Sponge Community Structure and Anti-Predator Defenses on Temperate Reefs of the South Atlantic Bight

The interaction between predation and anti-predator defenses of prey is important in shaping community structure in all ecosystems. This study examined the relationship between sponge predation and the distribution of sponge anti-predator defenses on temperate reefs in the South Atlantic Bight. Significant differences in the distribution of sponge species, sponge densities, and densities of sponge predators were documented across two adjacent reef habitats. Significant differences also occurred in the distribution of sponge chemical and structural defenses with chemical deterrence significantly greater in sponges associated with the habitat having higher predation intensity. Structural defenses, although effective in some instances, appear to be inadequate against spongivorous predators thereby restricting the distribution of sponge species lacking chemical defenses to habitats with lower predation intensity. These results, when compared to published data from tropical studies, also indicate that predation pressure and the production of anti-predator defenses may be inversely correlated with latitude.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Biology

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Ruzicka, Richard Robert

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stephen P. Vives
• Alan W. Harvey
• Bruce A. Schulte

• ETD
• Community structure
• Temperate reefs
• Sponge
• Spongivorous fish
• Chemical defenses
• Structural defenses
• South Atlantic Bight
• Animal societies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/705

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1705