Invasive alga Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea makes a strong impact on the Mediterranean sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus
Zuljevic, A.; Thibaut, T.; Despalatovic, M.; Cottalorda, J.-M.; Nikolic, V.; Cvitkovic, I.; Antolic, B. (2011). Invasive alga Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea makes a strong impact on the Mediterranean sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus. Biological Invasions 13(10): 2303-2308. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-011-0043-6 In: Biological Invasions. Springer: London. ISSN 1387-3547; e-ISSN 1573-1464, more |  |
| Keywords | Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea (Sonder) Verlaque, Huisman & Boudouresque, 2003 [WoRMS]; Sarcotragus spinosulus Schmidt, 1862 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | Dataset | - Zuljevic, A.
- Thibaut, T.
- Despalatovic, M.
- Cottalorda, J.-M.
| - Nikolic, V.
- Cvitkovic, I.
- Antolic, B.
| |
| Abstract | Here we present the first observation of the impact of the invasive Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea on native photophilic sponge species in the Adriatic Sea, with special focus on Sarcotragus spinosulus. Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is able to completely overgrow the sponge, developing an exceptionally thick canopy with a maximum measured density of 1,887 m of stolons m−2 and 40,561 fronds m−2. Necrosis of the sponge surface was significantly correlated with the algal dry biomass, frond number and stolon length. Dense algal canopy, penetration of the algal stolon and rhizoids into the sponge oscula and covering of the ostiae probably diminishes the seawater circulation through the sponge and consequently results in its smothering and even death. We suggest that chemotropism is the reason why C. racemosa penetrates the sponge oscula and establishes such dense canopy on the sponge. |
| Dataset | - Linares, Cristina; Figuerola, Laura; Gómez-Gras, Daniel; Pagès-Escolà, Marta; Olvera, Àngela, Aubach, Àlex; Amate, Roger; Figuerola, Blanca; Kersting, Diego; Ledoux, Jean-Baptiste; López-Sanz, Àngel; López-Sendino, Paula; Medrano, Alba; Garrabou, Joaquim; (2020); CorMedNet- Distribution and demographic data of habitat-forming invertebrate species from Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages between 1882 and 2019, more
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