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Sponge invaders in Dutch coastal waters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2007

Rob W.M. van Soest
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94766, 1090 GT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mario J. de Kluijver
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94766, 1090 GT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Peter H. van Bragt
Affiliation:
Antiloopstraat 28, 4817 LC, Breda, The Netherlands
Marco Faasse
Affiliation:
National Museum of Natural History Naturalis, PO Box 9437 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
Reindert Nijland
Affiliation:
Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN, Haren, The Netherlands
Elly J. Beglinger
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94766, 1090 GT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Wallie H. de Weerdt
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94766, 1090 GT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Nicole J. de Voogd
Affiliation:
National Museum of Natural History Naturalis, PO Box 9437 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

Abstract

Continuous monitoring by scientists and volunteers of the Biological Working Group of the Dutch SubAqua Union and the ‘Anemoon’ Foundation over the past four years, yielded a surprising six new records of sponges for Dutch coastal waters. Oscarella lobularis, Celtodoryx girardae, Suberites virgultosus, Haliclona (Haliclona) simulans, Halisarca aff. dujardini, and a species identified as Leucosolenia somesii were unknown from Dutch coastal waters before 2000. The latter is a giant calcareous sponge, seemingly belonging to the common Leucosolenia variabilis, but here assumed to be an invader as well, as it has spicular characters well outside the variation found in the majority of Dutch L. variabilis specimens. It is likely a member of a ‘forgotten’ species, L. somesii. Habit photographs, SEM images of the spicules, and for O. lobularis and H. aff. dujardini, photographs of histological sections are provided to substantiate these new records. With the exception of C. girardae, most of the species resemble previously described widespread north-east Atlantic species, occurring in the area to the south and west of the Netherlands, so it is assumed pending future genetic research that at least several of the invaders comprise range extensions related to rising winter temperatures. Possibly, recent shellfish imports may be an additional causal agent. We also report the occurrence of unprecedented spicular deviations observed in three sponge species commonly occurring in Dutch waters, Halichondria (Halichondria) panicea, Hymeniacidon perlevis and Haliclona (Soestella) xena, which grew in small inland water bodies. Possibly, the limited space in these inland waters with possible stress factors for sponges such as reduced water exchange, and deviating chemistry, have caused the sponges to form stunted growth in spicules varying from rhabds with rounded endings to silica spheroids. We provide an updated list of sponges found in Dutch waters and a list of suspected or proven invaders of Dutch waters.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2007 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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