Exploitation of micro refuges and epibiosis: survival strategies of a calcareous sponge

Abstract

Sponges interact in various ways with a wide variety of organisms in benthic communities and ecological interactions may influence the distribution, abundance and diversity of these organisms in different sites. Although several studies have already been developed for Demospongiae, knowledge of ecological interactions in the class Calcarea is lacking. Some calcareous sponges are considered weak competitors for space and to have developed strategies to survive in highly dynamic environments, such as exploitation of micro refuges and epibiosis. We aimed to investigate the influence of intra- and interspecific interactions in the abundance, growth and lifespan of the calcareous sponge Clathrina aurea in south-eastern Brazil. Two peaks of abundance and area coverage were observed during the studied year, probably associated with reproductive effort. We found no evidence of intra- or interspecific competition between the sponge and the benthic community. Clathrina aurea was found using parts of other organisms as substrate (epibiosis), such as algae, demosponges and corals. It was seen that the interaction of the sponge with coral polyps positively affects the lifespan of sponge individuals and the interstices of corals probably promote a micro refuge for C. aurea against competitors for space and predators.

Associated organisms inhabiting the calcareous spongeClathrina luteain La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico

“…Within the Phylum Porifera, calcareous sponges tend to be, for various reasons, the most neglected group by sponge biologists (van Soest et al 2012; van Soest and de Voogd 2015). We believe that further investigations of the class Calcarea will yield greater insights into reef biodiversity and the complex species interactions which unravel on the benthos (i.e., Ribeiro et al 2016). These biotic interactions are especially important to observe and characterize now, since Caribbean and worldwide coral reefs are experiencing drastic community phase shifts due to a myriad of natural and anthropogenic stressors.…”

Fish, Coral, and Sponge Assemblages Associated With Altiphotic and Mesophotic Reefs Along the Guánica Biosphere Reserve Continental Shelf Edge, Southwest Puerto Rico

“…However, additional detailed surveys and exploratory dives targeting specific groups, such as calcareans (Fontana et al, 2018;JEGH unpubl. data) and homoscleromorphs (Ruiz et al, 2017) are necessary, and will surely yield new species, especially those inhabiting cryptic and sciophilous environments (Rützler et al, 2014;Ribeiro et al, 2016). Within our surveys, Agelas spp., A. compressa, Iotrochota birotulata, N. erecta, and X. muta were the most abundant sponges and major component of the benthic substratum across both depths.…”

Temporal variation in the recruitment of calcareous sponges (Porifera, Calcarea) in Todos os Santos Bay, tropical Brazilian coast

“…Another tropical species to which data are available is Clathrina aurea (subclass Calcinea). Ribeiro et al (2016) monitored one of its populations in situ over 13 months and a clear seasonality was reported, with two peaks of abundance and coveragein January 2013 and August 2013. They were explained by the recruitment of additional individuals, possibly resulting from two events of sexual reproduction (Ribeiro et al, 2016).…”

“…Most of the data on the recruitment of calcareous sponges came from studies developed in temperate regions, most specifically in the Mediterranean Sea (Pronzato, 1972;Pansini et al, 1974;Vacelet, 1980Vacelet, , 1981Pansini & Pronzato, 1981;Pierri et al, 2010) and the Pacific coast of California, USA (Johnson, 1979). It was only in the past few years that this topic was addressed in the tropics, in studies performed along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil (Cavalcanti et al, 2013;Padua et al, 2013;Ribeiro et al, 2016). Three species were used as models, the exotics Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 and Sycettusa hastifera (Row, 1909), and the native sponge Clathrina aurea Solé-Cava, Klautau, Boury-Esnault, Borojevic & Thorpe, 1991. In the case of the former species, the influence of substrate orientation and exposure to light and hydrodynamics were revealed.…”

“…Three species were used as models, the exotics Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 and Sycettusa hastifera (Row, 1909), and the native sponge Clathrina aurea Solé-Cava, Klautau, Boury-Esnault, Borojevic & Thorpe, 1991. In the case of the former species, the influence of substrate orientation and exposure to light and hydrodynamics were revealed. For P. magna, data about the mortality of juveniles was also provided (Cavalcanti et al, 2013;Padua et al, 2013), while for C. aurea, the authors focused on the influence of benthic community in the abundance (recruits and adults) and lifespan (Ribeiro et al, 2016). These works provided the first contributions for understanding the recruitment of tropical sponges belonging to Calcarea and further studies on this subject are needed.…”