[Coral-List] Xetospongia muta

[Pawlik, Joseph]

Mr. Rivera,

What you describe is likely the effect of fishing line and rope (often
entangled with coral and debris) being dragged across the bottom during
the intense surge.  Fishing line cuts cleanly through X. muta, usually
at the base, but not always, leaving sponges rolling around on the
substratum (if they are not swept away in the surge).  You can read more
about this at this website:

http://people.uncw.edu/pawlikj/xmuta_monofilament.html

Regards,

Joe

**************************************************************
Joseph R. Pawlik, Professor 
UNCW Center for Marine Science 
5600 Marvin K Moss Lane 
Wilmington, NC  28409   USA 
pawlikj at uncw.edu; Office:(910)962-2377; Cell:(910)232-3579 
Website: http://people.uncw.edu/pawlikj/index.html 
PDFs: http://people.uncw.edu/pawlikj/pubs2.html 
************************************************************** 

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of
glauco150 at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 3:04 PM
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: [Coral-List] Xetospongia muta

Dear listers:

During a recent dive?(75-80 ft deep) in the north coast of Puerto Rico I
found out?numerous Xetospongia muta totally or partially broken.??Some
sponges broke flush to the substrate, others broke in different angle
when compared to the next standing; there was not a clear break
pattern.??On March 20-22, Puerto Rico and the USVI coasts received the
impact of a powerful cold front?which produced 30-plus feet breaking
waves causing significant coastal erosion.? Could it be possble that
soft or weak areas of large high profile?X. muta did not resisted?such
continuous?high energy swell/surge?

I will appreciate any comments or references.

best regards,

Glauco A Rivera
PhD candidate
Univ. of PR-Dept. of Marine Sciences
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