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11-2011

A Report of Freshwater Sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) in Central Nebraska

Todd S. Paulsen University of Nebraska Medical Center, St. Paul, NE, [email protected]

W. Wyatt Hoback University of Nebraska-Kearney, [email protected]

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Paulsen, Todd S. and Hoback, W. Wyatt, "A Report of Freshwater Sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) in Central Nebraska" (2011). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 6. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/6

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A Report of Freshwater Sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) In Central Nebraska Todd S. Paulsen1 and W. Wyatt Hoback2 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Nebraska Medical Center, St. Paul, Nebraska 68873 2Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska 68849 Correspondence: Todd Paulsen, 3 Cougar Lane, St. Paul, NE 68873, [email protected], 308-750-0012 Little has been reported about the occurrence of freshwater sponges in Nebraska and no publications have previously recorded from central Nebraska waters. A large colony of freshwater sponges was discovered on the steel interior walls of a sunken (3.5 meters) delivery truck in a sand/rock quarry of the Platte River Valley near Kearney, Nebraska. Samples were collected and characteristics of the sponge were examined under magnification. Morphology indicates the sponge is a member of the genus Ephydatia. Although the species was not conclusively determined, it shares the most characteristics with E. muelleri. This is the first confirmed record of sponges from the Platte River drainage and central Nebraska.

Introduction contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) Sponges are filter-feeding animals that use large diving, water skiing, and fishing. networks of internal channels to filter food and are The sponges were located in a sunken delivery thus exposed to waterborne pollutants. Thus truck at 3-4 meters depth. Patches of sponges as large sponges are potentially sensitive indicators of water as 30 cm in diameter were observed. The water quality and have been shown to be susceptible to temperature was 28°C with no visible thermocline. changing pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and other The majority of sponges were located at potential environmental contaminants (Kahlert and approximately 4 meters of depth near the bottom of Neumann 1997, Hill and Hill 2002). the truck on the inside walls. Water visibility was 1-2 Several thousand species of sponges have been meters. The inside of the truck was dark and required identified, of which the vast majority are marine. a spotlight for observation. Water pH was 7.5 with Spongillidae is the only identified family of sponges moderate to high levels of total alkalinity. Total found in North American fresh waters. In the United water hardness was 250 ppm. Iron, copper, nitrate, States, approximately 30 species of freshwater and nitrite levels were low to undetectable through sponges have been identified with most found in the water quality tests. Northern Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes, and the Three samples were collected via SCUBA by New England States (Desanto and Fell 1996, Lauer et cutting from an inside wall above the wheel well and al. 2001, Peterson and Addis 2000, Ricciardi et al. near the bottom of the truck. Samples were placed in 1995). 50% isopropyl alcohol for preservation. Processing There is limited information on sponges in and identification were completed as described by Nebraska. To date, only a single publication has Pennak (Smith 2001). recorded the presence of sponges in Nebraska. Freshwater sponges are identified and categorized Dawson (1966) identified species associated with a based upon morphology, location, and environment. fish hatchery in the northern Nebraska sandhills as Final determination of genus depends upon Meyenia mulleri, Spongilla fragilis, and Carterius microscopic visualization of megascleres, tubispermis. The taxonomy of sponges is currently microscleres, gemmules, and gemmoscleres. The undergoing substantial changes and Van Soest, et al. method presented by Pennak (Smith 2001) was used (2010) designate these species as Ephydatia muelleri, to identify the genus in this study with secondary Eunapis fragilis, and Heteromeyenia tubisperma, confirmation using Penney and Racek (1968). respectively. This paper represents the first record of Spicules serve as the structural framework for sponges in the Platte River Valley of central sponges. They may be subdivided into megascleres Nebraska. and microscleres based on size and shape. Spicules in freshwater sponges are made of silicates and Materials and Methods provide rigidity. In order to observe spicules, the Samples were collected from a sandpit lake tissue of a sample is dissolved with acid (Smith 2001). approximately 1 km east of the Archway Monument Nitric acid was brought to boil on a hot plate and a along Interstate Highway 80 in Kearney, Nebraska. one-cm2 sample was placed in the nitric acid. The Collection occurred in late August 2006. Sponges sample was boiled until the majority of tissues were first observed approximately 5 years earlier and dissolved and was then allowed to cool while visible had continued to expand in surface area over that white spicules settled to the bottom. A pipette was time. The lake is bordered by private homes and is used to transfer the spicules to a test tube and used for regular recreational sports including self- samples were washed with distilled water to remove

2011 Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 32, 75–77 75 T. S. Paulsen and W. W. Hoback

Figure 1. Preserved Sample of Freshwater Sponge. Figure 2. Sample Megascleres and Gemmoscleres Preserved sample (top). at High Power. Freshwater sponge gem- mule viewed at low power using a light microscope Figure 3. Detail of (left). a Gemmosclere. Note the large spines remaining tissue. Spicules were then transferred to a perpendicular to glass slide and heated on a hotplate until all liquid shaft. evaporated. The sample was observed under a compound microscope under low and high power.

Results and Discussion Freshwater sponges actively grow during warmer months of the late spring and summer. In the fall and winter months, the larger framework of the sponge deteriorates and gemmules form. Gemmules are small conglomerates that serve as a mode for survival over winter months. They are small and similar always less than 75 um in length. There were no appearance to a period following a sentence. When observed differences between individual samples. temperature increases in the spring, gemmules Based upon Pennak’s guide (Smith 2001), the most develop into a sponge (Barbeau, et al. 1989). likely genus is Ephydatia. Gemmules also contain supportive spicules known as Ephydatia are cosmopolitan and one of the most gemmoscleres. commonly reported freshwater sponges in North In August when the sponges were sampled, they America. The samples at this central Nebraska site were 0.5-0.75 cm thick and were beige (flesh) in color meet criteria for this genus. The environmental with identifiable surface osculum (Figure 1, top). factors also follow similarly reported characteristics Gemmules were lightly visible throughout the of Ephydatia. These include favorable pH (slightly sample and were brown to black in color (Figure 1, basic) and water hardness (adequate calcium) (Smith left). 2001). Additionally there were low levels of Low power field view of processed samples nitrates/nitrites. demonstrated uniform megascleres and Identification of the exact species in this study was gemmoscleres. High power showed pointed not possible using the techniques used in this study. megascleres that were either smooth or weakly Further evaluation may require use of electron spined (Figure 2). Megascleres were straight or with microscope to identify subtle characteristics. The a slight bend. Gemmoscleres were frequent with specimens have a similarity to other reports of rotule patterns that were without curved hooks. Only Ephydatia muelleri (Penney & Racek 1968 and Smith one form of gemmosclere was identified and was 1994) and this is the most likely species.

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Freshwater Sponge In Nebraska

The one aberration noted through evaluation is a Lauer, T. E., A. Spacie, and D. K. Barnes. 2001. The large spine perpendicular to the shaft of the distribution and habitat preferences of freshwater gemmoscleres (Figure 3). This is not noted in other sponges (Porifera) in four southern Lake Michigan publications on E. muelleri. This could be a local harbors. The American Midland Naturalis, 146: 243-253. Penney, J. T. and A. A. Racek. 1968. Comprehensive revision variation of this species but may require further of a worldwide collection of freshwater sponges (Porifera: evaluation and categorization. Spongillidae). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution This is the first published report of freshwater Press. sponges in central Nebraska. Further evaluation is Peterson, K. J., and J. S. Addis 2000. Clypeatula cooperensis a required to determine species. Other studies should new freshwater sponge (Porifera, Spongillidae) from include characterization of environmental conditions the Rocky Mountains of Montana, USA. Zoologica and water quality along with seeking more Scripta, 29: 265-274. specimens from other interstate sandpit lakes. Ricciardi, A., F. L. Snyder, D. O. Kelch, and H. M. Reiswig. 1995. Lethal and sublethal effects of sponge overgrowth on introduced dreissenid mussels in the Great Lakes – Literature Cited St. Lawrence River system. Canadian Journal of Fishery Barbeau, M. A., H. M. Reiswig, and L. C. Rath 1989. and Aquatic Science, 52: 2695-2703. Hatching of freshwater sponge gemmules after low Smith, D.G. 1994. First report of a freshwater sponge temperature exposure: Ephydatia mulleri (Porifera: (Porifera: Spongillidae) from the West Indies. Journal of Spongillidae). Journal of Thermal Biology, 14(4): 225-231. Natural History, 28: 981-986. Dawson, L.H. 1966. Notes on the occurrence of Porifera in Smith, G. S. 2001. Pennak’s freshwater invertebrates of the Nebraska. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, United States: Porifera to Crustacea. (4th edition). New 69(1): 96-98. York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. DeSanto, E. M., and P. E. Fell. 1996. Distribution and Van Soest, R.W.M, N. Boury-Esnault, J. N. A. Hooper, K. ecology of freshwater sponges in Connecticut. Rützler, N. J. de Voogd, B. Alvarez, E. Hajdu, A. B. Hydrobiologia, 341(1): 81-89. Pisera, J. Vacelet, R. Manconi, C. Schoenberg, D. Hill, M., C. Stephen, and A. Hill. 2002. Toxic effects of Janussen, K. R. Tabachnick, and M. Klautau. 2008. endocrine disrupters on freshwater sponges: common World Porifera Database. Retrieved from the Internet on developmental abnormalities. Environmental Pollution, 31 March 2010. http://www.marinespecies.org/ 117(2): 295-300. porifera. Kahlert, M., and D. Neumann. 1997. Early development of freshwater sponges under the influence of nitrite and pH. Archives of Hydrobiologie. 139(1): 69-81.

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