title: Using a thermistor flowmeter with attached video camera for monitoring sponge excurrent speed and oscular behaviour.
abstract: A digital, four-channel thermistor flowmeter integrated with time-lapse cameras was developed as an experimental tool for measuring pumping rates in marine sponges, particularly those with small excurrent openings (oscula). Combining flowmeters with time-lapse imagery yielded valuable insights into the contractile behaviour of oscula inCliona orientalis. Osculum cross-sectional area (OSA) was positively correlated to measured excurrent speeds (ES), indicating that sponge pumping and osculum contraction are coordinated behaviours. Both OSA and ES were positively correlated to pumping rate (Q). Diel trends in pumping activity and osculum contraction were also observed, with sponges increasing their pumping activity to peak at midday and decreasing pumping and contracting oscula at night. Short-term elevation of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) within the seawater initially decreased pumping rates by up to 90%, ultimately resulting in closure of the oscula and cessation of pumping.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, School of Plant Biology, and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia; Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Crawley, WA, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Strehlow
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Marine Science , Townsville , QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Crawley, WA, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Crawley, WA, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Mari-Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Crawley, WA, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duckworth
keywords: Behaviour; Contraction; Flowmeter; Pumping; Sponge; Thermistor