A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...
A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...
A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...
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104 Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Paper <strong>NMFS</strong> 12<br />
87. Semisuberites cribrosa (Miklucho-Maclay, 1870)<br />
Description. This stalked sponge has two distinct<br />
forms: 1) several small funnels or cups (up <strong>to</strong> at least<br />
20 cups per individual) that branch initially from a<br />
central stalk, and 2) a long, thin stalk (30 cm or more<br />
in length) that terminates in a single cup-shaped body,<br />
rarely two, with a maximum diameter <strong>of</strong> approximately<br />
25 cm. The stalk is wiry, firm but elastic; <strong>the</strong> body(s) <strong>of</strong><br />
s<strong>of</strong>ter consistency. Surface is smooth <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> unaided eye<br />
but microscopically hispid. Total height and width are<br />
<strong>to</strong> 70 cm (multi-cupped form). Color in life is golden<br />
brown <strong>to</strong> light brown.<br />
Skeletal structure. There is no specialized ec<strong>to</strong>somal<br />
skele<strong>to</strong>n; dermal membrane consists <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ends <strong>of</strong> ascending<br />
polyspicular tracts. Choanosomal polyspicular<br />
ascending tracts are quite conspicuous and cm-long<br />
fibers are easy drawn from <strong>the</strong> sponge. Tracts are connected<br />
by single spicules, styles in a very wide size range<br />
(75–650 × 6–15 µm).<br />
Zoogeographic distribution. Widespread but uncommon.<br />
In Alaska – central Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea<br />
(Zhemchug Canyon), and Gulf <strong>of</strong> Alaska. Elsewhere<br />
– widely distributed along <strong>the</strong> north and east coasts<br />
<strong>of</strong> Russia (Bering and Chukchi Seas), Arctic Ocean<br />
(Greenland Sea), and North Atlantic Ocean (Norwegian<br />
Sea).<br />
Habitat. In Alaska – <strong>the</strong> two forms appear <strong>to</strong> be ecomorphs.<br />
The multi-cupped form is attached primarily<br />
<strong>to</strong> bedrock (occasionally cobbles) at depths between<br />
80 and 270 m in low <strong>to</strong> moderate current areas. The<br />
single-cupped form is found in high current areas.<br />
Aleutian Islands – patchy distribution on moderately<br />
sloped sandy habitats; attached <strong>to</strong> pebbles with rootlike<br />
processes at depths between 99 and 306 m. Bering<br />
Sea – rare; pebble and sand slopes at depths around<br />
170 m. Elsewhere – reported at depths between 14 and<br />
325 m, temperatures between 1.9 and 7.0°C, and salinities<br />
between 29.81 and 35.23 psu.<br />
Remarks. This species may be preyed upon by <strong>the</strong><br />
blood star (Henricia sp.) and appears <strong>to</strong> be particularly<br />
fragile.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>s. 1) Fragment <strong>of</strong> a specimen collected at a<br />
depth <strong>of</strong> 100 m in <strong>the</strong> central Aleutian Islands. Grid<br />
marks are 1 cm 2 . 2) Same specimen as in pho<strong>to</strong> 1 in situ<br />
(center). 3) Specimen collected at a depth <strong>of</strong> 97 m in<br />
<strong>the</strong> central Aleutian Islands. 4) Specimen collected at a<br />
depth <strong>of</strong> 170 m in Zhemchug Canyon, Bering Sea. Note<br />
that <strong>the</strong> specimen has a single large cup that was apparently<br />
two smaller cups now fused <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r. 5) Specimen<br />
collected at a depth <strong>of</strong> 139 m in <strong>the</strong> central Aleutian<br />
Islands. Note that <strong>the</strong> cup has been sliced open for<br />
examination. Grid marks are 1 cm 2 . 6) Same specimen<br />
as in pho<strong>to</strong> 5 in situ (<strong>to</strong>p half). 7) Same specimen as in<br />
pho<strong>to</strong> 5 in situ (bot<strong>to</strong>m half).