Article
Environmental Sciences
Genoveva Gonzalez-Mirelis, Rebecca E. Ross, Jon Albretsen, Pal Buhl-Mortensen
Summary: The study models the distribution of epibenthic megafaunal taxa typical of soft-bottom, Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations (DSSAs) to discover potential habitats in the Barents Sea region. Using conditional inference forests, predictions were made for the presence and density of target sponges, achieving satisfactory results within the Norwegian Barents Sea region. Density models explained a portion of the variance, while probability models showed high classificatory power.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Barbara Ribeiro, Andre Padua, Bruno Francesco Rodrigues de Oliveira, Gabriela Puccinelli, Flavio da Costa Fernandes, Marinella Silva Laport, Michelle Klautau
Summary: This study is the first in situ characterization of the microbiota of exotic calcareous sponges. The results show that the microbiota of Sycettusahastifera is more stable compared to that of Paraleucillamagna. Additionally, each sponge species harbored a dominant proteobacterial OTU potentially active in the nitrogen cycle, which could contribute to sponge detoxification.
Review
Biology
Tyler J. Carrier, Manuel Maldonado, Lara Schmittmann, Lucia Pita, Thomas C. G. Bosch, Ute Hentschel
Summary: This article integrates embryology and microbiology to review the transmission of symbiotic microorganisms in marine sponges. The study finds that vertical transmission is common but not universal, and that transmission occurs during specific developmental stages. Additionally, the microbial abundance in sponges influences the properties of the developmental microbiome.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Imad Krikech, Gea Oliveri Conti, Eloise Pulvirenti, Paola Rapisarda, Maria Castrogiovanni, Maria Maisano, Gael Le Pennec, Martine Leermakers, Margherita Ferrante, Tiziana Cappello, Mohammed Ezziyyani
Summary: The study found that microplastics are pervasive in Mediterranean sponges, indicating a pollution rate of 100%. The abundance of microplastics varies among sampling sites but not among sponge species. This study provides the first evidence of small microplastic ingestion in Mediterranean sponges and establishes an important baseline for their use as bioindicators of microplastic pollution in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Corti, Giulia Pagano, Angelina Lo Giudice, Maria Papale, Carmen Rizzo, Maurizio Azzaro, Virginia Vinciguerra, Valter Castelvetro, Stefania Giannarelli
Summary: This study analyzed the contamination of polyester and polyamide microplastics in different marine sponge species from Tethys Bay, Antarctica. The PISA procedure was used to provide highly sensitive quantitative data. The results showed that sponges can effectively capture and concentrate microplastics from marine waters, making them useful indicators of pollution levels and providing early warnings in remote areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jan Bierwirth, Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Juliette Villechanoux, Carlo Cerrano
Summary: Marine sponges play important roles in various ecosystems, but their diversity and abundance are being compromised by human and environmental pressures worldwide. Researchers reviewed experiences in sponge cultivation and provided a roadmap for restoring coastal sponge populations. They found that sponge cultivation is highly species-dependent and suggested using skeletal consistency and taxonomy to determine appropriate restoration techniques.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wang Cai, Lynsey R. Harper, Erika F. Neave, Peter Shum, Jamie Craggs, Maria Belen Arias, Ana Riesgo, Stefano Mariani
Summary: Large and diverse marine ecosystems present challenges for biodiversity monitoring. Recent studies have shown that sponges can serve as natural samplers for detecting marine vertebrates. However, little is known about the dynamics of eDNA particles in sponge tissue and how effective sponge sampling is compared to water samples. This study found that sponges and water samples have similar detectability for fish, but different sponge species vary in performance. Some sponges are suitable as natural samplers, while others may introduce difficulties in laboratory processing. An initial optimization phase is recommended for future studies using sponges for biodiversity assessment.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
R. Lopez-Alonso, O. Sanchez, I. Fernandez-Rodriguez, A. Arias
Summary: This study identified new bivalve species in the Bay of Biscay and analyzed their distribution. Depth was found to be the main factor influencing species distribution, while feeding strategy and substrate preference were not significant factors in bivalve zonation.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Leonid L. L. Moroz, Daria Y. Y. Romanova
Summary: By studying the evolution of neural structures in early branching animals, we have discovered multiple origins of neural architecture and revised the definition of neurons. These findings offer new perspectives for neuro-engineering and synthetic biology.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriele Costa, Giorgio Bavestrello, Simonepietro Canese, Martina Canessa, Claudio Mazzoli, Paolo Montagna, Stefania Puce, Stefano Schiaparelli, Marco Bertolino
Summary: The presence of secondary bio-substrates formed by calcareous organisms in Antarctic seas is crucial for increasing the diversity of sessile benthic fauna. Stylasterid hydrozoa, with their branched carbonate structures, create a three-dimensional habitat that supports a high biodiversity of associated organisms, especially invertebrates.
Review
Engineering, Marine
Joseba Aguilo-Arce, Pere Ferriol, Roberta Trani, Patrizia Puthod, Cataldo Pierri, Caterina Longo
Summary: The use of marine sponges has a long history and is gaining interest due to new applications. They have extensive potential in cosmetics as bath sponges, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry and ecosystem restoration. However, their integration into integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems is limited. This review summarizes the benefits of incorporating marine sponges into IMTA systems, focusing on their suitability for a circular blue economy.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Azraj S. Dahihande, Narsinh L. Thakur
Summary: This study found that the proportions of structural components in sponges are closely related to sponge morphology, anatomy, and pumping capacity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren K. Olinger, Wendy K. Strangman, Steven E. McMurray, Joseph R. Pawlik
Summary: Research utilizing untargeted metabolomics revealed that sponges uptake metabolites from seawater and change its composition, with high microbial abundance sponge species playing a more significant role in this process. The metabolites absorbed by sponges primarily consist of organic acids and derivatives, organic nitrogen compounds, and halogenated compounds.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Marina R. S. Ferreira, Daniel F. R. Cleary
Summary: This study found that the microeukaryotic communities in sponges and surrounding water differed significantly in diversity and composition, with a strong influence from habitat and biotope. Sponges were dominated by members of the Alveolata group, while water samples had a higher abundance of Stramenopiles and Hacrobia. Differences observed in sponge samples were mainly attributed to members of the Archaeplastida group, particularly in samples from Lake Haji Buang. Their results indicate that microeukaryotic communities are largely structured by habitat, in contrast to prokaryotic communities which are more influenced by host sponge species identity.
JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ton That Huu Dat, Georg Steinert, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc, Pham Viet Cuong, Hauke Smidt, Detmer Sipkema
Summary: Recent reviews have shown that sponge-associated bacteria are valuable sources of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with potent biological activities, making these microbial communities promising for new drug candidates. However, accessing the overall diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential in bacteria is challenging due to the difficulty in culturing the majority of bacteria in the laboratory. This study investigates the diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in metagenomes of bacterial communities associated with three different sponge species and identifies numerous potential gene clusters for the production of novel compounds.
Article
Oceanography
Kathrin Busch, Sergi Taboada, Ana Riesgo, Vasiliki Koutsouveli, Pilar Rios, Javier Cristobo, Andre Franke, Klaus Getzlaff, Christina Schmidt, Arne Biastoch, Ute Hentschel
Summary: This study analysed the population genetics of deep-sea sponge clades and assessed their host microbiomes by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. It found overall genetic uniformity in the sponge clades, but subtle genetic differences between them on small spatial scales. The Lagrangian model suggested strong larval retention in the study area with varying inter-annual connectivity via currents.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Sergi Taboada, Ana Serra Silva, Cristina Diez-Vives, Lenka Neal, Javier Cristobo, Pilar Rios, Jon Thomassen Hestetun, Brett Clark, Maria Eleonora Rossi, Juan Junoy, Joan Navarro, Ana Riesgo
Summary: The North Atlantic deep-water polynoid worm Neopolynoe chondrocladiae has a unique symbiotic relationship with two sponge hosts, and it is suggested that the worm may use bioluminescence to attract prey, potentially benefiting both the sponge and the polynoid in a mutualistic relationship.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Eugenia Manjon-Cabeza, Pilar Rios, Laura Maria Garcia-Guillen, Aurora Macias-Ramirez, Francisco Sanchez, Augusto Rodriguez-Basalo, Teodoro P. Ibarrola, Javier Cristobo
Summary: This study analyzed the fauna composition of brittle and sea stars associated with sponge aggregations in the Aviles Canyons System and B Cachucho Marine Protected Area. Different sampling methods were used depending on the bottom morphology, showing a distribution pattern of echinoderms in four sponge aggregations influenced by morphological and biological features.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Prado, Javier Cristobo, Augusto Rodriguez-Basalo, Pilar Rios, Cristina Rodriguez-Cabello, Francisco Sanchez
Summary: A novel non-invasive method using 3D photogrammetric techniques was applied to estimate the growth rate of Asconema setubalense. Results showed varying growth rates among specimens of different ages, with some disappearing during monitoring. The study highlights the importance of employing non-destructive methods in vulnerable ecosystem research and MPA monitoring.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreu Santin, Maria-Jesus Uriz, Javier Cristobo, Joana R. Xavier, Pilar Rios
Summary: Sponges are difficult to properly identify, especially in simple skeleton sponges and remote deep-sea environments. Researchers have discovered four new species in the Melonanchora genus and reassigned Melonanchora from the Okhotsk Sea to other genera. This study highlights the complexity of sponge taxonomy and the importance of accurate classification.
Article
Oceanography
Sergi Taboada, Pilar Rios, Alex Mitchell, Alex Cranston, Kathrin Busch, Vanina Tonzo, Paco Cardenas, Francisco Sanchez, Carlos Leiva, Vasiliki Koutsouveli, Javier Cristobo, Joana R. Xavier, Ute Hentschel, Hans-Tore Rapp, Christine Morrow, Jim Drewery, Pedro E. Romero, Connie Whiting, Ana Riesgo, Maria Belen Arias
Summary: Deep-sea North Atlantic sponge grounds play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. A study on two congeneric sponge species revealed their genetic diversity, molecular connectivity patterns, and the occurrence of hybridization, highlighting the importance of next-generation techniques for conservation efforts.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Pilar Rios, Alvaro Altuna, Inmaculada Frutos, Eugenia Manjon-Cabeza, Laura Garcia-Guillen, Aurora Macias-Ramirez, Teodoro P. Ibarrola, Serge Gofas, Sergi Taboada, Javier Souto, Fernando Alvarez, Jose I. Saiz-Salinas, Paco Cardenas, Cristina Rodriguez-Cabello, Antia Lourido, Cristina Boza, Augusto Rodriguez-Basalo, Elena Prado, Alberto Abad-Uribarren, Santiago Parra, Francisco Sanchez, Javier Cristobo
Summary: This study summarizes the biodiversity of the Avile acute accent s Canyon System (ACS) in the southern Bay of Biscay and updates its description based on sampling surveys conducted by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography. The study identifies a total of 1015 species in the ACS, with new records and extended bathymetric range for several species. The research suggests that the ACS is a biodiversity hotspot with a high ecological value and supports important fisheries, calling for conservation and management efforts.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
A. Rodriguez-Basalo, P. Rios, B. Arrese, A. Abad-Uribarren, J. Cristobo, T. P. Ibarrola, M. Gomez-Ballesteros, E. Prado, F. Sanchez
Summary: This work focuses on studying the habitats and communities of a high structural complexity area at different levels and scales. It provides a better understanding of the area from an ecological perspective and offers tools for management measures. The study uses sampling methods and unsupervised classification methods to analyze the abiotic characteristics and communities of the area. It also utilizes modeling techniques to study habitat-fisheries interactions. The findings contribute to the designation and conservation of vulnerable benthic species.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Larissa Modica, Cristina Rodriguez-Cabello, Augusto Rodriguez-Basalo, Pilar Rios, Alberto Serrano, Santiago Parra, Maria Gomez-Ballesteros, Beatriz Arrese, Francisco Sanchez
Summary: The aim of this study was to describe the epibenthic and demersal communities of the Avile's Canyon System in relation to environmental variables. The results showed the characteristics of different communities at different depth ranges and explored the important roles of certain groups in ecosystem functioning. This study provides fundamental knowledge for the management framework in the studied area.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kathrin Busch, Beate M. Slaby, Wolfgang Bach, Antje Boetius, Ina Clefsen, Ana Colaco, Marie Creemers, Javier Cristobo, Luisa Federwisch, Andre Franke, Asimenia Gavriilidou, Andrea Hethke, Ellen Kenchington, Furu Mienis, Sadie Mills, Ana Riesgo, Pilar Rios, Emyr Martyn Roberts, Detmer Sipkema, Lucia Pita, Peter J. Schupp, Joana Xavier, Hans Tore Rapp, Ute Hentschel
Summary: This study presents a large-scale analysis of microbial diversity in deep-sea sponges. They show that sponge microbial abundance status, geographic distance, sponge phylogeny and the physical-biogeochemical environment drive microbiome composition, in descending order of relevance. The uniqueness of each deep-sea sponge ground stresses the need for their strategic preservation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Laura M. Garcia-Guillen, Aurora Macias-Ramirez, Pilar Rios, M. Eugenia Manjon-Cabeza
Summary: This study inventories and reviews the asteroid fauna in the Galician Bank, finding 272 specimens belonging to 19 species. The most frequently encountered species were Plinthaster dentatus, Peltaster placenta, and Henricia caudani. Furthermore, two new species, Circeaster americanus and Hymenaster giboryi, were observed in this area.
Article
Fisheries
Laura Schejter, Pilar Rios, Javier Cristobo, Rob Van Soest
Summary: This study addresses the confusion surrounding the identification of Dendrilla membranosa specimens in Antarctic and subantarctic waters. It clarifies that the specimens collected in Argentinian waters should be identified as Dendrilla antarctica and provides an updated distributional range for this species.
LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC RESEARCH
(2022)