Congratulations and well done, Jasper!
Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D
Professor
Oceanographic Center
Nova Southeastern University
8000 North Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Ph: 954-262-3665
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
giga.nova.edu
________________________________
From: Sponge biology and chemistry list [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Jasper de Goeij [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 6:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New Science publication: Sponges bring life to coral reefs
Dear sponge colleagues,
With great pleasure I want to draw your attention to our newest paper, published in Science today, where we describe how sponges are at the base of a highly efficient recycling pathway, the so-called “sponge loop”. Sponges retain the majority of energy and nutrients produced on coral reefs, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and transfer it to reef fauna as cellular debris through a rapid cell turnover. DOM transfer through the sponge loop approaches the gross primary production rates required for the entire coral reef ecosystem.
Hereby I send you the abstract and a link to the paper:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6154/108
“Ever since Darwin’s early descriptions of coral reefs, scientists have debated how one of the world’s most productive and diverse ecosystems can thrive in the marine equivalent of a desert. It is an enigma how the flux of dissolved organic matter (DOM), the largest resource produced on reefs, is transferred to higher trophic levels. Here we show that sponges make DOM available to fauna by rapidly expelling filter cells as detritus that is subsequently consumed by reef fauna. This “sponge loop” was confirmed in aquarium and in situ food web experiments, using 13C- and 15N-enriched DOM. The DOM-sponge-fauna pathway explains why biological hot spots such as coral reefs persist in oligotrophic seas—the reef’s paradox—and has implications for reef ecosystem functioning and conservation strategies.”
Check out also an English subtitled Dutch TV program Labyrint TV, where we explain the sponge loop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LZX0z56zp8
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Cheers, Jasper.
______________________________
Dr. Ir. J.M. de Goeij
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics -
Aquatic Ecology and Ecotoxicology (IBED-AEE)
______________________________
Science Park 904
P.O. Box 94248, Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 20 5258290<tel:%2B31%2020%205258290>
Mob. +31 6 52471433<tel:%2B31%206%2052471433>
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Dr. Ir. J.M. de Goeij
Porifarma BV, CEO
Poelbos 3
6718 HT Ede
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 6 52471433
www.porifarma.com<http://www.porifarma.com>
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