Spongivory by <i>Eucidaris tribuloides</i> from Salvador, Bahia (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

Santos, Cesar; Coutinho, Aluízio Bezerra; Hajdu, Eduardo

doi:10.1017/s0025315402005477

Cited by 22 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…It appears that urchin and parrotfish do not bite the sponge or that, if this happens, the sponge quickly recovers and continues advancing faster than when urchins have not been scraping. Although there are other urchin species which do feed on sponges (Santos et al. 2000), no urchin bite marks were observed on C. delitrix and a previous study showed no sponge spicules in D. antillarum faecal pellets (Bak 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Coral colonization by the encrusting excavating Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix

Chaves‐Fonnegra

Zea

2010

Marine Ecology

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The Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix is among the strongest reef space competitors; it is able to overpower entire coral heads by undermining coral polyps. It has become abundant in reefs exposed to organic pollution, such as San Andrés Island, Colombia, SW Caribbean. Forty‐four sponge‐colonized coral colonies were followed‐up for 13 months to establish the circumstances and the speed at which this sponge advances laterally into live coral tissue and the coral tissue retreats. Cliona delitrix presence and abundance was recorded at seven stations to interpret current reef space and coral species colonization trends. The spread of C. delitrix on a coral colony was preceded by a band of dead coral a few millimeters to several centimeters wide. However, the sponge was directly responsible for coral death only when live coral tissue was within about 2 cm distance; coral death became sponge advance‐independent at greater distances, being indirectly dependent on other conditions that tend to accelerate its retreat. Cliona delitrix advanced fastest into recently killed clean coral calices; however, sponge spread slowed down when these became colonized by algae. The lateral advance of C. delitrix was slower than other Cliona spp. encrusting excavating sponges, probably owing to the greater depth of its excavation into the substratum. Cliona delitrix prefers elevated portions of massive corals, apparently settling on recently dead areas. It currently inhabits 6–9% of colonies in reefs bordering San Andrés. It was found more frequently in Siderastrea siderea (the most abundant local massive coral), which is apparently more susceptible to tissue mortality than other corals. Current massive coral mortality caused by C. delitrix could initially change the relative proportions of coral species and in the long‐term favor foliose and branching corals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Coral colonization by the encrusting excavating Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix

Chaves‐Fonnegra

Zea

2010

Marine Ecology

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“…Prevalence of crustose (non-articulated) macroalgae in the gut of E. thouarsii may be explained by their foraging behavior, this sea urchin browses the rocks where the macroalgae grow, consuming the crustose algae and associated small organisms. Calcareous fragments are the major component of gut contents of E. tribuloides (McPherson 1968a), suggesting that this species obtains nutrients from microorganisms attached to calcareous fragments, as well as the macrophytes and sponges (McPherson 1968b;Santos et al 2002). The sea urchins Diadema antillarum and Toxopneustes roseus primarily consume crustose coralline macroalgae (including Lithophyllum species) are their main food source for these urchins (Hawkins 1981;James 2000).…”

Section: Macroalgae In the Sea Urchins' Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations of trace elements in sea urchins and macroalgae commonly present in Sargassum beds: implications for trophic transfer

Hernández-Almaraz

Méndez-Rodríguez

Zenteno‐Savín

et al. 2016

Ecological Research

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamic of cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, and iron among lower trophic levels, sea urchins and macroalgae. Diets and isotopic values were used in combination to explore trophic positions and potential transference of metals from primary producers to consumers. Concentrations of trace elements were measured in two species of sea urchin (Tripneustes depressus and Eucidaris thouarsii) and nine macroalgae that are usually used as food in four Sargassum beds, one of which is close to a phosphorite mine. Specimens were collected when Sargassum fronds were at their greatest (winter) and lowest (summer) abundance. Highest concentrations of Cd, and Cu in both urchin species were recorded in winter at the site near the phosphorite mine. Concentrations of Pb in T. depressus were below the detectable limit, whereas E. thouarsii, which in addition to a high concentration of Pb, had high amounts of Cu and Zn. Gut content analysis, indicates that the diet of both sea urchins at the four sites and two collection dates is mainly macroalgae. The δ15N isotopic values in sea urchins in a typical Sargassum bed were in good agreement with a diet dominated by macroalgae, with T. depressus having herbivorous habits and E. thouarsii having omnivorous habits in this environment. We found macroalgae important in the dynamics of metals in food webs, potentially contributing to transferring Cd, Cu, and Zn to key invertebrate species, such as sea urchins, indicating connectivity of food webs and ecological structuring of marine environments.

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“…Sponge spicules, spongin, collagen, or calcium carbonate may deter some sea urchins from predation (Pennings & Svedberg 1993, Uriz et al 1996. Conversely, other sea urchin species feed on sponges habitually, despite the presence of siliceous spicules (De Ridder & Lawrence 1982, Santos et al 2002. These contrasting results illustrate predator-dependent outcomes to the same type of defense.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sponges are a notable component of the marine benthos, where they share habitat with an array of potential predators (McClintock et al 1994, Wulff 2000, Santos et al 2002, Leon & Bjorndal 2002, Knowlton & Highsmith 2005. Thus, besides competing for growth space with other benthic organisms such as algae, corals, ascidians, and bryozoans, sponges must also handle predation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calcareous spherules produced by intracellular symbiotic bacteria protect the sponge Hemimycale columella from predation better than secondary metabolites

Garate¹,

Blanquer

Uriz³

2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Benthic sessile organisms in general, and sponges in particular, have developed an array of defense mechanisms to survive in crowded, resource and/or space-limited environments. Indeed, various defense mechanisms may converge in sponges to accomplish a defensive function in an additive or synergetic way, or to operate at different times during the sponge's life cycle. Moreover, sponges harbor highly diverse microbial communities that contribute in several ways to the host's success. Although some symbiotic bacteria produce chemical compounds that protect the sponge from predation, the possible deterrent function exerted by the calcareous coat of a sponge's endosymbiotic bacterium has not, to date, been explored. Hemimycale columella is an Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge, which produces bioactive metabolites and has been reported to host an intracellular bacterium with a calcite envelope. Calcibacteria accumulate in high densities at the sponge periphery, forming a kind of sub-ectosomal cortex. They have been suggested to provide the sponge with several benefits, one of which is protection from predators. In this study, we assess the relative contribution of the endosymbiotic calcibacteria and bioactive compounds produced by H. columella to defend the sponge against sympatric predators. Deterrence experiments have revealed that the sponge combines >1 defense mechanism to dissuade a large array of potential predators; this represents an example of the evolutionary fixation of redundant mechanisms of defense. The chemicals deterred Paracentrotus lividus, Chromis chromis, Oblada melanura, and Diplodus vulgaris, but not Parablennius incognitus and Coris julis, while the spherules of the symbiotic calcibacteria significantly deterred all predators assayed.

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Spongivory by Eucidaris tribuloides from Salvador, Bahia (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

Cited by 22 publications

References 4 publications

Coral colonization by the encrusting excavating Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix

Coral colonization by the encrusting excavating Caribbean sponge Cliona delitrix

Concentrations of trace elements in sea urchins and macroalgae commonly present in Sargassum beds: implications for trophic transfer

Calcareous spherules produced by intracellular symbiotic bacteria protect the sponge Hemimycale columella from predation better than secondary metabolites

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