The biogeography and trophic roles of coastal marine sponges (Porifera) from the west coast of the North Island, New Zealand: Influences of catchments.
type: CreativeWork
description: Anthropogenic activities are degrading coastal marine ecosystems globally. While the ecological and biodiversity implications of some of these impacts are well understood, for others there is a need for a greater understanding of the effects of these activities on vulnerable sedentary species. For researchers to pragmatically assess impacts on cryptic sponge species in highly productive reef systems, taxonomic assignment of these taxa is essential. With regards to the sponge fauna of Aotearoa, New Zealand, identification of sponge species is crucial for two main reasons. Firstly, these species significantly contribute to the productivity of inshore coastal reef ecosystems. Secondly, the existing literature of New Zealand’s sponge species has scarcities in species characterisation and identification for inshore sponge fauna. The Taranaki region is arguably foremost for consideration, as the coast would likely reflect any shifts in trans-Tasman current systems, and this region has a highly exposed geomorphology making it logistically difficult to conduct dive surveys. Furthermore, little is currently known about shallow water biogeography from this region. Focusing on temperate rocky reefs in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand, this thesis investigates the biogeography of sponge assemblages across broad spatial scales (hundreds of kms). It examines ecological processes, linked to trophic cascades to further our understanding of factors affecting the distribution and abundance of sponge communities at smaller spatial scales (tens of kms), with particular focus on the effects of land derived catchment discharges. A combination of Linnean taxonomic classification and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were used to identify sponge species and highlight locations with unique assemblages of taxa at regional scales. To achieve this a program of taxonomic revision was required, including the redescription of a collection of common sponge species Aaptos globosa, Acanthoclada p…
abstract: Anthropogenic activities are degrading coastal marine ecosystems globally. While the ecological and biodiversity implications of some of these impacts are well understood, for others there is a need for a greater understanding of the effects of these activities on vulnerable sedentary species. For researchers to pragmatically assess impacts on cryptic sponge species in highly productive reef systems, taxonomic assignment of these taxa is essential. With regards to the sponge fauna of Aotearoa, New Zealand, identification of sponge species is crucial for two main reasons. Firstly, these species significantly contribute to the productivity of inshore coastal reef ecosystems. Secondly, the existing literature of New Zealand’s sponge species has scarcities in species characterisation and identification for inshore sponge fauna. The Taranaki region is arguably foremost for consideration, as the coast would likely reflect any shifts in trans-Tasman current systems, and this region has a highly exposed geomorphology making it logistically difficult to conduct dive surveys. Furthermore, little is currently known about shallow water biogeography from this region. Focusing on temperate rocky reefs in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand, this thesis investigates the biogeography of sponge assemblages across broad spatial scales (hundreds of kms). It examines ecological processes, linked to trophic cascades to further our understanding of factors affecting the distribution and abundance of sponge communities at smaller spatial scales (tens of kms), with particular focus on the effects of land derived catchment discharges. A combination of Linnean taxonomic classification and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were used to identify sponge species and highlight locations with unique assemblages of taxa at regional scales. To achieve this a program of taxonomic revision was required, including the redescription of a collection of common sponge species Aaptos globosa, Acanthoclada p…
author: Mc Cormack, Samuel Patrick
keywords: Ecology, Taxonomy, Sponges, Biogeography
license: https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstreams/1c744c20-8348-48e6-bdb0-b65d0443cf3c/download
date published: 2021
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:57:36Z
provider: University Waikato
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: The University of Waikato