Increase of Excavating Sponges on Caribbean Coral Reefs
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations HCNSO Student Work 4-1-2014 Increase of Excavating Sponges on Caribbean Coral Reefs: Reproduction, Dispersal, and Coral Deterioration Andia Chaves-Fonnegra Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd Part of the Marine Biology Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Andia Chaves-Fonnegra. 2014. Increase of Excavating Sponges on Caribbean Coral Reefs: Reproduction, Dispersal, and Coral Deterioration. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Oceanographic Center. (5) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/5. This Dissertation is brought to you by the HCNSO Student Work at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTER INCREASE OF EXCAVATING SPONGES ON CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS: REPRODUCTION, DISPERSAL AND CORAL DETERIORATION By Andia Chaves Fonnegra Submitted to the Faculty of Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy Nova Southeastern University April 2014 Dissertation of Andia Chaves Fonnegra Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy: Marine Biology/Oceanography Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center April 2014 Approved: Dissertation Committee Major Professor :______________________________ Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D. Committee Member :___________________________ Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D. Committee Member :___________________________ Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D. Committee Member :___________________________ Sven Zea, Ph.D. Dedicated to My Mom, Gary and Sebastián My family, friends, and mentors who put all their love, support, dedication, and trust in me. And a teacher that trusted I will learn English one day AKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation has been like making a big puzzle, and it has been possible thanks to all of you: The opportunity and mentor . To my supervisor, Joe Lopez, for giving me the opportunity and support to work in his lab. For his open mind and trust. The financial support. To the UNESCO L´Orèal Fellowship for Young Women in Science, the Billing Fishing Tournament Scholarship - NSU, COLCIENCIAS Colombian Scholarship - LASPAU, Broward Women Club Scholarship - NSU, Presidential Grant - NSU. To Olguita Barrios and Juanito Marquez for being the first loan institution. To Shanoor, Camilo, Leonardo, and aunt Clemencita for supporting my finances. To Mom´s and Gary´s love-science fund. The microlab team . To the NSU Marine Microbiology and genetics laboratory, especially to Ewelina, Crystal, Karita, Patty, Naoko, Jigu, Dawn, Emily, Alex, Shira, Chuck and Becky for their teaching, support, great lunches, feedback, patience, and birthday cakes. To the pre-med undergraduate students, and to my wonderful volunteer students: Samia, Paola, Jesse, Shira and Renne, for their immeasurable help. Thanks for the great moments, and for testing my teaching skills with all of you. The perfect collaboration . To Sven Zea for being the light in the darkest moments. To Kevin Feldheim for guiding me down the population genetics path. To Manuel Maldonado for helping me to understand the reproductive biology of sponges. To Pat Blackwelder for teaching me all about electron microscopy. To Bernard Riegl for teaching me how to model populations. To Jesse Secord for your incredible assistance in the lab. To all of you for being always there, any moment, any time. The technical assistance . To Mamhood Shivji for his suggestions and recommendations. To the Conservation Biology and Genetics Laboratory, especially to Andrea, Becka, Vince, Teagan, Alex, Jen, Christine and Kim, for their feedback on the technical questions about population genetics. To the Population Modeling - GSI - Coral Lab: Dusty, Beranda, Claire, Anesti, Alyson, Gwilym, and Chris, for their feedback. To the Coral Histology lab: Alyson, Abby, Adam, and Jenna, for teaching me new techniques. Special thanks to Pierre Duchesne for guidance with running and interpreting the results from FLOCK program. To the Co-lab meetings´ members, especially to Nicole Fogarty and Brian Walker for their suggestions. The field work teams . Dave Gilliam and all members of the OC Coral Reef Restoration and Monitoring Laboratory (CRRAM), especially Liz, Mao, Paola, Stephanie, Alyson, Jenna, Ari, Ian, Cody, and Chuck for including me in your busy monitoring schedule in Florida, and for sharing the seawater temperature and transect data. To Keri for helping me to collect sponge samples during a long year in Broward. To Rob Ruzicka and his team, for taking me to the Middle Keys and helping me to obtain samples in that area. Joe Pawlik, for the opportunity to join your team in Key Largo, and one of your cruises to the Bahamas. To Tse-Lynn, Jan, Coquito, Lyndsey, John, Inga, Sven and Micha Ilan for sharing your passion about sponges and science, and the memorable moments. To Sven Zea, Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Banda-Dive Shop for their support at San Andrés Island, Colombia. To Malcom Hill for taking me to the east of Looe Key. To The Porifera Tree of Life Project (The Portol), Bob Thacker, Cristina Diaz, and the Smithsonian Sponge Taxonomy course, for giving me the opportunity to do field work in Panamá. To Ben Müller for sending me samples from Curacao. To Elizabeth Mclean, Klaus Rützler, and all scientists and staff at Carry Bow Cay, for helping me to include Belize in my sampling, and making the experience unforgettable. The energy . To Swim Fort Lauderdale Masters Team, for their friendship and making me feel part of Florida, and opening a fantastic world to me. To the marvelous water world and its creatures. The love. To my Mom, Gary, Grandma and Sebastián, and to all my wonderful family and friends for their love and support. To Graeme, for your love and enthusiasm about my studies. Thank you ☺ TABLE OF CONTENT GENERAL ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER 1: REPRODUCTIVE DYNAMICS OF THE CORAL EXCAVATING CARIBBEAN SPONGE Cliona delitrix ................................................................................................................ 11 Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 12 Methods ......................................................................................................................... 19 Study area and sampling ........................................................................................................ 19 Histology and light microscopy ............................................................................................. 20 Electron microscopy .............................................................................................................. 22 Cytological stages and numerical analyses ............................................................................ 23 Results ........................................................................................................................... 24 Oogenesis ............................................................................................................................... 24 Spermatogenesis .................................................................................................................... 28 Gametic status ........................................................................................................................ 33 Reproductive cycle ................................................................................................................. 35 Gametogenesis in relation to environmental cues .................................................................. 43 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 47 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 53 References ..................................................................................................................... 53 Appendix 1.1. Supplementary Information ................................................................... 61 CHAPTER 2: RECRUITMENT OF THE EXCAVATING SPONGE Cliona delitrix IS FAVORED BY RECENT CORAL MORTALITY ....................................................................... 65 Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 65 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 66 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 69 Belt and line transects ............................................................................................................ 69 Inferring