Animals associated with sponges at North Hayling, Hampshire

Sponges were collected over a period of two and a half years from the shore at North Hayling, Hampshire and their associated faunas studied.
Species of nematode, annelids, crustaceans, pyenogonids, echinoderms and fish associate with sponges Halichondria panicea, Hymeniacidon perleve and Mycale macilenta; other sponge species attract noticably very few. No animals were sponge specific.     

The Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment: an overview of the results

The geographic genetic structure of two common encrusting sponges, Hymeniacidon sinapium and Hymeniacidon flavia (family Halichondriidae), was investigated using two DNA markers, Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5) of mitochondrial DNA. In the ITS analyses, multiple sequence types were identified within each species. Geographic distribution patterns of sequence types showed higher diversity in the western than eastern areas in both species. However, intraspecific genetic diversity of the two species in Japan differed markedly. Hymeniacidon flavia had far more diverse sequence types, and several genetic differentiations between localities were detected. In contrast, H. sinapium had only four sequence types in Japan, and two Atlantic Hymeniacidon species had sequence types similar to this species. In comparison to ITS, nad5 showed very low genetic diversity in both species, with two haplotypes identified in each species. In H. flavia, frequency of haplotype changed gradually from north to south. In H. sinapium, one haplotype was predominant in most regions, and another haplotype was minor and distributed only in the Korean and Tsushima populations. Based on the unique distribution patterns of sequence types around Shikoku and Kyushu, geographical history and ocean currents were assumed to affect the generation of genetic structure. The geographic genetic structure of H. flavia suggests low dispersal ability of pelagic larvae, whereas higher larval dispersal ability and a far broader distribution range are suggested in H. sinapium. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Handling editor: C. Sturmbauer     

16S rDNA clone library-based bacterial phylogenetic diversity associated with three South China Sea sponges

Culture-independent molecular techniques, 16S rDNA clone library alongside RFLP and phylogenetic analysis, were applied to investigate the bacterial diversity associated with three South China Sea sponges, Stelletta tenui, Halichondria rugosa and Dysidea avara. A wide bacterial diversity was detected according to total genomic DNA-based 16S rDNA clone library, abundant clones with low identify with sequences retrieved from database were found as well as uncultured sponge symbionts. The phylogenetic analysis shows that the bacterial community structure of Stelletta tenui is similar to that of Halichondria rugosa comprising gamma-Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Whereas, alpha-Proteobacteria, gamma-Protebacteria, Bacteroidetes and uncultured sponge symbionts were found in sponge Dysidea avara, suggesting that Dysidea avara has the highest bacteria diversity among these sponges. A specific sponge–microbe association is suggested based on the difference of bacterial diversity among these three sponges from the same geography location and the observed sponge species-specific bacteria.     

Sterols from some sponges

The sterol composition of four sponges was determined by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Cliona viridis and Chondrosia reniformis contained mainly C₂₇-C₂₉Δ⁵ mono- and di-unsaturated sterols. Halichondria bowerbanki and Hymeniacidon sanguinea contained stanols and Δ⁵-sterols. Cholestanol was the major component of the sterol mixtures.     

Marine sponges (Porifera) from the Bahía San Antonio (North Patagonian Gulfs,Argentina), with additions to the phylogeography of the widely distributed Cliona aff. celata and Hymeniacidon perlevis,and the description of two new species

Six sponge species from Bahía San Antonio (north Argentinean Patagonia) are (re)described, including two new species, namely Halichondria (Halichondria) elenae sp. nov. and Clathria (Microciona) saoensis sp. nov., and three new records for the Argentinean coast. Halichondria (H.) elenae sp. nov. is the only yellowish-greenish SW Atlantic Halichondria with oxeas up to 450?µm. The new species’ 18S rRNA blasted with Halichondria bowerbanki from Ireland, but it is argued that co-specificity is unlikely, in view of their rather distinct morphologies. Clathria (M.) saoensis sp. nov. is the only C. (Microciona) in the SW Atlantic, SE Pacific, and (sub)Antarctic regions with smooth (or nearly so) principal megascleres, mostly below 500?µm long, as well as moderately curved toxas, and isochelae of regular non-cleistochelate shape. Cliona aff. celata and Hymeniacidon perlevis had their identifications confirmed by the sequencing of their 28S and 18S rRNA genes, respectively, and mitochondrial CO1. Both of them clustered with previously sequenced specimens from the Temperate North Atlantic, apart from additional samples from SE Brazil, in the case of C. aff. celata, and China and South Korea, in the case of H. perlevis.     

Etude au microscope electronique des cellules de l'eponge:Ophlitaspongia seriata (Grant), au cours de la réorganisation après dissociation

Résumé Les auteurs distinguent 8 types cellulaires dans l'EpongeOphlitaspongia seriata (Grant) en réorganisation après dissociation. Ils décrivent leur comportement au cours de la réorganisation, leur ultrastructure et leurs capacités de différenciation.Les cellules globifères sont particulièrement remarquables par leurs nombreuses inclusions cytoplasmiques tubulaires de 70 m.     

Comparative Characterization of the Microbial Community in Two Species of Sponges from Sea of Japan Using Fatty Acid Markers

The fatty acid composition of total lipids in two species of sponges (Halichondria panicea and Clathria pennata) inhabiting the same biotope in the Sea of Japan was examined. More than 80 fatty acids (FAs) were found for each species of sponges. Of them, 61 fatty acids were identified for H. panicea and 54 for C. pennata. The relative content of most FAs was less than 1%. The contribution of symbiotic microorganisms to the total fatty acids was higher in H. panicea than in C. pennata. Bacterial symbionts and microeukaryotes were found among the microorganisms associated with the sponges. The contribution of prokaryotic organisms was equal (7.8%) for both species of sponges, but the fatty acids were characteristic of different taxonomic groups of bacteria. The proportion of microeukaryotic fatty acids in the total lipids of H. panicea (19.6%) was two times that of C. pennata (10.1%).     

Fouling Communities of Mussel Aquaculture Installations in the White Sea

We have classified fouling communities developing on artificial substrates of mussel mariculture plants in Kandalakshskii Bay of the White Sea. Several major types of fouling have been distinguished: mussel fouling; fouling similar to the epifauna of the benthos biocenosis of Laminaria saccharinadominated by the ascidian Styela rusticaor sponges Halichondria paniceaand Halisarca dujardini; young fouling developed by algae and the ascidians of the genus Molgula; and ecotone communities in-between these types of fouling. The characteristics of the distinguished communities are provided.     

Electron microscopical characterization of sponge aggregation factors

Aggregation factors, purified from 14 sponges which belong to the classes Tetraxonida and Cornacuspongia, were visualized electron microscopically. Two types of basic structural forms were detected; first, circular structures from the species Ancorina cerebrum, Mycale massa, Hemimycale columella, Crella rosea, Clathria coralloides, Axinella cannabina, Pellina semitubulosa, Ircinia muscarum, Hippospongia communis, Verongia aerophoba and second, rod-like structures from Tethya lyncurium, Tedania anhelans, Hymeniacidon sanguinea, Dysidea tupha. In most of the cases the structures carry side chains.     

Nucleotide sequences of three poriferan 5 S ribosomal RNAs.

We have determined the nucleotide sequences of 5 S ribosomal RNAs isolated from the sponges Halichondria panicea, Hymeniacidon sanguinea, and Haliclona oculata. The structures can be fitted in a universal five-helix secondary structure model (De Wachter, Chen and Vandenberghe (1982) Biochimie 64, 311-329) applicable to all 5 S RNAs hitherto sequenced. The base pairing scheme proves to be extremely conserved throughout the metazoan kingdom, yet four slightly different variants of the model may be distinguished among the 5 S RNAs from the seven animal phyla investigated until now.     

Evidence of Unique and Generalist Microbes in Distantly Related Sympatric Intertidal Marine Sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae)

The diversity and specificity of microbial communities in marine environments is a key aspect of the ecology and evolution of both the eukaryotic hosts and their associated prokaryotes. Marine sponges harbor phylogenetically diverse and complex microbial lineages. Here, we investigated the sponge bacterial community and distribution patterns of microbes in three sympatric intertidal marine demosponges, Hymeniacidon perlevis, Ophlitaspongia papilla and Polymastia penicillus, from the Atlantic coast of Portugal using classical isolation techniques and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. Microbial composition assessment, with nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences (ca. 1400 bp) from the isolates (n = 31) and partial sequences (ca. 280 bp) from clone libraries (n = 349), revealed diverse bacterial communities and other sponge-associated microbes. The majority of the bacterial isolates were members of the order Vibrionales and other symbiotic bacteria like Pseudovibrio ascidiaceiocola, Roseobacter sp., Hahellaceae sp. and Cobetia sp. Extended analyses using ecological metrics comprising 142 OTUs supported the clear differentiation of bacterial community profiles among the sponge hosts and their ambient seawater. Phylogenetic analyses were insightful in defining clades representing shared bacterial communities, particularly between H. perlevis and the geographically distantly-related H. heliophila, but also among other sponges. Furthermore, we also observed three distinct and unique bacterial groups, Betaproteobactria (∼81%), Spirochaetes (∼7%) and Chloroflexi (∼3%), which are strictly maintained in low-microbial-abundance host species O. papilla and P. penicillus. Our study revealed the largely generalist nature of microbial associations among these co-occurring intertidal marine sponges.     

Applicability of AFLP Fingerprinting Markers to Molecular Discrimination of the Three Main Fungal Species Associated with Grapevine Decline in Spain

Diplodia seriata, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum are the three main species associated with grapevine decline in Spain. AFLP markers were developed to discriminate Spanish populations of these species. The markers were used to genotype isolates of D. seriata, P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum. AFLP markers were valuable in performing population genetic studies as genetic variability (K_x) ranged from 0.07 in the P. chlamydospora population to 0.28 in the D. seriata population. Species‐specific markers obtained using only two AFLP combinations clearly discriminate D. seriata, P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum and are a useful tool in simultaneous identification tests.     

Leptothoe,a new genus of marine cyanobacteria (Synechococcales) and three new species associated with sponges from the Aegean Sea

Cyanobacterial diversity associated with sponges remains underestimated, though it is of great scientific interest in order to understand the ecology and evolutionary history of the symbiotic relationships between the two groups. Of the filamentous cyanobacteria, the genus Leptolyngbya is the most frequently found in association with sponges as well as the largest and obviously polyphyletic group. In this study, five Leptolyngbya‐like sponge‐associated isolates were investigated using a combination of molecular, chemical, and morphological approach and revealed a novel marine genus herein designated Leptothoe gen. nov. In addition, three new species of Leptothoe, Le. sithoniana, Le. kymatousa, and Le. spongobia, are described based on a suite of distinct characters compared to other marine Leptolyngbyaceae species/strains. The three new species, hosted by four sponge species, showed different degrees of host specificity. Leptothoe sithoniana and Le. kymatousa hosted by the sponges Petrosia ficiformis and Chondrilla nucula, respectively, seem to be more specialized than Le. spongobia, which was hosted by the sponges Dysidea avara and Acanthella acuta. All three species contained nitrogen‐fixing genes and may contribute to the nitrogen budget of sponges. Leptothoe spongobia TAU‐MAC 1115 isolated from Acanthella acuta was shown to produce microcystin‐RR indicating that microcystin production among marine cyanobacteria could be more widespread than previously determined.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of Diplodia seriata,the causal agent of canker and twig dieback disease on mulberry in Iran

Mulberries are cultivated for different purposes: for feeding larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori, as fresh and dry food resources, in wood instrument industry, in pharmaceutical industry and as outdoor ornamental trees in Iran. In recent years, twig and branch canker disease symptoms have been noticed on mulberry trees in northwestern parts of Iran. Diplodia isolates were repeatedly recovered from symptomatic tissues. Based on cultural and morphological features, the isolates were identified as Diplodia seriata. The identity of the isolates was further confirmed using sequence data from internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-rDNA and ef-1α gene. A phylogenetic analysis using ITS sequence data clustered the isolates obtained in this study together with known Diplodia seriata isolates of other woody hosts from GenBank. Inoculation studies carried out on white mulberry twigs using an excised shoot method revealed that the isolates are pathogenic on this host. D. seriata have been reported from other woody host plant species such as Juglans nigra and Vitis vinifera in Iran, however, to the best of our knowledge, the occurrence of D. seriata on mulberry trees is new for Iran. The distribution and reaction of different Morus spp. to D. seriata remain to be studied.     

Cultivable Bacterial Community from South China Sea Sponge as Revealed by DGGE Fingerprinting and 16S rDNA Phylogenetic Analysis

The cultivable bacterial communities associated with four South China Sea sponges—Stelletta tenuis, Halichondria rugosa, Dysidea avara, and Craniella australiensis in mixed cultures—were investigated by microbial community DNA-based DGGE fingerprinting and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis. Diverse bacteria such as α-, γ-, δ-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were cultured, some of which were previously uncultivable bacteria, potential novel strains with less than 95% similarity to their closest relatives and sponge symbionts growing only in the medium with the addition of sponge extract. According to 16S rDNA BLAST analysis, most of the bacteria were cultured from sponge for the first time, although similar phyla of bacteria have been previously recognized. The selective pressure of sponge extract on the cultured bacterial species was suggested, although the effect of sponge extract on bacterial community in high nutrient medium is not significant. Although α- and γ-Proteobacteria appeared to form the majority of the dominant cultivable bacterial communities of the four sponges, the composition of the cultivable bacterial community in the mixed culture was different, depending on the medium and sponge species. Greater bacterial diversity was observed in media C and CS for Stelletta tenuis, in media F and FS for Halichondria rugosa and Craniella australiensis. S. tenuis was found to have the highest cultivable bacterial diversity including α-, γ-, δ-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, followed by sponge Dysidea avara without δ-Proteobacteria, sponge Halichondria rugosa with only α-, γ-Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and sponge C. australiensis with only α-, γ-Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Based on this study, by the strategy of mixed cultivation integrated with microbial community DNA-based DGGE fingerprinting and phylogenetic analysis, the cultivable bacterial community of sponge could be revealed effectively.     

Effects of regional origin and genotype on intraspecific root communication in the desert shrub Ambrosia dumosa (Asteraceae)

Previous work has shown that the contact inhibition that occurs among roots of Ambrosia dumosa shrubs has a self/nonself recognition capability. In the current study, we investigated some of the geographic and genotypic dimensions of this recognition capability by using root observation chambers to observe the effects of encounters of individual roots on root elongation rates. We measured such effects in encounters between roots of plants from the same region and compared these to effects in encounters between roots of plants from two different regions. We also measured effects of encounters between roots of plants from the same clones and compared these to effects of encounters of roots of plants from different clones. Roots of plants from the same region (population) showed the usual “nonself” precipitous decline in elongation rates following contact, but when roots of plants from different regions contacted each other, elongation rates continued unchanged. When roots of separate plants from the same clone contacted each other, the same “nonself” precipitous decline in elongation rates as seen in encounters between roots of plants of different clones from the same region occurred. Meanwhile, in these same experiments “self” contacts between sister roots connected to the same plants resulted in no changes in elongation rates. Thus, differences between individuals from two geographically separate populations of Ambrosia dumosa may be sufficient to thwart the “nonself,” population-level recognition of similarity apparently necessary for contact inhibition. Furthermore, the “self” recognition mechanism, which precludes contact inhibition between two roots on the same plant, appears to be physiological rather than genetic in nature.     

The aquiferous systems of three marine demospongiae

The aquiferous systems of three common, coastal, marine Demospongiae, Halichondria panicea (Pallas), Haliclona permollis (Bowerbank) and Microciona Prolifera (Ellis and Solander), are analyzed by measurements of cross-sectional areas of conducting elements. The patterns in demosponges of extremely different organizational morphologies are found to be quantitatively similar. The porocyte nature of the ostia is established for all three species. Choanocyte chamber densities range from 1 to 1.8 × 10⁷ chambers ml⁻¹ with 57 to 95 choanocytes per chamber (means). Cross-sectional area of the intervillar space of the choanocyte collars is calculated to be 12 to 56 times the lateral surface area of the specimen. Velocities of water movement through specific elements of the aquiferous system are calculated from cross-sectional area data and measured oscular flow of Haliclona permollis. The calculated Reynolds numbers lie below the critical value and fluid flow is thus considered laminar throughout the aquiferous systems of these sponges.     

Effects of ocean acidification on the early life history processes of the breadcrumb sponge Halichondria panicea

Ocean acidification (OA) is predicted to result in reduced survival, growth, reproduction, and overall biodiversity of marine invertebrates, and yet we lack information about the response to OA of some major groups of marine organisms. In particular, we know relatively little about how OA will impact temperate sponges, which will experience more extreme low pH conditions than tropical species. In this study, we quantified OA-induced changes in early life history patterns (larval mortality and condition, settlement rate, recruit survival, and size) in the non-calcifying breadcrumb sponge Halichondria panicea collected from a temperate intertidal site in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. Sponge larvae were exposed to OA conditions for 15 days, and early life history patterns were observed. Compared with baseline (“present”) conditions, larval mortality and settlement rates increased in the acidified treatment (“future”). This effect was restricted to larval stages; treatment had no effect on the growth and survival of recruits. This study is significant in that it shows that H. panicea may be particularly vulnerable to changes in ocean pH during the larval stage, which could ultimately reduce total sponge abundance by diminishing the number of larvae that survive to settlement.