Monday, August 23, 2010

Sponges, Including Giant Barrel Sponges, now dominate Caribbean Coral Reefs

But these ancient "Redwoods of the Reefs" face stiff challenges and challengers; if they don't prevail, habitat structure for fisheries and other animals will be lost

WHAT: Talk Live with Scientists on the ocean floor in NOAA's Aquarius lab, and in a lab at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) about the battle for dominance on Caribbean coral reefs. Corals, sponges and algae now fight to prevail on reefs once covered with corals. Learn why the winning species will make a big difference to ecosystems and the variety and abundance of life the reefs will support, or will fail to support. During the interview, see live images from inside and outside the Aquarius habitat. Learn more about Giant Barrel Sponges, called the "Redwoods of the Reefs," which are among the oldest animals on Earth, some more than 2,000 years old.

WHY: Coral coverage on Caribbean reefs has been reduced to a small fraction of mid-20th century levels. Yet relatively little is known about the sponges that now dominate these reefs and about their ability to remain dominant in the face of a wide variety of challenges. UNCW scientists will explain the importance of a database against which to measure change, and how diseases, hurricanes, oil spills, changing ocean surface temperatures, ocean acidification, fishing lines, chemical defenses, and extinctions or reductions of predators and prey affect the chances for sponges, or another challenger, to dominate, with potential impacts on seafood supply and recreational diving.

WHO: Interview UNCW scientists Dr. Joseph Pawlik ashore in Wilmington, and Dr. Chris Finelli in NOAA's Aquarius Habitat. UNCW scientists, including graduate students, have been monitoring barrel sponges in the Florida Keys since 1997, supported by NOAA's Aquarius Reef Base, NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the National Science Foundation and others.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 25 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time

HOW: Please send an RSVP e-mail Tuesday to fischettid@uncw.edu. On Wednesday, please participate by calling 866-802-1907, passcode 4314277

WHERE: NOAA's Aquarius Habitat and Laboratory is 63 feet deep on the seafloor three miles off the coast of Florida in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, next to Conch Reef. This 9-day mission is described at aquarius.UNCW.edu.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, UNCW media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu

Photo captions:

Giant Barrel Sponge: Giant barrel sponge on Conch Reef, Florida at 50' depth near the site of the Aquarius habitat. Below it is purple rope sponge. Credit: J. Pawlik, UNCW

Diver and Sponge: Large giant barrel sponge of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. 75' depth. This sponge is estimated at over a thousand years old. Credit: J. Pawlik, UNCW

Two Barrel Sponges: Smaller barrel sponges, San Salvador Island, Bahamas. 50' depth. Credit: J. Pawlik, UNCW

Reef Sponges: Vase and rope sponges dominating a reef off Little San Salvador Island, Bahamas. 80' depth. Note the invasive lionfish. Credit: J. Pawlik, UNCW