Siliceous Sponge-Microbe Biotic Associations and Their Recurrence through the Phanerozoic as Reef Mound Constructors

Brunton, Frank R.; Dixon, Owen A.

doi:10.2307/3515056

Cited by 107 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Reef mounds constructed by siliceous sponges and cyanobacterial mats, with the latter represented in part by stromatolites still found today, flourished in (sub)tropical marine waters as far back as the early Cambrian (43). The fact that sponges and microbes closely coexisted hundreds of millions of years ago is thus clear, but the nature of that interaction (e.g., whether microbes lived within sponge tissues) remains less certain.…”

Section: Sponge-associated Microorganisms: Ancient Partners or Recentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The final type of evidence for ancient, close associations between sponges and microorganisms comes from the fossil record (43,261,377). Reef mounds constructed by siliceous sponges and cyanobacterial mats, with the latter represented in part by stromatolites still found today, flourished in (sub)tropical marine waters as far back as the early Cambrian (43).…”

Section: Sponge-associated Microorganisms: Ancient Partners or Recentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sponge-Associated Microorganisms: Evolution, Ecology, and Biotechnological Potential

Taylor

Radax

Steger

et al. 2007

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

1,292

1,512

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SUMMARY Marine sponges often contain diverse and abundant microbial communities, including bacteria, archaea, microalgae, and fungi. In some cases, these microbial associates comprise as much as 40% of the sponge volume and can contribute significantly to host metabolism (e.g., via photosynthesis or nitrogen fixation). We review in detail the diversity of microbes associated with sponges, including extensive 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analyses which support the previously suggested existence of a sponge-specific microbiota. These analyses provide a suitable vantage point from which to consider the potential evolutionary and ecological ramifications of these widespread, sponge-specific microorganisms. Subsequently, we examine the ecology of sponge-microbe associations, including the establishment and maintenance of these sometimes intimate partnerships, the varied nature of the interactions (ranging from mutualism to host-pathogen relationships), and the broad-scale patterns of symbiont distribution. The ecological and evolutionary importance of sponge-microbe associations is mirrored by their enormous biotechnological potential: marine sponges are among the animal kingdom's most prolific producers of bioactive metabolites, and in at least some cases, the compounds are of microbial rather than sponge origin. We review the status of this important field, outlining the various approaches (e.g., cultivation, cell separation, and metagenomics) which have been employed to access the chemical wealth of sponge-microbe associations.

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Section: Sponge-associated Microorganisms: Ancient Partners or Recentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sponge-associated Microorganisms: Ancient Partners or Recentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sponge-Associated Microorganisms: Evolution, Ecology, and Biotechnological Potential

Taylor

Radax

Steger

et al. 2007

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

1,292

1,512

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is important to note that taxa with carbonate skeletons are not the only organisms that diversified during Ordovician time. For example, siliceous sponges, often associated with microbial mounds, diversified in the Early Ordovician (Brunton and Dixon, 1994;Carrera and Rigby, 2004), and trace fossils, indicators of soft-bodied diversity, show an increase in diversity during the Ordovician radiation (Mángano and Droser, 2004). The overall depth and extent of bioturbation also increased, albeit not until the Late Ordovician (e.g., Droser and Bottjer, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbonates in Skeleton-Poor Seas: New Insights From Cambrian and Ordovician Strata of Laurentia

Pruss¹,

Finnegan²,

Fischer³

et al. 2010

PALAIOS

117

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“…Fossil Record and Systematics of Glass Sponges.-Hexactinellids were important components of deep-and at times also shallowerwater benthic ecosystems throughout the Phanerozoic, often associated with reef communities (e.g., Finks 1960;Mehl 1992;Brunton and Dixon 1994;Leinfelder et al 1994;Krautter et al 2001;Carrera and Botting 2008). Their rich fossil record (see Krautter 2002;Pisera 2006) dates back to the late Neoproterozoic (Steiner et al 1993;Gehling and Rigby 1996;Brasier et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular paleobiology of early-branching animals: integrating DNA and fossils elucidates the evolutionary history of hexactinellid sponges

et al. 2013

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Abstract.-Reconciliation of paleontological and molecular phylogenetic evidence holds great promise for a better understanding of the temporal succession of cladogenesis and character evolution, especially for taxa with a fragmentary fossil record and uncertain classification. In zoology, studies of this kind have largely been restricted to Bilateria. Hexactinellids (glass sponges) readily lend themselves to test such an approach for early-branching (non-bilaterian) animals: they have a long and rich fossil record, but for certain taxa paleontological evidence is still scarce or ambiguous. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus for taxonomic interpretations, and discrepancies exist between neontological and paleontological classification systems. Using conservative fossil calibration constraints and the largest molecular phylogenetic data set assembled for this group, we infer divergence times of crown-group Hexactinellida in a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock framework. With some notable exceptions, our results are largely congruent with interpretations of the hexactinellid fossil record, but also indicate long periods of undocumented evolution for several groups. This study illustrates the potential of an integrated molecular/paleobiological approach to reconstructing the evolution of challenging groups of organisms.

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Siliceous Sponge-Microbe Biotic Associations and Their Recurrence through the Phanerozoic as Reef Mound Constructors

Cited by 107 publications

References 57 publications

Sponge-Associated Microorganisms: Evolution, Ecology, and Biotechnological Potential

Sponge-Associated Microorganisms: Evolution, Ecology, and Biotechnological Potential

Carbonates in Skeleton-Poor Seas: New Insights From Cambrian and Ordovician Strata of Laurentia

Molecular paleobiology of early-branching animals: integrating DNA and fossils elucidates the evolutionary history of hexactinellid sponges

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