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Bell JJ, Micaroni V, Strano F, Ryan KG, Mitchell K, Mitchell P, Wilkinson S, Thomas T, Batchiar R, Smith RO. Marine heatwave-driven mass mortality and microbial community reorganisation in an ecologically important temperate sponge. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17417. [PMID: 39105285 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity, disrupting global marine ecosystems. While most reported impacts have been in tropical areas, New Zealand experienced its strongest and longest MHW in 2022, profoundly affecting marine sponges. Sponges are vital to rocky benthic marine communities, with their abundance influencing ecosystem functioning. This study examines the impact of this MHW on the photosynthetic sponge Cymbastella lamellata in Fiordland, New Zealand. We describe the extent, physiological responses, mortality, microbial community changes and ecological impact of this MHW on C. lamellata. The Fiordland MHW reached a maximum temperature of 4.4°C above average, lasting for 259 days. Bleaching occurred in >90% of the C. lamellata Fiordland population. The population size exceeded 66 million from 5 to 25 m, making this the largest bleaching event of its kind ever recorded. We identified the photosynthetic symbiont as a diatom, and bleached sponges had reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Post-MHW surveys in 2023 found that over 50% of sponges at sampling sites had died but that the remaining sponges had mostly recovered from earlier bleaching. Using a simulated MHW experiment, we found that temperature stress was a driver of necrosis rather than bleaching, despite necrosis only rarely being observed in the field (<2% of sponges). This suggests that bleaching may not be the cause of the mortality directly. We also identified a microbial community shift in surviving sponges, which we propose represents a microbial-mediated adaptive response to MHWs. We also found that C. lamellata are key contributors of dissolved organic carbon to the water column, with their loss likely impacting ecosystem function. We demonstrate the potential for MHWs to disrupt key marine phyla in temperate regions, highlighting how susceptible temperate sponges globally might be to MHWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Valerio Micaroni
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesca Strano
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Ken G Ryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ramadian Batchiar
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Robert O Smith
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Bell JJ, Strano F, Broadribb M, Wood G, Harris B, Resende AC, Novak E, Micaroni V. Sponge functional roles in a changing world. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2023; 95:27-89. [PMID: 37923539 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Sponges are ecologically important benthic organisms with many important functional roles. However, despite increasing global interest in the functions that sponges perform, there has been limited focus on how such functions will be impacted by different anthropogenic stressors. In this review, we describe the progress that has been made in our understanding of the functional roles of sponges over the last 15 years and consider the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on these roles. We split sponge functional roles into interactions with the water column and associations with other organisms. We found evidence for an increasing focus on functional roles among sponge-focused research articles, with our understanding of sponge-mediated nutrient cycling increasing substantially in recent years. From the information available, many anthropogenic stressors have the potential to negatively impact sponge pumping, and therefore have the potential to cause ecosystem level impacts. While our understanding of the importance of sponges has increased in the last 15 years, much more experimental work is required to fully understand how sponges will contribute to reef ecosystem function in future changing oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Francesca Strano
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Manon Broadribb
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Gabriela Wood
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Ben Harris
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Anna Carolina Resende
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Emma Novak
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Valerio Micaroni
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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The Porifera microeukaryome: Addressing the neglected associations between sponges and protists. Microbiol Res 2022; 265:127210. [PMID: 36183422 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
While bacterial and archaeal communities of sponges are intensively studied, given their importance to the animal's physiology as well as sources of several new bioactive molecules, the potential and roles of associated protists remain poorly known. Historically, culture-dependent approaches dominated the investigations of sponge-protist interactions. With the advances in omics techniques, these associations could be visualized at other equally important scales. Of the few existing studies, there is a strong tendency to focus on interactions with photosynthesizing taxa such as dinoflagellates and diatoms, with fewer works dissecting the interactions with other less common groups. In addition, there are bottlenecks and inherent biases in using primer pairs and bioinformatics approaches in the most commonly used metabarcoding studies. Thus, this review addresses the issues underlying this association, using the term "microeukaryome" to refer exclusively to protists associated with an animal host. We aim to highlight the diversity and community composition of protists associated with sponges and place them on the same level as other microorganisms already well studied in this context. Among other shortcomings, it could be observed that the biotechnological potential of the microeukaryome is still largely unexplored, possibly being a valuable source of new pharmacological compounds, enzymes and metabolic processes.
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Uncovering New Diversity of Photosynthetic Microorganisms from the Mediterranean Region. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081571. [PMID: 36013989 PMCID: PMC9416340 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In the large and morphologically diverse phylum of Chlorophyta, new taxa are discovered every year and their phylogenetic relationships are reconstructed by the incorporation of molecular phylogenetic methods into traditional taxonomy. Herein, we aim to contribute to the photosynthetic microorganisms’ diversity knowledge in the Mediterranean area, a relatively unexplored ecoregion with high diversity. Based on a polyphasic approach, 18 Chlorophyta isolates were investigated and characterized. Morphological characteristics and ultrastructure, the phylogeny based on 18S rRNA gene (small subunit ribosomal RNA), 18S–28S internal transcribed spacer (ITS region), and the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit region (rbcL gene), support establishing four new genera (Nomia, Ava, Akraea, Lilaea) and five new species (Spongiosarcinopsis limneus, N. picochloropsia, Av. limnothalassea, Ak. chliaropsychia, and L. pamvotia) belonging to orders Sphaeropleales, Chlorellales, and Chlamydomonadales. For some of them, this is the first report of their occurrence in specific aquatic environments.
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Amelia TSM, Suaberon FAC, Vad J, Fahmi ADM, Saludes JP, Bhubalan K. Recent Advances of Marine Sponge-Associated Microorganisms as a Source of Commercially Viable Natural Products. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:492-512. [PMID: 35567600 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many industrially significant compounds have been derived from natural products in the environment. Research efforts so far have contributed to the discovery of beneficial natural products that have improved the quality of life on Earth. As one of the sources of natural products, marine sponges have been progressively recognised as microbial hotspots with reports of the sponges harbouring diverse microbial assemblages, genetic material, and metabolites with multiple industrial applications. Therefore, this paper aims at reviewing the recent literature (primarily published between 2016 and 2022) on the types and functions of natural products synthesised by sponge-associated microorganisms, thereby helping to bridge the gap between research and industrial applications. The metabolites that have been derived from sponge-associated microorganisms, mostly bacteria, fungi, and algae, have shown application prospects especially in medicine, cosmeceutical, environmental protection, and manufacturing industries. Sponge bacteria-derived natural products with medical properties harboured anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral functions. Efforts in re-identifying the origin of known and future sponge-sourced natural products would further clarify the roles and significance of microbes within marine sponges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tan Suet May Amelia
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Ferr Angelus C Suaberon
- Center for Natural Drug Discovery & Development (CND3), University of San Agustin, 5000, Iloilo City, Philippines
| | - Johanne Vad
- Changing Oceans Research Group, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Afiq Durrani Mohd Fahmi
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
- Eco-Innovation Research Interest Group, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Jonel P Saludes
- Center for Natural Drug Discovery & Development (CND3), University of San Agustin, 5000, Iloilo City, Philippines
- Department of Chemistry, University of San Agustin, 5000, Iloilo City, Philippines
- Department of Science and Technology, Balik Scientist Program, Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (PCHRD), Bicutan, 1631, Taguig, Philippines
| | - Kesaven Bhubalan
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
- Eco-Innovation Research Interest Group, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
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