The mystery of how coral reefs thrive in "ocean deserts" has been solved, scientists say in "Sponges help coral reefs thrive in ocean deserts". You can also download a pdf of this on-line article.
Sponges have always been an important component of Caribbean coral reef communities, but they have become increasingly dominant as reef-building corals have declined because of stressors associated with climate change, disease, and pollution.
Giant barrel sponges play an important role in coral reef ecosystems because they filter large quantity of water and provide habitat for other organisms. Read how sponges are taking over some coral reefs in the Caribbean: Giant barrel sponges are hijacking Florida’s coral reefs. Read about this change on reefs.
Sponges harbor a large community of bacteria. These bacteria capture phosphorus, a key nutrient, in the water and turn it into a form that is available for the coral reef community. Read about how the bacteria in sponges contribute to the reef community.
Deep Sea
Read about deep sea sponges role they play in deep sea ecosystems.
Sponges in the Ross Sea in the Antarctic play a key role in the ecosystem. Read the article here.
Researchers think that sponges helped oxygenate the deep ocean: This story is about “the first animals bootstrapping the environment into one where more complex animals could evolve.”
