A test of the sponge-loop hypothesis for emergent Caribbean reef sponges

McMurray, Steven E.; Stubler, Amber D.; Erwin, Patrick M.; Finelli, Christopher M.; Pawlik, Joseph R.

doi:10.3354/meps12466

Cited by 91 publications

(188 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(134 reference statements)

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“…, McMurray et al. ) depending on whether they are high microbial abundance sponges (HMA) or low microbial abundance sponges (LMA; sensu Weisz et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sponge density increases with depth throughout the Caribbean

Lesser

Slattery

2018

Ecosphere

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Mesophotic coral reefs (MCEs) are ecologically unique components of coral reef ecosystems that occur at depths from ~30 to 150 m where they support a high number of depth‐endemic species. One ecologically important taxonomic group that can, especially in the Caribbean basin, dominate these habitats are sponges where they occur throughout the shallow (<30 m) to mesophotic depth range. There are an increasing number of studies on MCEs generally, and sponges have become a focal area for many of these studies as they exhibit a number of ecological and functional traits that vary with increasing depth. Here, we use an analysis of both historical and contemporary data to test the recently described “sponges increase with depth” hypothesis. While this hypothesis has recently been rejected without benefit of any quantitative analysis, we show that the density or percent cover of sponges increases over the shallow to mesophotic depth range for multiple reef sites in the Caribbean, and also in the Pacific at selected sites. The proximate cause for this pattern appears to be the increasing availability of trophic resources, and the ability to differentially use those resources, with increasing depth. The increase in sponge density or percent cover with depth is potentially global in nature and results in diverse, and unique, sponge‐dominated communities at mesophotic depths.

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“…, McMurray et al. ) depending on whether they are high microbial abundance sponges (HMA) or low microbial abundance sponges (LMA; sensu Weisz et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Slattery and Lesser , McMurray et al. ), as is the transition to increased dependency on heterotrophy with increasing depth (Lesser and Slattery , Morrow et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sponge density increases with depth throughout the Caribbean

Lesser

Slattery

2018

Ecosphere

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“…However, the ubiquity of the sponge loop has not yet been established for non‐cavity sponges (but see McMurray et al. who reported little evidence for the sponge loop in a number of Caribbean sponge species), and particularly for Indo‐Pacific reefs, which tend to have a higher proportion of phototrophic species that are likely to be less reliant on DOM for nutrition (Wilkinson ). Furthermore, sponges also consume detritus (Hadas et al.…”

Section: Assessing Indirect and Cascading Effects Of Changing Sponge mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the potential for the sponge loop to support higher trophic levels through the conversion of DOM into detritus or sponge biomass that become food for reef consumers (McMurray et al. , Rix et al. ), there is clearly a need to understand the importance of the sponge loop for reef ecosystems globally, particularly if the ubiquity of this pathway varies between regions and amongst species (McMurray et al.…”

Section: What Might a Change In Sponge Dominance Mean For Reef Ecosysmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change alterations to ecosystem dominance: how might sponge‐dominated reefs function?

Bell

Rovellini

Davy

et al. 2018

Ecology

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Anthropogenic stressors are impacting ecological systems across the world. Of particular concern are the recent rapid changes occurring in coral reef systems. With ongoing degradation from both local and global stressors, future reefs are likely to function differently from current coral-dominated ecosystems. Determining key attributes of future reef states is critical to reliably predict outcomes for ecosystem service provision. Here we explore the impacts of changing sponge dominance on coral reefs. Qualitative modelling of reef futures suggests that changing sponge dominance due to increased sponge abundance will have different outcomes for other trophic levels compared with increased sponge dominance as a result of declining coral abundance. By exploring uncertainty in the model outcomes we identify the need to (1) quantify changes in carbon flow through sponges, (2) determine the importance of food limitation for sponges, (3) assess the ubiquity of the recently described "sponge loop," (4) determine the competitive relationships between sponges and other benthic taxa, particularly algae, and (5) understand how changing dominance of other organisms alters trophic pathways and energy flows through ecosystems. Addressing these knowledge gaps will facilitate development of more complex models that assess functional attributes of sponge-dominated reef ecosystems.

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