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Demography of the Giant Barrel Sponge Xestospongia Muta in the Florida Keys

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Demography of the Giant Barrel Sponge Xestospongia Muta in the Florida Keys DEMOGRAPHY OF THE GIANT BARREL SPONGE XESTOSPONGIA MUTA IN THE FLORIDA KEYS Steven E. McMurray A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Department of Biology and Marine Biology University of North Carolina Wilmington 2008 Approved by Advisory Committee Thomas E. Lankford Martin H. Posey Joseph R. Pawlik Chair Accepted by ______________________________ Dean, Graduate School TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......................................................................................................... vii DEDICATION............................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF APPENDICES..............................................................................................................xiv CHAPTER 1. DEMOGRAPHICS OF INCREASING POPULATIONS OF THE GIANT BARREL SPONGE XESTOSPONGIA MUTA IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.....................................................................................................1 Abstract................................................................................................................................1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................2 Methods................................................................................................................................5 Study sites and monitoring............................................................................. 5 Demographic modeling.................................................................................. 6 Data analysis ................................................................................................ 10 Results................................................................................................................................13 Transition matrices....................................................................................... 16 Discussion..........................................................................................................................23 Population dynamics and structure .............................................................. 23 Cause of increasing populations .................................................................. 30 Implications of increasing populations and changing population structure. 33 Literature cited...................................................................................................................36 CHAPTER 2. REDWOOD OF THE REEF: GROWTH AND AGE OF THE GIANT BARREL SPONGE XESTOSPONGIA MUTA IN THE FLORIDA KEYS...................................................................................................65 Abstract..............................................................................................................................65 Introduction........................................................................................................................66 Materials and methods .......................................................................................................67 Study sites and monitoring........................................................................... 68 Field measurements ..................................................................................... 68 Digital image measurements........................................................................ 70 Growth models............................................................................................. 72 Results................................................................................................................................75 Growth rates................................................................................................. 75 Spongocoel volume...................................................................................... 77 Scaling.......................................................................................................... 77 Growth models............................................................................................. 78 Discussion..........................................................................................................................79 Redwood of the reef?................................................................................... 79 Growth rates................................................................................................. 80 Spongocoel volume...................................................................................... 84 ii Scaling.......................................................................................................... 85 gVBGF and Tanaka growth models ............................................................ 86 Implications for conservation and management .......................................... 88 References..........................................................................................................................90 CHAPTER 3. BLEACHING OF THE GIANT BARREL SPONGE XESTOSPONGIA MUTA IN THE FLORIDA KEYS .........................................106 Abstract............................................................................................................................106 Introduction......................................................................................................................106 Materials and methods .....................................................................................................108 Results and discussion .....................................................................................................109 References........................................................................................................................113 CHAPTER 4. A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR THE REATTACHMENT OF LARGE CORAL REEF SPONGES ....................................................................120 Abstract............................................................................................................................120 Introduction......................................................................................................................120 Methods............................................................................................................................121 Results..............................................................................................................................123 Discussion........................................................................................................................124 Implications for Practice..................................................................................................125 Literature cited.................................................................................................................126 APPENDIX ..............................................................................................................................131 iii ABSTRACT Coral reefs are in decline worldwide, prompting research toward a better understanding of the demographics of dominant organisms that comprise reef communities. Sponges are an especially abundant and diverse group on Caribbean coral reefs that perform key community functions, however little is known about sponge demography. The giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta a particularly important species; populations constitute a significant amount of overall reef biomass, are an important component of habitat heterogeneity, and filter large amounts of seawater. Since 1997, the Pawlik laboratory has monitored permanent transects on reefs off Key Largo, Florida, to study the demography of X. muta. This long-term dataset was used, along with experimental approaches, to address topics on the demography, growth, bleaching, and conservation of X. muta. In the first chapter, I examined the population dynamics and structure of X. muta on reefs off the Florida Keys. Population densities of X. muta were found to significantly increase over 6 years at sites on Conch and Pickles Reefs. To explore the demographic processes behind the population increase and determine future population growth under present reef conditions, a size- based matrix modeling approach was used. Variable recruitment pulses and mortality events were hypothesized to be large determinants of the demographic patterns observed for X. muta. Elasticity and life table response analysis revealed that survival of individuals in the largest size class has the greatest effect on population growth. Projections indicate that populations of X. muta will continue to increase under present conditions, and therefore maintain the alternate reef community. While populations of X. muta remain resilient to current coral reef degradation, population growth may be negatively affected by continued mortality of the largest individuals from a recently described pathogenic syndrome. iv Xestospongia muta has been called
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