Abstract
The pumping rate of Verongia lacunosa (Lamarck), a tropical marine sponge, varied between 1 and 6 l h-1 in clear seawater for sponges with a volume of about 500 ml. Sponges were exposed to seawater containing suspensions of clay maintained at a constant level for 4 h; concentrations of 11 mg l-1 or greater significantly reduced the pumping rate, while concentrations of 3 mg l-1 did not. Other sponges were exposed to suspensions of clay for 4 days; a concentration of 95 mg l-1 caused a continuing decline in the pumping rate. These sponges were more sensitive to sediment than some other suspension-feeding organisms. Such sensitivity may limit the distribution of V. lacunosa and other sponge species.
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Communicated by N.D. Holland, La Jolla
Please address requests for reprints to A.O. Flechsig at the address shown above.
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Gerrodette, T., Flechsig, A.O. Sediment-induced reduction in the pumping rate of the tropical sponge Verongia lacunosa . Mar. Biol. 55, 103–110 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397305
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397305