The functional roles of marine sponges

Bell, James J.

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2008.05.002

Cited by 615 publications

(556 citation statements)

References 158 publications

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“…Amongst others, sponges, bryozoans, hydroids, ascidians and sea anemones, whose functional roles are of high importance, form these communities. The importance of sponges on substratum, sponge bentho-pelagic coupling, and sponge interactions and associations is described in Bell (2008), where their functional roles as nutrient cyclers (carbon, silicon, nitrogen, etc. ), substratum stabilizers, predation protection providers, and primary production providers are enhanced.…”

Section: Mixed Faunal Turf Communities On Circalittoral Rock (Eunis Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

et al. 2012

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The goal of ecosystem-based marine spatial management is to maintain marine ecosystems in a healthy, productive and resilient condition; hence, they can sustainably provide the needed goods and services for human welfare. However, the increasing pressures upon the marine realm threaten marine ecosystems, especially seabed biotopes, and thus a well-planned approach of managing use of marine space is essential to achieve sustainability. The relative value of seabed biotopes, evaluated on the basis of goods and services, is an important starting point for the spatial management of marine areas. Herein, 56 types of European seabed biotopes and their related goods, services, sensitivity issues, and conservation status were compiled, the latter referring to management and protection tools which currently apply for these biotopes at European or international level. Fishing activities, especially by benthic trawls, and marine pollution are the main threats to European seabed biotopes. Increased seawater turbidity, dredged sediment disposal, coastal constructions, biological invasions, mining, extraction of raw materials, shipping-related activities, tourism, hydrocarbon exploration, and even some practices of scientific research, also exert substantial pressure. Although some first steps have been taken to protect the European sea beds through international agreements and European and national legislation, a finer scale of classification and assessment of marine biotopes is considered crucial in shaping sound priorities and management guidelines towards the effective conservation and sustainability of European marine resources.

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Section: Mixed Faunal Turf Communities On Circalittoral Rock (Eunis Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

et al. 2012

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“…Sponges (phylum Porifera) are basal metazoa that form a major part of the marine benthic fauna across the world's oceans (20,21). Despite their evolutionary divergence, sponges have maintained many common physiological characters and ecological roles, including the filter-feeding of planktonic microorganisms and particulate matter (20).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence in complex communities of microbial sponge symbionts

Fan

Reynolds

Liu

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

339

476

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Microorganisms often form symbiotic relationships with eukaryotes, and the complexity of these relationships can range from those with one single dominant symbiont to associations with hundreds of symbiont species. Microbial symbionts occupying equivalent niches in different eukaryotic hosts may share functional aspects, and convergent genome evolution has been reported for simple symbiont systems in insects. However, for complex symbiont communities, it is largely unknown how prevalent functional equivalence is and whether equivalent functions are conducted by evolutionarily convergent mechanisms. Sponges represent an evolutionarily divergent group of species with common physiological and ecological traits. They also host complex communities of microbial symbionts and thus are the ideal model to test whether functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence exist in complex symbiont communities across phylogenetically divergent hosts. Here we use a sampling design to determine the phylogenetic and functional profiles of microbial communities associated with six sponge species. We identify common functions in the six microbiomes, demonstrating the existence of functional equivalence. These core functions are consistent with our current understanding of the biological and ecological roles of sponge-associated microorganisms and also provide insight into symbiont functions. Importantly, core functions also are provided in each sponge species by analogous enzymes and biosynthetic pathways. Moreover, the abundance of elements involved in horizontal gene transfer suggests their key roles in the genomic evolution of symbionts. Our data thus demonstrate evolutionary convergence in complex symbiont communities and reveal the details and mechanisms that underpin the process.

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“…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).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Leite

2016

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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ABSTRACT. Sponges are biogenic substrates that increase the available space on rocky shores and provide shelter for many groups of the benthic fauna, which can live both inside and on these sessile invertebrates. In order to assess the diff erences in temporal variation of endobiont and epibiont groups, samples of the red sponge Tedania ignis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) were obtained each month for one year. The density, richness and diversity of endobiont and epibiont groups were analyzed in relation to abiotic factors. The dry mass of the sponge was negatively correlated with the density of individuals in both groups and positively with the diversity of endobionts, while organic matter was positively correlated with the diversity of epibionts. Endobiont diversity was more highly correlated with intrinsic factors of the sponge, whereas the diversity of epibionts was more highly correlated with factors related to the surrounding environment.KEYWORDS. Biogenic substrate, associated fauna, diversity indicators, temporal variation.RESUMO. Variação temporal das assembleias de epi-e endofauna associadas com a esponja vermelha Tedania ignis em um costão rochoso (Canal de São Sebastião), SE, Brasil. As esponjas são substratos biogênicos que aumentam o espaço tridimensional disponível nos costões e proporcionam abrigo para uma grande numero de táxons da fauna bentônica, que podem viver tanto dentro como sobre esses invertebrados sésseis. Buscando avaliar as diferenças na variação temporal de táxons endobiontes e epibiontes, foram obtidas amostras mensais da esponja Tedania ignis (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) durante um ano. Foram analisadas a densidade, riqueza e diversidade dos táxons endobiontes e epibiontes que foram relacionadas com a infl uência dos fatores abióticos. Observou-se que a massa seca da esponja infl uenciou negativamente a densidade de indivíduos nos dois grupos e apresentou resultado positivo sobre a diversidade de endobiontes, enquanto que a matéria orgânica foi o fator que infl uenciou positivamente a diversidade de epibiontes. Foi avaliado que a diversidade de endobiontes depende mais de fatores intrínsecos da esponja enquanto que a diversidade de epibiontes está mais relacionada com os fatores condicionados pelo meio ao redor.PALAVRAS-CHAVE. Substrato biológico, fauna associada, indicadores de diversidade, variação temporal.

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The functional roles of marine sponges

Cited by 615 publications

References 158 publications

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

Functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence in complex communities of microbial sponge symbionts

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

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