García Hernández, Jaaziel E.

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    The ecological importance of marine sponges inhabiting Puerto Rican shallow & mesophotic coral reef ecosystems
    (2024-04-09) García Hernández, Jaaziel E.; Schizas, Nikolaos V.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Alfaro, Monica; Weil, Ernesto; Armstrong, Roy; Department of Marine Sciences; Saavedra Lugo, Janitza
    This research consists primarily of four studies that investigate the ecological and functional roles that marine sponges play in supporting biodiversity and maintaining reef resilience across shallow (<30 m depth) and mesophotic (>30 m depth) coral reef ecosystems (MCEs). Findings from the Guánica Biosphere Reserve shelf edge show distinct benthic assemblages of sponge species. Shallow surveys yielded a higher species richness than mesophotic, with 60 and 54 species respectively, and an overall total of 71 species identified from both depths, with 45 species overlapping (63.0%). The study of infaunal communities within the sciophilous calcareous sponge Clathrina lutea revealed a rich diversity of associated fauna, emphasizing the ecological significance of these small sponges as habitat and/or as a refuge for undescribed macrofauna. At least four disease-like conditions affecting the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta, within shallow and mesophotic coral reefs in Puerto Rico were observed and described. These conditions, including the description of an emerging disease, Xestospongia-Tissue Hardening Condition (X-THC), threaten the overall health of the Xestospongia species complex, the sponge community, and their associated fauna. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that X. muta functions as a micro-oasis for biodiversity confirms its critical ecological role as an ecosystem foundational species. By introducing the framework OA2SIS: Oscillators, Attractors, and Amplifiers of Symbiotic Interactions between Species, highlights X. muta’s evolutionary and ecological significance in coral reef ecosystems, as potential facilitators of symbiotic interactions. Combined, these results solidify the ecological and evolutionary importance of marine sponges within coral reefs, their protection and conservation should be a high priority for coral reef and coastal managers.