A skeleton‐less sponge of Caribbean mangroves: invasive or undescribed?. Issue 2 (23rd May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alvizu, A.; Díaz, M.C.; Bastidas, C.; Rützler, K.; Thacker, R.W.; Márquez, L.M.
• Is Part Of: Invertebrate biology. Volume 132:Issue 2(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2013-05-23
• Subjects: Invertebrates -- Periodicals; 592.05
• DOI: 10.1111/ivb.12015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8306

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ivb12015-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Recent surveys of sponges occurring on Caribbean mangrove roots demonstrated the presence of a skeleton‐less sponge of the genus <italic>Halisarca, </italic> very similar in its morphology to the temperate <italic>H. dujardinii</italic>. This study evaluated the possibility that the mangrove sponge was actually <italic>H. dujardinii</italic> that had been introduced into the Caribbean mangroves. Detailed histology revealed differences between the mangrove sponge and <italic>H. dujardinii</italic> in cuticle thickness, and in characteristics of the choanocytes, spherulous, and granular cells. Also, phylogenetic reconstruction and genetic distance estimates based on cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences clearly differentiated the mangrove <italic>Halisarca</italic> sp. from <italic>H. dujardinii</italic>. Therefore, we rejected the hypothesis of the invasion of <italic>H. dujardinii</italic>, recognizing instead the mangrove <italic>Halisarca</italic> sp. as a new species and naming it <italic>H. restingaensis</italic> sp. nov. Estimated levels of genetic variation in the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers indicated that populations of <italic>H. restingaensis</italic> sp. nov. are highly differentiated between Venezuela and Panama (<italic>F</italic><sub>st</sub>=0.71). This level of population differentiation is consistent with the short larval competence period that is common in members of the genus <italic>Halisarca</italic>.</p> </abstract>