Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 04-07
Identification and Description
of the Common Sponges of Jeffreys Ledge
as an Aid in Field Operations
by Kevin McCarthy
At time of authorship: National Marine Fisheries Serv., Woods Hole
Lab., 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543
At present time: Unknown
Print
publication date April 2004;
web version posted April 30, 2004
Citation: McCarthy, K. 2004. Identification and description of the common sponges of Jeffreys Ledge as an aid
in field operations. Northeast Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 04-07; 2 p.
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Foreword
In November 2003, Jackie Riley, the librarian at the Northeast Fisheries
Science Center’s Woods Hole Laboratory, came across several old
unpublished documents, and asked me whether we should keep or toss each
one. This brief document is one of the “keepers.”
The information in this document is based on the pre-1978 cumulative
in-situ observations and photographic records of diver-scientists with
the long-defunct Northeast Fisheries (Science) Center, Manned Undersea
Research and Technology Program (MURT), which was effectively the forerunner
of NOAA’s current National Undersea Research Program. The author,
Kevin McCarthy, was a junior member of the MURT dive team when he authored
this document in February 1978.
At a surface level, this document is only a rough identification guide
to some northern sponges. At a deeper level, it is apparently the earliest
known species-of-occurrence list for sponges at Pigeon Hill – which
is now a long-term environmental monitoring station on Jeffreys Ledge
in the Gulf of Maine. In our current era of concern over biological diversity
and the effects of climate change on such, these older species-of-occurrence
lists are becoming valuable benchmarks for measuring change.
Interestingly, this document notes – based on in-situ observations
and photographic records – the occurrence of six species of sponges
not otherwise listed as occurring at Pigeon Hill in the most authoritative
publication on such matters: “Ecosystem Definition and Community
Structure of the Macrobenthos of the NEMP Monitoring Station at Pigeon
Hill in the Gulf of Maine” (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-14;
1982; 143 p.).
Jon A. Gibson, Biological Sciences Editor
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
December 16, 2003
Background
The sponges are a significant constituent of the benthic invertebrate
community on Jeffreys Ledge, an underwater ridge in the southern Gulf
of Maine. At the Pigeon Hill study area on Jeffreys Ledge, the encrusint
forms of sponges often cover 30-60% of the available rock substrate.
A number of the sponge species cannot be identified from photographs
alone, and will need to be collected for identification in the lab based
on spicule size and composition.
The growth forms of sponges may vary considerably with environmental
factors such as available substrate, currents, etc. The coloration and
distinct form of many of the sponges on Pigeon Hill are distinct enough,
though, to enable field identifications. Without collecting and more
careful examination, however, the following identifications and descriptions
are tentative, and should be considered as such.
Species Identifications
The following species have been observed and/or photographically documented
on Jeffreys Ledge: Apoysilla glacialis, Halichondria panicea, Haliclona
oculata, H. palmata, Iophon nigricans, Phakellia
ventilabrum, Polymastia infrapylosa, P. spp., Subertechinus
hispidus, Tedania suctoria, Tentorium semisuberites, Trichostemma
hemisphericum, and Weberella bursa.
Species Descriptions
Apoysilla glacialis: Usually found on the vertical surfaces
and overhangs of boulders. Encrusting growth form. Bright yellow coloration.
Surface is covered with numerous tent-like projections (conulose surface).
Oscula are not readily apparent.
Halichondria panicea: The crumb of bread sponge. Generally forms
irregular masses. Yellow to brown coloration. Often is green tinged due
to presence of algae, probably symbiotic. The oscula are on papillae
which often form tubular chimneys 1-2 cm in height.
Haliclona oculata: The eyed finger sponge. Usually found on
horizontal rock surfaces as isolated individuals. Erect, solitary, often
reaching heights of approximately 25 cm. Yellow to brown coloration.
Forms upright bushy colonies composed of many close-set, finger-like
branches supported on a slender stalk. Numerous small oscula are scattered
over the surface.
Haliclona palmata: This species has not been photographically
documented; however, from visual observations, it is suspected to occur
on Jeffreys Ledge. It appears much the same as H. oculata, but
has flatter, more-laminate branches. It does not attain the large size
of H. oculata, and is purple in color.
Iophon nigricans: Found encrusting the brachiopod Terebratulina
septentrionalis. Color is brownish white to pink, turning black
when preserved in alcohol.
Phakellia ventilabrum: Found as erect, solitary individuals.
Cup shaped, often with a short slender stalk. The color is pale yellow
to brown. The oscula are minute and are scattered over the entire surface.
Fibers can usually be seen near the surface. There is a strong possibility
that not all of the large vasiform sponges on Jeffreys Ledge are this
species.
Polymastia infrapylosa: A globose species, ranging from approximately
5 to 10 cm in diameter. Yellow in color. Minute oscula are scattered
over the surface on raised papillae. This Polymastia species can
be recognized by its characteristic pylose edge.
Polymastia spp.: Several Polymastia types are very common
on Jeffreys Ledge; however, at present their species identification remains
uncertain. Their general body form and coloration are much like those
of P. infrapylosa. On some species, the papillae are fine and
net-like, and there is a plush of brown spicules. P. mammilaris, P.
andrica, and P. robusta are three tentative species identifications.
Subertechinus hispidus: A semihemispherical species, ranging
from approximately 2 to 7 cm in diameter. Numerous conspicuous oscula
are located in an apically oriented depression. The color of this apical
region is yellow to light brown. With exception of this apical region,
the entire surface is covered with a plush of dark brown spicules (hispid
surface). The sponge is capable of contraction so that all that is seen
is the outer covering of the spicules. This sponge is very common on
Jeffreys Ledge and has been previously misidentified as Craniella
gravida. Based on photographs alone, Dr. W. Hartman (Yale University)
tentatively identified this species as S. hispidus.
Tedania suctoria: This species’ characteristic appearance
makes it difficult to confuse it with any other sponge that we have observed
on Jeffreys Ledge. Encrusting growth form. Brick red coloration. The
surface is covered with many conspicuous ostia and oscula. Without spicule
preparations, this species could not be positively identified. Based
on photographs alone, Dr. W. Hartman (Yale University) tentatively identified
this species as a variant growth form of T. suctoria.
Tentorium semisuberites: A small globose species, erected into
a column approximately 2 cm in diameter and 2-3 cm long. Summit is rounded
with several small oscula tubes. Surface is capable of contraction, and
is smooth when expanded and uneven when contracted.
Trichostemma hemisphericum: A globose species, ranging from
approximately 5 to 10 cm in diameter. Yellow in color. Related to, and
difficult to distinguish from, Polymastia. The papillae are more
knob-like than those of Polymastia. The summit of each papilla
may have a pinhole-like osculum; however, it is extremely difficult to
see without magnification.
Weberella bursa: A Polymastia relative. Some of the sponges
of Jeffreys Ledge with the same general growth form and coloration as Polymastia,
but with fine net-like papillae, may be W. bursa.
