HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Title
Abundance and Distribution of Commensal Amphipods From Common Marine Sponges of Southeast Florida
Defense Date
2001
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. Marine Biology
Department
Oceanographic Center
First Advisor
James D. Thomas
Second Advisor
Charles G. Messing
Third Advisor
Martin Thiel
Abstract
Marine sponges were examined from shallow waters of southeast Florida and the Florida Keys to determine species composition and distribution of commensal amphipod crustaceans from shallow reef, mangrove, and seagrass habitats. Twenty sponge species were investigated during this study, sixteen of which housed amphipods in the families Colomastigidae and/or Leucothoidae. Six species of commensal amphipods were identified. Leucothoe spinicarpa (Abildgaard) species "complex" was the most dominant amphipod commensal, representing 63% of the total amphipods collected. The L. spinicarpa "complex" contains four local morphotypes, which are diagnosed and briefly described. Common sponge hosts included Callyspongia vaginalis, Mycale sp., and Myriastra kallitetilla.
NSUWorks Citation
Stacie E. Crowe. 2001. Abundance and Distribution of Commensal Amphipods From Common Marine Sponges of Southeast Florida. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Oceanographic Center. (306)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/306.