Video of a sponge reef taken in the Strait of Georgia, May 2008.
Greeen laser points are 10 cm apart.
Sponges are sessile animals that filter water through their porous bodies, and ingest food particles and dissolved materials. There are more than 7000 species alive today living in both freshwater and marine environments, and are the oldest known multicellular animals.
The sponge skeleton consists of spicules made of different materials, and sponge species are categorized by their spicule type:
The sponge reefs consist of seven hexactinellid species, three of which are the main reef builders. They attach themselves to the hard substrates, such as rocks or boulders, or sponge skeletons.
Heterochone calyx
- grows up to 1.5 meters high and 70 centimeters in diamter
- fingerlike protusions are about 20cm long and 5cm in diameter
- their large size makes F. occa one of the most important sediment buffers in the reef, slowing down bottom currents and allowing suspended sediment to settle.
- walls less than 2mm thick and are very brittle
The other reef sponges are non-reef builders, but contribute to the community. The two species pictured below are the most abundant and are found within and around the reefs.
Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni- boot sponge
Dr. Sally Leys examined this species for her Doctoral research.
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