Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2017

Publication Title

Hydrobiologia

Keywords

Growth, Substratum preferences, Competition, Invertebrate, Florida, Coral, Sponge

ISSN

0018-8158

Volume

790

Issue/No.

1

First Page

299

Last Page

310

Abstract

The recent increase in abundance of coral-excavating sponges is a threat to the health of coral reefs. However, the distribution and growth of these sponges are poorly documented on high latitude reefs where corals live in marginal environmental conditions. In this study, we characterize the current trends of space occupation of Cliona delitrix on high latitude reefs (26°N) in southeast Florida. C. delitrix densities were significantly higher on the deepest habitat of this reef tract (the outer reef) in response to a higher availability of coral substratum. Sponge growth rates increased with depth, and in relation to presence of tunicates and absence of macroalgae living in the sponge–coral interaction band. Conversely, coral tissue loss was similar between habitats, regardless of the fouling organisms present in the band between sponge and coral. On high latitude reefs, C. delitrix preferred massive scleractinian coral species as substratum, similar to tropical reefs, but its inclination for specific coral species varied. The outer reef sites (deepest habitat) are most vulnerable to C. delitrix colonization. Reef habitats with higher coral densities and more available dead coral may continue to suffer the greatest levels of sponge bioerosion.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-6781-0089

DOI

10.1007/s10750-016-3042-x

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