Survival of the gemmules of Anheteromeyenia ryderi (Potts) following aerial exposure during winter in New England

Gemmules of Anheteromeyenia ryderi survived 24 h exposure to air temperatures as low as –20 °C under laboratory conditions. Drying the gemmules of A. ryderi at 5 °C under laboratory conditions resulted in a reduced viability and a slower germination rate following rehydration compared with undried control gemmules. Only 25% of the gemmules germinated after drying for one month. Up to 25% of the gemmules of A. ryderi that were tested survived aerial exposure from early November to early April when a pond in Connecticut inhabited by this sponge was drained. During this period air temperatures dropped to as low as –16 °C. Continued aerial exposure of the gemmules during the summer resulted in nearly complete gemmule mortality.