Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

The study of cryptic sponges can be challenging, as they are difficult to detect in the environment without the use of destructive methods. The permanence of mineral skeletal components of Porifera in sediments is therefore a tool that can provide support for a more comprehensive study of sponge fau...

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Main Authors: Anna Reboa, Barbara Calcinai, Carlo Cerrano, Eleonora Turvano, Giorgio Bavestrello, Do Cong Thung, Marco Bertolino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2162
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author Anna Reboa
Barbara Calcinai
Carlo Cerrano
Eleonora Turvano
Giorgio Bavestrello
Do Cong Thung
Marco Bertolino
author_facet Anna Reboa
Barbara Calcinai
Carlo Cerrano
Eleonora Turvano
Giorgio Bavestrello
Do Cong Thung
Marco Bertolino
author_sort Anna Reboa
collection DOAJ
description The study of cryptic sponges can be challenging, as they are difficult to detect in the environment without the use of destructive methods. The permanence of mineral skeletal components of Porifera in sediments is therefore a tool that can provide support for a more comprehensive study of sponge fauna. In this context, sediments collected from four karst lakes in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), plus two surrounding sea areas, were processed to extract spicules belonging to sponges with siliceous skeletons. From the morphology of the spicules, it was possible to trace the taxa of the sponges present in the area at that time or earlier. It was found that each lake had a sponge fauna composition characterized by different families and genera. Moreover, sponge taxa identified in the surrounding sea areas differed significantly from the ones inside of the neighboring lakes. In addition, it was possible to identify the presence of four sponge genera not yet recorded in the South China Sea area. Thus, the study of spicules trapped in sediments proved to be a useful tool for a comprehensive study of sponge fauna.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-2eb3e8e5b19e4d159e23d166fdf2b1542025-08-20T02:56:48ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122024-11-011212216210.3390/jmse12122162Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)Anna Reboa0Barbara Calcinai1Carlo Cerrano2Eleonora Turvano3Giorgio Bavestrello4Do Cong Thung5Marco Bertolino6Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyDepartment of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyInstitute of Marine Environment and Resources (IMER), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, VAST, Hanoi 180000, VietnamDepartment of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyThe study of cryptic sponges can be challenging, as they are difficult to detect in the environment without the use of destructive methods. The permanence of mineral skeletal components of Porifera in sediments is therefore a tool that can provide support for a more comprehensive study of sponge fauna. In this context, sediments collected from four karst lakes in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), plus two surrounding sea areas, were processed to extract spicules belonging to sponges with siliceous skeletons. From the morphology of the spicules, it was possible to trace the taxa of the sponges present in the area at that time or earlier. It was found that each lake had a sponge fauna composition characterized by different families and genera. Moreover, sponge taxa identified in the surrounding sea areas differed significantly from the ones inside of the neighboring lakes. In addition, it was possible to identify the presence of four sponge genera not yet recorded in the South China Sea area. Thus, the study of spicules trapped in sediments proved to be a useful tool for a comprehensive study of sponge fauna.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2162PoriferaVietnamcryptic spongesspicular analysis
spellingShingle Anna Reboa
Barbara Calcinai
Carlo Cerrano
Eleonora Turvano
Giorgio Bavestrello
Do Cong Thung
Marco Bertolino
Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Porifera
Vietnam
cryptic sponges
spicular analysis
title Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
title_full Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
title_fullStr Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
title_full_unstemmed Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
title_short Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
title_sort sponge spicules in sediments a proxy for past and present sponge fauna assessment in ha long bay vietnam
topic Porifera
Vietnam
cryptic sponges
spicular analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2162
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