New epizooic symbioses between sponges of the genera Plakortis and Xestospongia in cryptic habitats of the Caribbean |
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Authors: | Jan Vicente Sven Zea Ryan J Powell Joseph R Pawlik Russell T Hill |
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Institution: | 1. Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 701 E Pratt St Suite 236, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA 2. Centro de Estudios en Ciencias del Mar-CECIMAR, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Caribe, c/o INVEMAR, Calle 25 2-55, Rodadero Sur – Playa Salguero, Santa Marta, Colombia 3. Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC, 28409, USA
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Abstract: | Three new cases of sponge symbiosis between species of Plakortis and Xestospongia were found in reef caves and mesophotic reef habitats of the Caribbean. Plakortis sp. 1 from the Bahamas associates exclusively with Xestospongia deweerdtae which was originally described living freely on the deep fore-reef and caves of Jamaica. In addition, we found Plakortis sp. 2 from Puerto Rico which associates with both X. deweerdtae and a different Xestospongia sp. Sponge specimens were identified using cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, 28S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequence fragments, spicule analysis, and histological sections with SEM. Unlike previous sponge pairs, Xestospongia spp. not only grew as a thin veneer of tissue over the Plakortis host sponge but through the mesohyl, forming inner channels (0.1–1 cm) that may provide a benefit by facilitating more efficient water transport through the dense Plakortis tissue. Symbioses with both Plakortis spp. were documented from an early recruit stage through adulthood. Spicule measurements conducted on symbiotic versus free-living X. deweerdtae revealed significantly smaller spicule sizes for symbiotic individuals, suggesting a cost in terms of silicon availability, or a benefit in terms of a lower investment in skeleton synthesis for support. This study reveals new specialized symbiotic associations between distantly related sponge genera that likely represent an alternative strategy of adaptation for life in reef caves and mesophotic reefs. |
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