Foliose Dictyoceratida of the Australian Great Barrier Reef
1988; Wiley; Volume: 9; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1439-0485.1988.tb00210.x
ISSN1439-0485
Autores Tópico(s)Echinoderm biology and ecology
ResumoAbstract. Populations of foliose dictyoccratid sponges were surveyed on the forc‐rccf (windward) slopes of reefs across the central and northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef. Foliose sponges constitute more than 50 % of invidual abundance on clean water reefs and more than 80 % on some of these reefs. These sponges arc generally small and occur in greatest abundance on the slopes between 10 and 30 m depth, forming more than 20% of the total sponge biomass. Species of the genera Phyllospongia and Carteriospongia were most prevalent, particularly the species P. lamel‐losa, C. flabellifera, C.foliascens, and an unidentified thorcctid. The majority of these foliose sponges have a predominantly phototrophic nutrition with more than 50% of carbon energy being derived from the photosynthetic activities of cyanobactcrial symbionts. The foliose dictyoccratids were absent from inner‐shelf reefs, which feature higher sediment loads and concentrations of organic nutrients.
Referência(s)