[Coral-List] Palm Beach barrel sponge disease update

[Douglas Fenner]

A sponge disease outbreak was recorded in Cozumel, Mexico as well, and a report posted on ReefBase.  Just search their publications and it should pop up.  Cheers,  Doug

 
   Gammill, E. R. and D. Fenner.  2005.  Disease Threatens Caribbean Sponges: Report
    and Identification Guide.  ReefBase (www.reefbase.org)


________________________________
 From: paul hoetjes <phoetjes at gmail.com>
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov 
Sent: Monday, May 7, 2012 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Palm Beach barrel sponge disease update
 
>
> This sounds and looks very much like what happened to a giant barrel
> sponge specimen on Curacao in 1997 (See Nagelkerken, I, L. Aerts, and L.
> Pors. 2000. Barrel Sponge bows Out. Reef Encounters 28 (Dec. 2000), pp
> 13-14;
> http://www.coralreefs.org/documents/Reef%20Encounter%2028%20%28Dec%202000%29.pdf).
> This "disease?" was reported periodically from various locations in the
> Caribbean over the past decade and a half, decimating local Xestospongia
> muta populations. It's too bad there are usually no base-line cover/density
> data for sponges, with most people focused on coral diseases. Another
> sponge species, Spheciospongia vesparia, the loggerhead sponge, fairly
> common on Curacao in the 1970s, now appears to have completely disappeared.
> What is happening to the corals may also be happening to sponges, without
> us paying much attention.
>
> Best,
> Paul Hoetjes
> Bonaire
>
>
> On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 9:20 AM, Reef Rescue <etichscuba at aol.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Went diving yesterday and returned to one of the previous locations to
>> monitor the status of the barrel sponges. Ones that were yellowed on 4/27
>> are now disintegrating. It appears some azure vase sponges may also be
>> impacted. Video link:
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXtV4zrRmRU
>>
>> Did another dive at a new location several miles to the south in Delray
>> Beach. Sponges same or worse, perhaps 30% impacted with many disintegrating.
>>
>> Ed Tichenor
>> Palm Beach County Reef Rescue
>> www.reef-rescue.org
>> 561 699-8559
>>
>>
>> Original report
>> On April 27, 2012, Reef Rescue divers completed two dives on Gulf Stream
>> Reef, Boynton Beach, FL. First dive from 26 30.300 N, 80 02.065 W to 26
>> 30.610 N, 80 02.015 W. Observed 22 barrel sponges with pigment loss. Second
>> dive from 26 30 .755 N, 80 01.960 to 26 31.077 N, 80 01.969 W. Observed 29
>> barrel sponges with pigment loss. Video from the first dive is posted at:
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz6Q7wt7Cx8&feature=youtu.be
>>
>> On April 11, 2012, Reef Rescue performed dives in the same area and
>> observed no barrel sponges with pigment loss.
>>
>> On April 27, Reef Rescue received reports from divers to the north at
>> Horseshoe Reef, Lake Worth and Paul’s Reef, Palm Beach that barrel sponges
>> were “bleaching”. As in Boynton no pigment loss was observed at those
>> locations two weeks prior.
>>
>> Over the last 15 – 20 years of diving in Boynton and Palm Beach County we
>> have observed occasional instances of barrel sponge “bleaching” and
>> disintegration. However, never have we observed an event of this magnitude.
>> A rough estimation is that 10 -15% of the barrel sponges observed on 4/27
>> were impacted.
>>
>> Ed Tichenor
>> Palm Beach County Reef Rescue
>> www.reef-rescue.org
>> 561 699-8559
>> _______________________________________________
>> Coral-List mailing list
>> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
>
>
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