Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats: A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns

Manuel  Maldonado; Ricardo  Aguilar; Raymond J.  Bannister; James J.  Bell; Kim W.  Conway; Paul K.  Dayton; Cristina  Díaz; Julian  Gutt; Michelle  Kelly; Ellen L. R.  Kenchington; Sally P.  Leys; Shirley A.  Pomponi; Hans Tore  Rapp; Klaus  Rützler; Ole Secher Tendal; Jean  Vacelet; Craig M.  Young

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_24

Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats: A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns

Manuel Maldonado, Ricardo Aguilar, Raymond J. Bannister, James J. Bell, Kim W. Conway, Paul K. Dayton, Cristina Díaz, Julian Gutt, Michelle Kelly, Ellen L. R. Kenchington, Sally P. Leys, Shirley A. Pomponi, Hans Tore Rapp, Klaus Rützler, Ole Secher Tendal, Jean Vacelet, Craig M. Young

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter reviews the major known monospecific and multispecific sponge aggregations in the world's oceans. They are shown to occur from the intertidal to abyssal depths, in tropical, temperate, and high latitudes and sometimes to create spectacular formations, such as glass sponge reefs, lithistid reef-like fields, and carnivorous sponge grounds. Sponge aggregations are recognized as singular vulnerable habitats that deserve special research attention and legal protection. However, this review reveals that there is only a poor and fragmentary understanding of the main biological, environmental, and geochemical factors that favor and maintain these systems, including the food supply, which is fundamental knowledge. There is also a particular lack of information regarding reproductive biology, growth rates, life spans, and the main factors causing mortality, all crucial drivers for understanding population and community dynamics and for developing conservation strategies. The sponge aggregations have been shown to increase the structural complexity of the habitats, attracting a larger variety of organisms and locally enhancing biodiversity. From the very few cases in which sponge biomass and sponge physiology have been reliably approached jointly, phenomenal fluxes of matter and energy have been inferred. Through their benthic-pelagic coupling, some of the densest sponge aggregations have a significant local or regional impact on major biogeochemical cycles and food webs. Physical damage and habitat destruction derived from man-driven activities along with epidemic diseases facilitated by global environmental alterations emerge as major threats to the future of the sponge aggregations.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Marine Animal Forests : The Ecology of Benthic Biodiversity
Editors	Sergio Rossi, Lorenzo Bramanti, Andrea Gori, Covadonga Orejas
Number of pages	39
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Publication date	1 Sept 2017
Pages	145-183
Chapter	5
ISBN (Print)	978-3-319-21011-7, 978-3-319-21013-1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-319-21012-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_24
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2017

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10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_24

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Maldonado, M., Aguilar, R., Bannister, R. J., Bell, J. J., Conway, K. W., Dayton, P. K., Díaz, C., Gutt, J., Kelly, M., Kenchington, E. L. R., Leys, S. P., Pomponi, S. A., Rapp, H. T., Rützler, K., Tendal, O. S., Vacelet, J., & Young, C. M. (2017). Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats: A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns. In S. Rossi, L. Bramanti, A. Gori, & C. Orejas (Eds.), Marine Animal Forests: The Ecology of Benthic Biodiversity (pp. 145-183). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_24

Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats : A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns. / Maldonado, Manuel ; Aguilar, Ricardo ; Bannister, Raymond J. et al.

Marine Animal Forests: The Ecology of Benthic Biodiversity. ed. / Sergio Rossi; Lorenzo Bramanti; Andrea Gori; Covadonga Orejas . Cham : Springer, 2017. p. 145-183.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review

Maldonado, M, Aguilar, R, Bannister, RJ, Bell, JJ, Conway, KW, Dayton, PK, Díaz, C, Gutt, J, Kelly, M, Kenchington, ELR, Leys, SP, Pomponi, SA, Rapp, HT, Rützler, K, Tendal, OS, Vacelet, J & Young, CM 2017, Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats: A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns. in S Rossi, L Bramanti, A Gori & C Orejas (eds), Marine Animal Forests: The Ecology of Benthic Biodiversity. Springer, Cham, pp. 145-183. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_24

Maldonado M, Aguilar R, Bannister RJ, Bell JJ, Conway KW, Dayton PK et al. Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats: A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns. In Rossi S, Bramanti L, Gori A, Orejas C, editors, Marine Animal Forests: The Ecology of Benthic Biodiversity. Cham: Springer. 2017. p. 145-183 doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_24

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AU - Bell, James J.

AU - Conway, Kim W.

AU - Dayton, Paul K.

AU - Díaz, Cristina

AU - Gutt, Julian

AU - Kelly, Michelle

AU - Kenchington, Ellen L. R.

AU - Leys, Sally P.

AU - Pomponi, Shirley A.

AU - Rapp, Hans Tore

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N2 - This chapter reviews the major known monospecific and multispecific sponge aggregations in the world's oceans. They are shown to occur from the intertidal to abyssal depths, in tropical, temperate, and high latitudes and sometimes to create spectacular formations, such as glass sponge reefs, lithistid reef-like fields, and carnivorous sponge grounds. Sponge aggregations are recognized as singular vulnerable habitats that deserve special research attention and legal protection. However, this review reveals that there is only a poor and fragmentary understanding of the main biological, environmental, and geochemical factors that favor and maintain these systems, including the food supply, which is fundamental knowledge. There is also a particular lack of information regarding reproductive biology, growth rates, life spans, and the main factors causing mortality, all crucial drivers for understanding population and community dynamics and for developing conservation strategies. The sponge aggregations have been shown to increase the structural complexity of the habitats, attracting a larger variety of organisms and locally enhancing biodiversity. From the very few cases in which sponge biomass and sponge physiology have been reliably approached jointly, phenomenal fluxes of matter and energy have been inferred. Through their benthic-pelagic coupling, some of the densest sponge aggregations have a significant local or regional impact on major biogeochemical cycles and food webs. Physical damage and habitat destruction derived from man-driven activities along with epidemic diseases facilitated by global environmental alterations emerge as major threats to the future of the sponge aggregations.

AB - This chapter reviews the major known monospecific and multispecific sponge aggregations in the world's oceans. They are shown to occur from the intertidal to abyssal depths, in tropical, temperate, and high latitudes and sometimes to create spectacular formations, such as glass sponge reefs, lithistid reef-like fields, and carnivorous sponge grounds. Sponge aggregations are recognized as singular vulnerable habitats that deserve special research attention and legal protection. However, this review reveals that there is only a poor and fragmentary understanding of the main biological, environmental, and geochemical factors that favor and maintain these systems, including the food supply, which is fundamental knowledge. There is also a particular lack of information regarding reproductive biology, growth rates, life spans, and the main factors causing mortality, all crucial drivers for understanding population and community dynamics and for developing conservation strategies. The sponge aggregations have been shown to increase the structural complexity of the habitats, attracting a larger variety of organisms and locally enhancing biodiversity. From the very few cases in which sponge biomass and sponge physiology have been reliably approached jointly, phenomenal fluxes of matter and energy have been inferred. Through their benthic-pelagic coupling, some of the densest sponge aggregations have a significant local or regional impact on major biogeochemical cycles and food webs. Physical damage and habitat destruction derived from man-driven activities along with epidemic diseases facilitated by global environmental alterations emerge as major threats to the future of the sponge aggregations.

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ER -

Sponge Grounds as Key Marine Habitats: A Synthetic Review of Types, Structure, Functional Roles, and Conservation Concerns

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