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Dysidea etheria
Species of sponge From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Dysidea etheria, commonly known as the ethereal sponge or heavenly sponge, is a species of lobate sponge within the class Demospongiae.[1] This marine sponge is known for its light blue color and can be found in the Caribbean as well as off the coasts of Florida and Georgia.[2] Like all other poriferans, D. etheria is capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction.[3] The use of spicule collection as well as chemical defenses allows D. etheria to protect itself against predators such as the zebra doris and the orange knobby star.[4][5] D. etheria is also known as a host species of the invasive brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis.[6] Lastly, various molecular biology studies have utilized D. etheria to both study foreign particle transport in sponges and to isolate novel molecules.[7][8][9]
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Etymology
The specific epithet "etheria" was given to this species of sponge by Laubenfels upon its discovery in the Dry Tortugas in 1936 due to its sky-blue color.[10]
Description
Dysidea etheria is a species of lobate sponge that are massive and semi-incrusting.[1] They are identifiable by their internal and external light blue coloration.[1] The exopinacoderm has also been observed to be colored a brownish grey.[1]
The shaping of the sponge's lobes have been described as elongated, digitated, or lamellar.[1] The size of D. etheria can range from ten to fifteen centimeters in width and four to seven centimeters in height.[1] The diameter of the sponge's lobes have been observed to range from two to four centimeters.[1]
The sponge's oscula, ranging from five to ten millimeters in width, are typically found on the tops of its lobes.[1] The oscula also have a transparent iris-membrane, and the oscular membrane openings have occasionally been observed to be compound.[1] One millimeter high sharp conules make up the surface of the sponge and are spaced three millimeters apart.[1]
D. etheria has a thin exopinacoderm and a flesh-like choanosome.[1] The sponge also has an irregular skeleton which is loosely fibroreticular. Calcareous debris is contained within the white fibers with which the skeleton is made up of.[1]
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Habitat and distribution
Found within marine environments of depths reaching up to 40 meters, D. etheria inhabits bays and lagoons.[11] This species has been spotted on a variety of natural and manmade substrates. A majority of such substrates are known to be hard and vertical, such as on docks or pilings.[11] Another manmade substrate is the hull of a concrete ship where D. etheria was seen on a scleractinian.[1] As for natural substrates, D. etheria has been seen on rocks, turtle grass blades, mangrove roots, mollusk and crab shells, coral skeletons, algae, and even other sponges.[1][11]
D. etheria is known to be distributed across the Caribbean as well as off the coasts of Florida and Georgia.[2]
Ecology
Reproduction
Both sexual and asexual reproduction are utilized by poriferans.[3] Sponges are hermaphroditic when sexual reproduction occurs, utilizing different timing of sperm and egg production.[12] D. etheria asexually reproduce through fragmentation.[3][12] The totipotent abilities of sponge cells allows for fragments of the sponge to regrow into a new sponge.[3][4]
Predators
The nudibranch Felimare zebra, and the sea star Echinaster echinophorus have both been spotted preying on D. etheria.[5]
Defenses
Through the collection and storage of spicule fragments within the mesohyl, D. etheria is capable of deterring predators.[4][13] The production of toxins is also believed to act as a defense against predators.[5] Chemical extracts from D. etheria have been shown to be deterrents to generalist reef fishes, hermit crabs, and sea stars.[14]
Host species
D. etheria is registered as one of many host species of the invasive brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis.[6] Utilizing a host species is believed to protect O. mirabilis from predation and allow for new environments to be colonized more easily.[6]
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Biochemistry
D. etheria was the first recorded sponge to have plant growth regulatory indoles isolated from it.[7] The plant growth regulator, indole-3-acetamide, promotes the growth of roots in lettuce seedlings.[7]
A new protein phosphatase inhibitor, named dysidiolide, was also isolated from D. etheria.[8]
D. etheria has also been utilized in research to understand how sponges transport foreign particles to specific locations within their bodies.[9] Mesohyl cells have been observed to migrate in a coordinated fashion that allows for organized transport of particles.[9]
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References
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