Porifera, Marine

The distribution and abundance of the sponge Spheciospongia vagabunda (Ridley, 1884) was investigated in a shallow lagoon (Albion) of Mauritius (Western Indian Ocean). Sponge abundance and environmental parameters were assessed. Sponges in Albion lagoon were mostly distributed in the central part of the lagoon some distance from wave action. Two distinctive sponge patches were found, the largest patch being 15350 m 2 in area. Unlike most Porifera, S. vagabunda was mostly anchored in sand and not on hard substratum. A t-test revealed a significant difference in sponge size between sponge assemblages (t = 3.01; p < 0.05). One-way ANOVA indicated that environmental parameters did not influence sponge abundance within the lagoon (p <0.05). This study provides a baseline for future monitoring of these benthic animals in the Albion lagoon.

RESUMEN. El conocimiento sobre las esponjas en los arrecifes del norte de Veracruz se ha incrementado, sin embargo aún existen formaciones coralinas para las que no existen listas faunísticas. Por este motivo el presente trabajo realiza el primer inventario de especies de esponjas para el arrecife Enmedio. Los muestreos se efectuaron durante el periodo noviembre 2014-octubre 2015; así, en la zona de sotavento, planicie y barlovento se estable-cieron cinco sitios de muestreo para el registro de las especies a lo largo de transectos de banda de 50 m x 2 m. La distribución de especies de esponjas se determinó estimando la frecuencia relativa por zonas y para determinar semejanzas y sus diferencias significativas se aplicaron técnicas multivariantes, análisis de similitud porcentual (SIMPER), análisis de similitud ANOSIM y el método de escalamiento multidimensional no métrico (NMDS). Se registraron 32 especies de esponjas pertenecientes a la Clase Desmospongiae, siendo el Orden Haploscerida el más diverso en especies. Se amplía el rango de distribución geográfica de Spirastrella aff. mollis para el SW del Golfo de México. Las especies de amplia distribución en el arrecife fueron Amphimedon compressa, Amphi-medon viridis, Scopalina ruetzleri, Aplysina muryciana, Cribrochalina dura e Iotrochota birotulata, las cuales acumularon el 50.54% de la frecuencia relativa. Sotavento fue la zona arrecifal con mayor riqueza específica con 25 especies y la planicie concentró la menor riqueza con nueve especies, estas diferencias son estadísticamente significativas. La composición y distribución de las esponjas es heterogénea en el arrecife, siendo el área de sota-vento la más apropiada para las esponjas por ser una zona profunda y protegida del oleaje. ABSTRACT. Information on sponges from reefs of northern of Veracruz has increased, however coral formations still exist for which there are no faunal lists. For this reason, this report provides the first inventory of sponges for the Enmedio reef. Sampling was completed during the November 2014-October 2015 period; five sampling sites were established in the leeward, flatland and windward area for recording species along belt transects of 50 m x 2 m. The distribution of species of sponges was determined by estimating the relative frequency in each zone; to determine similarities and significant differences multivariate techniques were applied, such as similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER), analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). We recorded 32 species of sponges belonging to the Class Desmospongiae; the Order Haploscerida had the most species diversity. The geographic range distribution of of Spirastrella aff. Mollis is extended to the southwest Gulf of Mexico. Species of wide distribution on the reef were Amphimedon compressa, Amphimedon viridis, Scopalina ruetzleri, Aplysina muryciana, Cribrochalina dura and Iotrochota birotulata, which accumulated 50.54% of the relative frequency. Leeward was the reef area with the highest species richness with 25 species and the flatland gathered the lowest species richness with nine. These differences were statistically significant. The composition and distribution of the sponges are heterogeneous on the reef. The leeward area being a deep zone, protected from swell, was the most favorable habitat for the surveyed sponges.

This study assessed the biodiversity of sponges within the Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia (IMCRA) bioregions of the Pilbara using datasets amalgamated from the Western Australian Museum and the Atlas of Living Australia. The Pilbara accounts for a total of 1164 Linnean and morphospecies. A high level of " apparent endemism " was recorded with 78% of species found in only one of six bioregions, with less than 10% confirmed as widely distributed. The Ningaloo, Pilbara Nearshore and Pilbara Offshore bioregions are biodiversity hotspots (>250 species) and are recognised as having the highest conservation value, followed by North West Shelf containing 232 species. Species compositions differed between bioregions, with those that are less spatially separated sharing more species. Notably, the North West Province bioregion (110 species) exhibited the most distinct species composition, highlighting it as a unique habitat within the Pilbara. While sponge biodiversity is apparently high, incomplete sampling effort for the region was identified, with only two sampling events recorded for the Central West Transition bioregion. Furthermore, only 15% of records in the dataset are presently described (Linnean) species, highlighting the continuing need for taxonomic expertise for the conservation and management of marine biodiversity resources.