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Estimating the extent of endolithic tissue of a great barrier reef clionid sponge

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Abstract

Data from two studies of growth and bioerosion of the Australian spongeCliona orientalis were used to investigate methods to quantify endolithic clionid sponge tissue in experimental blocks made from 8 massive Great Barrier Reef coral species and fromTridacna squamosa shells. Three radiography techniques were tried: conventional X-radiography, phase-contrast radiography, and computer tomography. Radiographs were compared to images of sponge tissue manually traced onto transparent sheets: endolithic sponge tissue in 1 cm thick blocks was made visible by fixing the blocks in front of strong light for tracing. None of the three radiography techniques were found to be satisfactory to estimate the extent of endolithic clionid tissue, unless the substrate was very dense and its structure comparatively homogeneous. Otherwise, delicate sponge tissue strands were often obscured by substrate structures. This was especially the case around the margins of the sponge colony, which were not clearly resolvable. Additionally, at all radiography settings tried, sponge tissue had very little attenuation so that it could not be distinguished from empty pores in coral skeleton. Radiography was thus found to be largely unsuitable for studying endolithic tissue of Clionidae excavating small pores. Computer tomography may have considerable significance in qualitative studies, however, as this technique lowers ambiguity by permitting several observations with smaller slice thickness. Manual tracing of endolithic tissue worked surprisingly well and provided data of about 90% accuracy. Tracing is more work-intensive than radiography, but low in cost and does not require specific technology. Given a material thickness of 1 cm or less, it is non-intrusive, i.e. studied material will not be lost. Areas of superficial and endolithic sponge tissue were highly significantly proportional to each other. Hence, at least for C.orientalis, the areas of superficial tissue can be used to estimate endolithic extent without damaging the substrate. Calculation models are given. It is likely that such a correlation is a general phenomenon for clionid sponges. Use in the field is restricted by problems with species identification.

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  1. Christine Hanna Lydia Schönberg

    Present address: Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Zoosystematik und Morphologie, PF 2503, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, FB 7 Biologie, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany

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  1. Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, 4810, Townsville MC, QLD, Australia

    Christine Hanna Lydia Schönberg

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Schönberg, C.H.L. Estimating the extent of endolithic tissue of a great barrier reef clionid sponge. Senckenbergiana maritima 31, 29–39 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03042834

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