A research team led by University of Alberta marine biologists has discovered a new species of sea sponge living off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Desmacella hyaline. Image credit: Sally Leys.
Glass sponges (class Hexactinellida) are cup-shaped marine animals, ranging from 10 to 30 cm (3.9-11.8 inches) in height, with sturdy lattice-like internal skeletons made up of fused spicules of silica.
These sponges form globally unique reefs that support deep-sea biodiversity and are found in all oceans of the world.
They are particularly common in Antarctic and Northern Pacific waters and are mostly found at depths from 450 to 900 m (1,476-2,953 feet).
“One of the most important reasons for studying the diversity of sea sponges in our oceans is for conservation management,” said Lauren Law, a researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta.
“Many studies in the protected area have focused on describing the crustaceans and fish living in the reefs, but non-reef forming sponges remain overlooked.”
In new research, Law and colleagues studied sponges of different color morphotypes (yellow, white, and mauve) in the genus Desmacella.
Using a remotely operated vehicle, they collected samples from the northern reef complex of the HSQCS-MPA (Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area).
Morphological and DNA analyses revealed a white morphotype to be distinct from previously described Desmacella species.
“Our findings show Desmacella comprise a surprisingly large amount of live sponge cover in the reefs and can have potential major influence on reef function, recruitment, and overall ecosystem health,” Law said.
“While we have discovered a new species, we have yet to determine its relationship with glass sponges in the area.”
The researchers also mapped the distribution of the color morphotypes on the reefs and found that Desmacella spp. formed nearly 20% of live sponge cover at some sampling sites indicating its potential importance in the reefs.
“We recommend further investigation to better understand the role of Desmacella in the ecosystem, as well as more ecological assessment of glass sponge habitat focused on surveying non-reef forming sponges,” they said.
“Properly knowing the components of an environment and the linkages between them — here this new species Desmacella hyalina and the reef sponges it lives on — is a major step forward in understanding the ecosystem services and function of the sponge reefs,” Leys said.
“This is the information we need for concrete management strategies.”
The team’s paper was published in the journal Marine Biodiversity.
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L.K. Law et al. 2020. Description and distribution of Desmacella hyalina sp. nov. (Porifera, Desmacellidae), a new cryptic demosponge in glass sponge reefs from the western coast of Canada. Mar. Biodivers 50 (55); di: 10.1007/s12526-020-01076-6
