little information from the southern hemisphere. The aim of the present study was to examine correlations between sponge abundance and assemblage composition and between algal abundance and environmental variables. We measured the distribution patterns of sponges relative to macroalgal abundance, physical factors (including depth, surface inclination, turbidity, rugosity and temperature) and the abundance of other phyletic groups at multiple sites in New Zealand. A negative correlation was found between sponge abundance and algal abundance, with surface inclination strongly correlating with the distribution patterns of both groups. Our results support the generalisation from previous studies in the northern hemisphere that sponge and algal abundance are negatively correlated.

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“…This study was conducted on the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand, within the Taputeranga Marine Reserve (The Sirens, 41°20' 58.5" S, 174°45' 50.8" E and Mermaids Kitchen, 41°21' 60" S, 174°45' 47.5" E). The south coast of Wellington is a highenergy environment, with its tidal and oceanic flows strongly influenced by Cook Strait weather (Carter 2008); water temperatures range between 11°C in winter and 16°C in summer (Berman & Bell 2010). This area supports a high diversity and abundance of encrusting and massive sponges commonly found on the sides of channels, crevices, boulders, rock walls and overhangs (Berman et al 2008).…”

Section: Study Site and Species Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal variation in food utilisation by three species of temperate demosponge

Perea-Blázquez¹,

Davy²,

Magaña‐Rodríguez³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Temperate marine ecosystems exhibit a marked seasonal variation in environmental conditions that strongly affects the bioenergetics and population dynamics of benthic organisms. As benthic suspension feeders, sponges are subjected to seasonal changes in the supply of their food in the water column. In this study, we examined the temporal variation in the concentration of the picoplanktonic food particles present in the water column and their retention by 3 common demosponges (Crella incrustans, Haliclona venustina and Strongylacidon sp.) from the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand. We sampled 3 times each year over a 2 yr period to examine temporal variation in particle retention efficiency and in the number of particles retained by each species relative to the abundance of particles in the water column. Our results showed that the picoplanktonic species composition and abundance in the water column changed seasonally and between years, as did sponge retention efficiencies and amounts of the available picoplanktonic organisms retained. Averaged across a year, the consumption of non-photosynthetic bacteria is likely to provide the study species with between 20 and 40 times more carbon than the consumption of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus (marine cyanobacteria). Although the concentration of food particles in the water column positively correlated with the amount of particles retained across all species, we found that retention efficiency did not change with particle concentration. This suggests that retention efficiency is independent of ambient particle concentration, and sponges are unable to increase their particle capture efficiency when food concentrations are lower (e.g. during winter months) and are therefore likely to be susceptible to low levels of food availability.

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Spatial Variability of Sponge Assemblages on the Wellington South Coast,New Zealand

Cited by 20 publications

References 83 publications

Stability of the sponge assemblage ofMediterranean coralligenous concretions along a millennial time span

Stability of the sponge assemblage ofMediterranean coralligenous concretions along a millennial time span

Correlations between algal abundance, environmental variables and sponge distribution patterns on southern hemisphere temperate rocky reefs

Temporal variation in food utilisation by three species of temperate demosponge

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