Document of bibliographic reference 330931

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Lights and shadows: growth patterns in three sympatric and congeneric sponges (Ircinia spp.) with contrasting abundances of photosymbionts

Abstract

The life-history traits of long-lived benthic littoral invertebrates remain poorly understood. In this study, we analysed patterns of growth in three abundant sublittoral sponges from the western Mediterranean Sea, chosen for their close phylogenetic relatedness, sympatric distribution, and contrasting amounts of photosymbionts: high in Ircinia fasciculata, lower in I. variabilis, and absent in I. oros. Sponge area, perimeter, number of oscula, and epibiont abundance were quantified from in situ digital images taken monthly for 1.5 years and volumetric growth rates were calculated from empirical area–volume relationships. Volumetric growth rates were different among species and coherent with the photosymbiont abundance: high in I. fasciculata (40.03 ± 4.81 % year⁻¹, mean ± SE), low in I. variabilis (5.65 ± 6.11 % year⁻¹), and almost nil in I. oros (−0.04 ± 3.02 % year⁻¹). Furthermore, a marked seasonality was observed in the first two species, with greater growth during the warm season. The high growth rates of I. fasciculata were likely fuelled by symbiont-derived photosynthates and required to compete in the well-lit, algal-dominated habitats this species prefers. In contrast, I. variabilis and I. oros tended to dwell in shaded habitats, where competition from slow-growing invertebrates is intense, and featured lower growth rates. The flattened morphology and lower circularity of I. variabilis indicates a capacity for adaptation to any space that is freed, while I. oros had less oscula and was more massive and circular, suggesting a strategy of passive occupation and minimisation of biological interactions. The results show that even congeneric species living sympatrically can achieve important biomass using different growth and substrate occupation strategies.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000324871300019

Bibliographic citation

Turon, X.; Garriga, A.; Erwin, P.M. (2013). Lights and shadows: growth patterns in three sympatric and congeneric sponges (Ircinia spp.) with contrasting abundances of photosymbionts. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 160(10): 2743-2754. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-013-2267-8

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true