Sponges as a source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen: Nitrification mediated by temperate sponges

Jiménez, Eroteida; Ribes, Marta

doi:10.4319/lo.2007.52.3.0948

Cited by 118 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The range of rates of nitrogen excretion measured in Antarctic sponges in the current study (1-570 nmol g −1 dry wt h −1 ) was lower than the range reported for nitrogen excretion of Mediterranean, 18-1325 nmol g −1 dry wt h −1 (Jimenez and Ribes, 2007;Bayer et al, 2008), and tropical sponges, 30-2650 nmol g −1 dry wt h −1 ; (Diaz and Ward, 1997). Whilst the lowest reported values for Antarctic species were 18-30 times lower than those from warmer regions, the highest values were only 2.5-4.8 times lower than the highest elsewhere, which FIGURE 4 | Urea production by sponges in summer and winter.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Extreme Phenotypic Plasticity in Metabolic Physiology of Antarctic Demosponges

et al. 2016

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Seasonal measurements of the metabolic physiology of four Antarctic demosponges and their associated assemblages, maintained in a flow through aquarium facility, demonstrated one of the largest differences in seasonal strategies between species and their associated sponge communities. The sponge oxygen consumption measured here exhibited both the lowest and highest seasonal changes for any Antarctic species; metabolic rates varied from a 25% decrease to a 5.8 fold increase from winter to summer, a range which was greater than all 17 Antarctic marine species (encompassing eight phyla) previously investigated and amongst the highest recorded for any marine environment. The differences in nitrogen excretion, metabolic substrate utilization and tissue composition between species were, overall, greater than seasonal changes. The largest seasonal difference in tissue composition was an increase in CHN (Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen) content in Homaxinella balfourensis, a pioneer species in ice-scour regions, which changed growth form to a twig-like morph in winter. The considerable flexibility in seasonal and metabolic physiology across the Demospongiae likely enables these species to respond to rapid environmental change such as ice-scour, reductions in sea ice cover and ice-shelf collapse in the Polar Regions, shifting the paradigm that polar sponges always live "life in the slow lane." Great phenotypic plasticity in physiology has been linked to differences in symbiotic community composition, and this is likely to be a key factor in the global success of sponges in all marine environments and their dominant role in many climax communities.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Extreme Phenotypic Plasticity in Metabolic Physiology of Antarctic Demosponges

et al. 2016

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“…These rates are lower than those calculated for sponges in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Jiménez and Ribes (2007) estimated that sponges, which covered 7% to 22% of the bottom, were responsible for nitrogen fluxes of 2.5 to 7.9 mmol N m 22 d 21 or 12.7 to 40.4 g N m 22 yr 21 . Studies by Corredor et al (1988) and Southwell et al (2008b) provide measurements of rates equivalent to between 59 and 78 g N m 22 yr 21 in the coral reef habitats they studied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sponges as important sources of nitrate on an oligotrophic continental shelf

Keesing

Strzelecki

Fromont

et al. 2013

Limnology & Oceanography

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In situ field measurements of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) release by sponges in southwestern Australia revealed nitrate release rates of 0.022 to 0.743 mmol g dry weight 21 (dry wt) h 21 and ammonium release rates of between 0.002 and 1.366 mmol g dry wt 21 h 21 . The highest and most consistent rates of nitrate release were among the Thorectidae (0.324 to 0.725 mmol g dry wt 21 h 21 ), while mycalid and verongid sponges were highly variable (0.024 to 0.743 mmol g dry wt 21 h 21 ). The ratio of nitrate to ammonium in released nitrogen ranged from 0.1 to 197.0, indicating a wide range of nitrogen release modes by sponges, from predominantly ammonium to very efficient nitrate producers. The study more than doubles the number of temperate sponge species recorded to release nitrate. Nutrient concentrations near the seabed sponge assemblages were higher at low wind speed (a proxy for turbulent mixing). These observations and our measurements of nitrogen release rates from sponges are consistent with the hypothesis that primary production in the region depends on wave-induced mixing at the seabed for resupply of remineralized nitrogen to a nutrient-impoverished water column and that sponges make an important contribution to these fluxes. Based on known biomass of sponges in southwestern Australia, we calculate that sponges may contribute DIN of 1.8 to 3.2 g N m 2 yr 21 . Taking into account the distribution of sponge habitat across the continental shelf to 100 m depth, this constitutes a contribution of 10% to 18% of the total recycled nitrogen flux required from the benthos to balance a regional nitrogen budget.

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“…Nitrification by sponges and the presence of ammonia and nitrite oxidizing prokaryotes (chemoautotrophs) in sponges (e.g. Diaz & Ward 1997, Hentschel et al 2002, Jiménez & Ribes 2007) is likely coincident with bicarbonate fixation.…”

Section: Abstract: Deep Water Coral Reef · Sponge-associated Prokarymentioning

confidence: 99%