Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T11:06:51.687Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Loss of an erect sponge on a rock reef in Long Island Sound (north-west Atlantic)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2014

Lauren M. Stefaniak ,
Peter J. Auster  and
Ivar G. Babb
Lauren M. Stefaniak*
Affiliation:
Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, PO Box 8056, Statesboro, GA 30460
Peter J. Auster
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Sciences & Northeast Underwater Research, Technology & Education Center, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340
Ivar G. Babb
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Sciences & Northeast Underwater Research, Technology & Education Center, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: L.M. Stefaniak, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, PO Box 8056, Statesboro, GA, 30460 email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Stratford Shoal is a topographic high dividing the west and central basins of Long Island Sound (north-west Atlantic). The southern end of the shoal has a linear, north–south-tending boulder reef along the crest. Repeated observations of the reef using remote and diver-held cameras from 1991 to 2010 found an apparently stable epibenthic community dominated by Haliclona oculata (branching sponge), Astrangia poculata (northern star coral), Mytilus edulis (blue mussel) and erect bryozoa. In 2012, when the boulder reef area was imaged as part of a benthic habitat mapping project, A. poculata was still abundant, but no H. oculata was found. A number of mechanisms (e.g. species interactions, disease, recruitment failure, thermal stress, sediment loading, freshwater input and physical disturbance) may have contributed, individually or synergistically, to the community shift. However, because of the ad hoc and aperiodic nature of the observations, drivers of the shift are indeterminate. As a result, whether the observed changes reflect a short-term disturbance or a long-term community state remains unclear, as do the effects of changes in the identity of the dominant species.

Keywords

Haliclonacoralcommunityhabitatspecies interactionsdisturbance ecology
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 7 , 2014 , e115
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barnes, R.S.K., Coughlan, J. and Holmes, N.J. (1973) A preliminary survey of the macroscopic bottom fauna of the Solent, with particular reference to Crepidula fornicata and Ostrea edulis . Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 40, 253–275.Google Scholar
Bell, J.J. (2004) Evidence for morphology-induced sediment settlement prevention on the tubular sponge Haliclona urceolus . Marine Biology 146, 29–38.Google Scholar
Bell, J.J. (2007) The ecology of sponges in Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve (south-west Ireland): past, present and future perspectives. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 87, 1655–1668.Google Scholar
Bell, J.J., Burton, M., Bullimore, B., Newman, P.B. and Lock, K. (2006) Morphological monitoring of subtidal sponge assemblages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 311, 79–91.Google Scholar
Chase, B.C. (2002) Differences in diet of Atlantic Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) at five seasonal feeding grounds on the New England continental shelf. Fisheries Bulletin 100, 168–180.Google Scholar
CT DEEP (2011) 2011 Long Island Sound Hypoxia Season Review. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 25 pp.Google Scholar
Dijkstra, J.A., Lambert, W.J. and Harris, L.G. (2012) Introduced species provide a novel temporal resource that facilitates native predator population growth. Biological Invasions. doi: 10.1007/s10530-012-0339-1.Google Scholar
Ellis, J. and Solander, D. (1786) The natural history of many curious and common zoophytes collected from various parts of the globe. London: Benjamin White and Son.Google Scholar
Fell, P.E. (1974) Diapause in the gemmules of the marine sponge Haliclona loosanoffi with a note on the gemmules of Haliclona oculata . Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole 147, 333–351.Google Scholar
Fell, P.E. (1978) Variation in the time of annual degeneration of the estuarine sponge, Haliclona loosanoffi. Estuaries 1, 261–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fell, P.E., Parry, E.H. and Balsamo, A.M. (1984) The life histories of sponges in the Mystic and Thames estuaries (Connecticut), with emphasis on larval settlement and post larval reproduction. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 78, 127–141.Google Scholar
Ginn, B.K. (1997) Ecology, systematics, and feeing rate of sponges on subtidal hard substrates in Little Letite Passage, Deer Island, New Brunswick. Master's thesis. University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada.Google Scholar
Grant, R.E. (1826) Notice of a new zoophyte (Cliona celata Gr.) from the Firth of Forth. Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal 1, 78–81.Google Scholar
Hartman, W.D. (1958) Natural history of the marine sponges of southern New England. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum Yale University 12, 1–155.Google Scholar
Houziaux, J., Haelters, J. and Kerckhof, F. (2007) Facts from history—the former ecological value of the gravel grounds in Belgian marine waters: their importance for biodiversity and relationship with fisheries. ICES SGBIODIV Report, Annex 4: Biodiversity science: a case study from Belgian marine waters, 8 pp.Google Scholar
Howell, P. and Auster, P.J. (2012) Phase shift in an estuarine finfish community associated with warming temperatures. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science 4, 481–495.Google Scholar
Jaques, T.G., Marshall, N. and Pilson, M.E.Q. (1983) Experimental ecology of the temperate scleractinian coral Astrangia danae II. Marine Biology 76, 135–148.Google Scholar
Kaandorp, J.A. (1999) Morphological analysis of growth forms of branching marine sessile organisms along environmental gradients. Marine Biology 134, 295–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knebel, H.J. and Poppe, L.J. (2000) Sea-floor environments within Long Island Sound: a regional overview. Journal of Coastal Research 16, 533–550.Google Scholar
Kluijver, M.J. de and Leewis, R.J. (1994) Changes in the sublittoral hard substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands), caused by changes in the environmental parameters. Hydrobiologia 282/283, 265–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koopmans, M. and Wijffels, R.H. (2008) Seasonal growth rate of the sponge Haliclona oculata (Demospongiae: Haplosclerida). Marine Biotechnology 10, 502–510.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koopmans, M., Martens, D. and Wijffels, R.H. (2009) Towards commercial production of sponge medicines. Marine Drugs 7, 787–802.Google Scholar
Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae [Stockholm]: Laurentius Salvius.Google Scholar
Linnaeus, C. (1759) Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus II. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae [Stockholm]: Laurentius Salvius.Google Scholar
Miller, A.N., Strychar, K.B., Shirley, T.C. and Rüzler, K. (2010) Effects of heat and salinity stress on the sponge Cliona celata . International Journal of Biology 2, 3–16.Google Scholar
Müller, O.F. (1776) Zoologiae Danicae prodromus: seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae indigenarum; characteres, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. Havniae [Leipzig]: Typis Hallageriis.Google Scholar
NASA (2013) http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=52059&src=eorss-iotd (accessed 7 March 2013).Google Scholar
Patrizzi, B.J. (2010) The distribution and diet of the scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata in Long Island Sound. Master's thesis. Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, USA.Google Scholar
Poppe, L.J., Knebel, H.J., Mlodzinska, Z.J., Hastings, M.E. and Seekins, B.A. (2000) Distribution of surficial sediment in Long Island Sound and adjacent waters: texture and total organic carbon. Journal of Coastal Research 16, 567–574.Google Scholar
Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Doran, E.F., Beaver, A.L., Crocker, J.M. and Schattgen, P.T. (2006) Interpolation of reconnaissance multibeam bathymetry from north-central Long Island Sound. US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1145.Google Scholar
Shield, C. and Witman, J. (1993) The impact of Henricia sanguinolenta predation on the finger sponges, Isodictya spp. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 166, 107–133.Google Scholar
USGS (2013) Waterdata. Available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt (accessed 7 March 2013).Google Scholar
Wang, Y., Bohlen, W.F. and O'Donnell, J. (2000) Storm enhanced bottom shear stress and associated sediment entrainment in a moderate energetic estuary. Journal of Oceanography 56, 311–317.Google Scholar
Webster, N.S. (2007) Sponge disease: a global threat? Environmental Microbiology 9, 1363–1375.Google Scholar
Whitney, M.M. (2010) A study on river discharge and salinity variability in the Middle Atlantic Bight and Long Island Sound. Continental Shelf Research 30, 305–318.Google Scholar
Wulff, J.L. (2006) Ecological interactions of marine sponges. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84, 146–166.Google Scholar
Xavier, J.R., Rachello-Dolmen, P.G., Parra-Velandia, F., Schönberg, C.H.L., Breeuwer, J.A.J. and van Soest, R.W.M. (2010) Molecular evidence of cryptic speciation in the ‘cosmopolitan’ excavating sponge Cliona celata (Porifera, Clionaidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56, 13–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed