title: Sediment impacts on marine sponges.
abstract: Changes in sediment input to marine systems can influence benthic environments in many ways. Sponges are important components of benthic ecosystems world-wide and as sessile suspension feeders are likely to be impacted by changes in sediment levels. Despite this, little is known about how sponges respond to changes in settled and suspended sediment. Here we review the known impacts of sedimentation on sponges and their adaptive capabilities, whilst highlighting gaps in our understanding of sediment impacts on sponges. Although the literature clearly shows that sponges are influenced by sediment in a variety of ways, most studies confer that sponges are able to tolerate, and in some cases thrive, in sedimented environments. Critical gaps exist in our understanding of the physiological responses of sponges to sediment, adaptive mechanisms, tolerance limits, and the particularly the effect of sediment on early life history stages.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. Electronic address: james.bell@vuw.ac.nz.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biggerstaff
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D011161:Porifera / Q000502:physiology*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Adaptation; Settled sediment; Sponge; Suspended sediment; Turbidity