Journal of Experimental Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 228(10)
Опубликована: Май 13, 2025
ABSTRACT Tropical coral reef ecosystems are changing rapidly to an alternative state in which sponges the dominant living habitat, with giant barrel (GBSs, Xestospongia spp.) representing largest biomass. Unlike other benthic organisms, GBSs ecosystem engineers that pump large volumes of seawater, disrupting boundary layer and directing flow away from surface into water column. The morphology size have made them particularly good experimental subjects study hydraulics sponge pumping transformation occurs as seawater is processed by holobiont (sponge cells microbial symbionts). This Review part a series marking 100th birthday Company Biologists, was founded marine biologist George Parker Bidder III, who primarily worked on sponges. provides integrative assessment research comparisons what known about Recent discoveries suggest ancient lineages morphologically indistinguishable responding environmental changes over sub-decadal time periods populate reefs stripped cover climate change. If remain robust rising temperatures, they will become greatest source habitat complexity future, so knowledge their biology physiology be important our understanding these ecosystems.
Язык: Английский