Authors
Alan R Duckworth, Lyndon West, Tifanie Vansach, Amber Stubler, Marah Hardt
Publication date
2012/8/21
Journal
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
462
Pages
67-77
Description
Warmer, more acidic water resulting from increased emissions of greenhouse gases will impact coral reef organisms, but the effects remain unknown for many dominant groups such as sponges. To test for possible effects, adult sponges of 6 common Caribbean coral reef species—Aiolochroia crassa, Aplysina cauliformis, Aplysina fistularis, Ectyoplasia ferox, Iotrochota birotulata and Smenospongia conulosa—were grown for 24 d in seawater ranging from values experienced at present-day summer-maxima (temperature= 28 C; pH= 8.1) to those predicted for the year 2100 (temperature= 31 C; pH= 7.8). For each species, growth and survival were similar among temperature and pH levels. Sponge attachment rates, which are important for reef consolidation, were similar between pH values for all species, and highest at 31 C for E. ferox, I. birotulata and A. cauliformis. Secondary metabolites, responsible for deterring …
Scholar articles
AR Duckworth, L West, T Vansach, A Stubler, M Hardt - Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2012