Spongilla Lacustris Research Articles

Spongillidae (Porifera, Spongillidae) in the Subarctic of Western Siberia

When studying the zooperiphyton of reservoirs and watercourses in the Subarctic of Western Siberia, freshwater sponges were identified. The research was carried out in areas of the southern tundra and forested tundra belts, which in turn were conditionally divided into three zones: western, central and eastern. In total, the research covered 40 reservoirs and watercourses. Three species of sponges have been found: Spongilla lacustris, Ephydatia muelleri and Ephydatia fluviatilis. The most common species is S. lacustris, E. muelleri being less common, vs E. fluviatilis which occurs only occasionally. The maximum numbers of species and their occurrence were noted in forested tundra water bodies. Linear measurements and a dimensional analysis both of gemmules and elements of the skeleton of the sponges were carried out. A tendency was revealed to a decrease in size of the skeletal structures of the studied biological material in comparison with literature data.

Latitudinal distribution of freshwater sponge species across European Russia

This study provides original faunistic data on freshwater sponge dispersal across a huge territory of European Russia from north to south, highlighting the northern limits of thermophilic and north-adapted species. The holarctic species Ephydatia muelleri and, especially, Spongilla lacustris were predominant in northern areas, while the cosmopolitan Ephydatia fluviatilis and Eunapius fragilis were less prevalent. Moving to the south, E. fluviatilis took the lead. The distributional pattern of northern sponges aligns with literature data from North Europe, confirming the prevalence of the holarctic species in high latitudes. Tubella (=Trochospongilla) horrida, Eunapius carteri, and Radiospongilla cerebellata are considered to be thermophilic species that could not tolerate the conditions in northern regions. Notable findings include the extension of Eunapius carteri's known range and the first report of R. cerebellata within Russia, which is also the second record for Europe. Three potentially expected species were not found in the studied area, indicating regional rarity. We also provide molecular and morphological evidence for the synonymy of Spongilla arctica and Spongilla lacustris. Finally, we discuss the impacts of climate change and agricultural activities on northern and southern sponge habitats respectively.

Dynamics, diversity, and roles of bacterial transmission modes during the first asexual life stages of the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris

BackgroundSponge-associated bacteria play important roles in the physiology of their host, whose recruitment processes are crucial to maintain symbiotic associations. However, the acquisition of bacterial communities within freshwater sponges is still under explored. Spongilla lacustris is a model sponge widely distributed in European rivers and lakes, producing dormant cysts (named gemmules) for their asexual reproduction, before winter. Through an in vitro experiment, this study aims to describe the dynamics of bacterial communities and their transmission modes following the hatching of these gemmules.ResultsAn overall change of bacterial β-diversity was observed through the ontology of the juvenile sponges. These temporal differences were potentially linked, first to the osculum acquisition and the development of a canal system, and then, the increasing colonization of the Chlorella-like photosymbionts. Gemmules hatching with a sterilized surface were found to have a more dispersed and less diverse microbiome, revealing the importance of gemmule epibacteria for the whole holobiont stability. These epibacteria were suggested to be vertically transmitted from the maternal tissues to the gemmule surface. Vertical transmission through the incorporation of bacterial communities inside of the gemmule, was also found as a dominant transmission mode, especially with the nitrogen fixers Terasakiellaceae. Finally, we showed that almost no ASVs were shared between the free-living community and the juveniles, suggesting that horizontal recruitment is unlikely to happen during the first stages of development. However, the free-living bacteria filtered are probably used as a source of nutrients, allowing an enrichment of copiotrophic bacteria already present within its microbiome.ConclusionsThis study brings new insight for a better understanding of the microbiome acquisition during the first stages of freshwater sponge development. We showed the importance of epibacterial communities on gemmules for the whole holobiont stability, and demonstrated the near absence of recruitment of free-living bacteria during the first stages.

First report on pollutant accumulation and associated microbial communities in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759) from the sub-Arctic Pasvik River (Norway).

This explorative study was aimed at first characterizing the sponge Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759) from the sub-Arctic Pasvik River (Northern Fennoscandia), in terms of associated microbial communities and pollutant accumulation. Persistent organic pollutants were determined in sponge mesohyl tissues, along with the estimation of the microbial enzymatic activity rates, prokaryotic abundance and morphometric traits, and the analysis of the taxonomic bacterial diversity by next-generation sequencing techniques. The main bacterial groups associated with S. lacustris were Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, followed by Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria. The structure of the S. lacustris-associated bacterial communities was in sharp contrast to those of the bacterioplankton, being statistically close to those found in sediments. Dieldrin was measured at higher concentrations in the sponge tissues (3.1 ± 0.4ng/g) compared to sediment of the same site (0.04 ± 0.03 ng/g). Some taxonomic groups were possibly related to the occurrence of certain contaminants, as was the case of Patescibacteria and dieldrin. Obtained results substantially contribute to the still scarce knowledge of bacterial community diversity, activities, and ecology in freshwater sponges. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Microbial community associated with Spongilla lacustris is probably shaped by the occurrence of certain contaminants, mainly dieldrin and heavy metals. A higher accumulation of dieldrin in the sponge mesohyl tissues than in sediment was determined. S. lacustris is suggested as sponge species to be used as a sentinel of pesticide pollution in the Pasvik River. S. lacustris, living in tight contact with soft substrates, harbored communities more similar to sediment than water communities.

Freshwater Sponges as a Neglected Reservoir of Bacterial Biodiversity.

Freshwater sponges (Spongillida: Demospongiae), including more than 240 described species, are globally distributed in continental waters (except for Antarctica), where they cover both natural and artificial surfaces. However, fragmentary studies have targeted their microbiome, making it difficult to test hypotheses about sponge-microbe specificity and metabolic relationships, along with the environmental factors playing key roles in structuring the associated microbial communities. To date, particular attention has been paid to sponges (family Lubomirskiidae) that are endemic to Lake Baikal. Few other freshwater sponge species (e.g., Ephydatia spp., Eunapius spp., and Spongilla lacustris), from lakes and rivers spanning from Europe to South and North America, have been targeted for microbiological studies. Representatives of the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria largely predominated, and high differences were reported between the microbiome of freshwater and marine sponges. Several bacterial strains isolated from freshwater sponges can produce bioactive compounds, mainly showing antibiotic activities, with potential application in biotechnology. Understanding the roles played by sponge microbiomes in freshwater ecosystems is still in its infancy and has yet to be clarified to disentangle the ecological and evolutionary significance of these largely under-investigated microbial communities. This review was aimed at providing the main available information on the composition and biotechnological potential of prokaryotic communities associated with healthy freshwater sponges, as a neglected component of the global sponge microbiome, to stimulate researchers interested in the field.

Combined complementary imaging techniques in morphological analysis of Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus 1759)

AbstractSponges, like Spongilla lacustris, as filter feeders, play an essential role in water purification in aquatic ecosystems. The body of this demosponge, in general, consists of both organic soft skeleton and a siliceous scaffold. Their construction of the spicule‐bundling scaffold as mechanical support for skeletal organic mesohyl seems crucial for filtration efficiency. Understanding the structure of the sponge's biosilica‐based scaffold as well as its location within three‐dimensional (3D) skeletal construct requires the introduction of effective analytical methods. The investigations focused on the morphology and architecture of skeletal elements of S. lacustris utilizing the combination of X‐ray computed microtomography (μCT) and scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The construction details, surface morphology and chemical composition of the sponge scaffold are presented. μCT provided the reconstructed 3D images of skeleton structures, including longitudinally and transversely oriented bundles of overlapping spicules, forming a ladder‐like construction as well as the length, geometric distribution, and the surface of the spicules. Further analyses based on SEM/EDS confirmed the proper identification of the structures and their localization and revealed a high abundance of silicon and a low amount of carbon and oxygen in spicules, high abundance of silicon, carbon and oxygen in layered membranes surrounding the bundles of spicules but predominating carbon in the pinacoderm. Combination of these techniques provides a unique image of the sponge body morphology. Verified set of tools may be used for further analyses of sponge body mechanics.

Secondary Metabolite Production Potential in a Microbiome of the Freshwater Sponge Spongilla lacustris.

Marine and freshwater sponges harbor diverse communities of bacteria with vast potential to produce secondary metabolites that may play an important role in protecting the host from predators and infections. In this work, we initially used cultivation and metagenomics to investigate the microbial community of the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected in an Austrian lake. Representatives of 41 bacterial genera were isolated from the sponge sample and classified according to their 16S rRNA gene sequences. The genomes of 33 representative isolates and the 20 recovered metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) contained in total 306 secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs). Comparative 16S rRNA gene and genome analyses showed very little taxon overlap between the recovered isolates and the sponge community as revealed by cultivation-independent methods. Both culture-independent and -dependent analyses suggested high biosynthetic potential of the S. lacustris microbiome, which was confirmed experimentally even at the subspecies level for two Streptomyces isolates. To our knowledge, this is the most thorough description of the secondary metabolite production potential of a freshwater sponge microbiome to date. IMPORTANCE A large body of research is dedicated to marine sponges, filter-feeding animals harboring rich bacterial microbiomes believed to play an important role in protecting the host from predators and infections. Freshwater sponges have received so far much less attention with respect to their microbiomes, members of which may produce bioactive secondary metabolites with potential to be developed into drugs to treat a variety of diseases. In this work, we investigated the potential of bacteria associated with the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris to biosynthesize diverse secondary metabolites. Using culture-dependent and -independent methods, we discovered over 300 biosynthetic gene clusters in sponge-associated bacteria and proved production of several compounds by selected isolates using genome mining. Our results illustrate the importance of a complex approach when dealing with microbiomes of multicellular organisms that may contain producers of medically important secondary metabolites.

The Utilityof 28S rDNA for Barcoding of Freshwater Sponges (Porifera, Spongillida)

Sponges (Porifera, Spongillida) make up the bulk of the benthic biomass in Lake Baikal and are represented by the family Lubomirskiidae, a collection of endemic species, and several species of the cosmopolitan family Spongillidae. We conducted an analysis of the D3 domain of the 28S rDNA of 16 freshwater sponge species. Based on molecular data, we were able to identify all of the collected Spongillidae specimens whose identification was difficult due to the lack of gemmules. Phylogenetic trees have shown that Ephydatia muelleri, Spongilla lacustris, and Eunapius fragilis formed monophyletic clades, and the D3 domain of the 28S rDNA can be used for their DNA barcoding. For the Baikal sponges, the use of this marker is important since the gemmule-less Spongillidae and Lubomirskiidae are, in some cases, indistinguishable from each other in morphology. The 28S rDNA has been shown to be useful for family and species-level identification of freshwater sponges within the Spongillida.

The spatial structure (3D) and mechanical properties of the sponge Spongilla lacustris L. (Porifera: Spongillida) skeleton as a potential tensegral architecture

Complex biological systems often provide ready solutions for contemporary engineering. One such organism might be sponges, primitive, tissueless animals whose evolution over 600 million years has allowed them to become highly specialized. An example of such an organism is the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris L., an organism that filters water. This study aimed to investigate the 3D structure of the aforementioned sponge using a broad spectrum of techniques such as Microcomputed Tomography (µCT), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), and Light Microscopy. Additionally, these techniques have been used to correlate sponge architecture with mechanical properties using the concept of tensegrity, i.e., the feature of architectural structures that self-stabilize by balancing multidirectional, often opposing, tensile and compressive forces. A more detailed look at the structure of the sponge skeleton reveals that it is based on two elements: rigid siliceous spicules, chitin in in fibres with cementing collagen-type spongin material. The coexistence of these elements in the sponge structure determines the mechanical properties and, consequently, the sponge skeleton’s postulated tensegrity. Our observations indicate that the integrity of loose megascleres is realized by sponging material surrounding the bundles of spicules. Our distinction of skeletal elements was determined by the number of spicules in the bundle, the direction of spicule position relative to the main body axis, and the way the elements were connected. The arrangement of the bundles described above has important implications for the mechanical properties of the sponge skeleton and, consequently, for the tensegrity hypothesis.

Addition to Sweden’s freshwater sponge fauna and a phylogeographic study of Spongilla lacustris (Spongillida, Porifera) in southern Sweden

Freshwater sponges constitute an overlooked part of the freshwater fauna in Sweden and there has been no recent systematic survey. Hitherto three species have been found in Sweden: Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759), Ephydatia fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1759) and E. muelleri (Lieberkühn, 1856). Neighbouring countries (Norway, Denmark, Estonia) harbour at least one additional species. We present a study on freshwater sponge diversity and distribution in the southern half of Sweden. We hypothesized dispersal within catchments to be less constrained than between, even at shorter intercatchment than intracatchment distances, and, as result, genetic distances being greater between than within catchments. We collected and identified freshwater sponges from 34 sites, using morphological and molecular data (coxI, 28S rRNA gene). We can report the presence of Eunapius fragilis (Leidy, 1851) in Sweden for the first time, and that S. lacustris is the most abundant and widely distributed freshwater sponge in Sweden. Genetic markers were tested on S. lacustris individuals for a phylogeographic study. From the 47 primers (24 markers), one pair presented successful amplification and enough variation for phylogeographic studies – i56, an intron located in a conserved gene. Seven different variants were found in the sampling area, but no clear population structure was observed.

Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae) of the Wild and Scenic Red River, Kentucky

Freshwater sponges are common inhabitants of rivers, streams, and lakes, but little information exists for the freshwater sponges of Kentucky. During 26 and 27 July 2016, a survey was conducted in the recreational section of the wild and scenic Red River. Thirty-three sponge specimens were collected at five sites from which Radiospongilla crateriformis, Spongilla lacustris, and Trochospongilla horrida were identified. Due to its hydrographic diversity and the considerable diversity of other aquatic fauna, we expect future surveys will reveal Kentucky rivers and streams to support a rich and diversified sponge fauna.

Zooplankton of the Torrential River Chenab at Akhnoor, Jammu, India, and Its Comparison with Earlier Findings

The river Chenab, river of the Indian sub-continent in north-western India and north-eastern and eastern Pakistan, has mostly torrential flow in India. It drains Jammu region of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India, and after passing through Pragwal wetland, Akhnoor, enters into the broad alluvial lowlands of Punjab province, Pakistan. The present communication highlights the origin and seasonal qualitative and quantitative fluctuations of zooplankton of the Himalayan river Chenab at Akhnoor, Jammu. Zooplankton of the river Chenab has its origin mainly in rockpools, in tributaries joining upstream Akhnoor and a part is periphytonic (epilithic/ epibenthic). A total of 28 zooplanktonic species belonging to 25 species of protozoa, gemmules of 2 species of Porifera (Spongilla lacustris and Eunapius carteri) and 1 species of Turbellaria (Planaria sp.) were noticed. There is almost no change in composition of zooplankton from the earlier observations at Akhnoor. Whereas, its slow moving and polluted segment in Pakistan is dominated by metazoans. Qualitatively and quantitatively zooplankton remained irregular and low during monsoon and post monsoon months. Analysis of coefficient of correlation of zooplankton with water quality parameters is almost insignificant.

Taphonomic experiments imply a possible link between the evolution of multicellularity and the fossilization potential of soft-bodied organisms.

The reliability of evolutionary reconstructions based on the fossil record critically depends on our knowledge of the factors affecting the fossilization of soft‐bodied organisms. Despite considerable research effort, these factors are still poorly understood. In order to elucidate the main prerequisites for the preservation of soft‐bodied organisms, we conducted long‐term (1–5 years) taphonomic experiments with the model crustacean Artemia salina buried in five different sediments. The subsequent analysis of the carcasses and sediments revealed that, in our experimental settings, better preservation was associated with the fast deposition of aluminum and silicon on organic tissues. Other elements such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, which can also accumulate quickly on the carcasses, appear to be much less efficient in preventing decay. Next, we asked if the carcasses of uni‐ and multicellular organisms differ in their ability to accumulate aluminum ions on their surface. The experiments with the flagellate Euglena gracilis and the sponge Spongilla lacustris showed that aluminum ions are more readily deposited onto a multicellular body. This was further confirmed by the experiments with uni‐ and multicellular stages of the social ameba Dictyostelium discoideum. The results lead us to speculate that the evolution of cell adhesion molecules, which provide efficient cell–cell and cell–substrate binding, probably can explain the rich fossil record of soft‐bodied animals, the comparatively poor fossil record of nonskeletal unicellular eukaryotes, and the explosive emergence of the Cambrian diversity of soft‐bodied fossils.

1H NMR spectroscopy study of structural water in rehydrated biocomposite of Spongilla lacustris freshwater demosponge origin

Biocomposites of sponge origin attract scientific attention due to their renewability as well as special properties. Dried skeletons of fresh water demosponge Spongilla lacustris represent unique kind of naturally occurring silica-chitin-based biocomposites with long history of their applications in dermatocosmetics. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on their physico-chemical properties in model systems. The aim of this work was to model drug systems based on S. lacustris powdered biocomposite, water and a hydrophobic medium, which served as an analog of an oil base. Both thermogravimetric analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy study of structural water in rehydrated biocomposite lead to obtaining of interesting experimental data useful for preparation of biocosmetic products.

Distribution of freshwater sponges in Serbia

As data on the distribution of freshwater sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae, Spongillida) in Serbia are extremely scarce, we investigated the main Serbian rivers and lakes with respect to Porifera occurrence, for which 17 lotic and 11 lentic water bodies were selected. Sponges were found in 11 of 17 rivers (62 specimens in total) and in 3 of 11 lakes/reservoirs (seven specimens in total). Classical morphological spicule analysis was coupled with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing for species identification. Among the 69 collected speci- mens, five sponge species of the family Spongillidae have been identified: Ephydatia fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1759), Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759), Ephydatia muelleri (Lieberkühn, 1856), Trochospongilla horrida Weltner, 1893, and Eunapius fragilis (Leidy, 1851). The most frequently found sponge in Serbian rivers was E. fluviatilis (45% of all specimens), while the least frequent was E. fragilis (6 % of all specimens). The Tisa river has the highest sponge diversity (four species). In lentic water bodies, only E. fluviatilis (four specimens) and S. lacustris (three specimens) were found. In general, sponges were infrequent and their abundance was low in Serbian fresh waters. While sponges seem to tolerate significant variations of physical and chemical parameters, some optimal values can be established.

Study of variability of ITS1 and ITS2 spacers of rDNA of freshwater sponges (Porifera, Spongillida)

Molecular methods are especially important in the study of the taxonomy of sponges of ancient lakes, since when living at great depths, sponges lose their ability to form gemmules, and the structure of gemmules is an important taxonomic feature. However, the number of species and samples of freshwater sponges analyzed by molecular methods is insignificant today. In this work, we analyzed the variability of ITS1 and ITS2 of rDNA spacers of several species of freshwater sponges from geographically distant regions - Eastern Siberia, European Russia, Japan, and India. Our results confirmed the cosmopolitanism of the species Ephydatia fluviatilis and Spongilla lacustris and the adequacy of using ITS rDNA spacers for analyzing the phylogeny of freshwater sponges.

New Altitudinal Records for, and Ecomorphic Variation in, Two Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae: Spongilla lacustris and Ephydatia muelleri) from a Colorado, USA, Alpine Lake

The primary objective of this article is to report the co-occurrence of Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus 1759) and Ephydatia muelleri (Lieberkuhn 1855) in an alpine Colorado lake whose altitude of 3580 m represents new elevation maximums for these sponges for Colorado and for the whole of North America. A secondary objective was to characterize the physicochemical conditions of the lake water. For many limnological parameters, heavy metals, and metalloids, new minimums are recorded, particularly for E. muelleri. Ecomorphic variation of atypical gemmuloscleres for E. muelleri and S. lacustris is documented with SEM micrographs. Even though all the encrusted “white colonies” of both species were <23 mm in maximum dimension, each contained mature gemmules. The presence of both species in an ultraoligotrophic lentic site indicates the sponges' ability to colonize and persist in cold, pristine, low-solute habitats.

Freshwater sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) distribution across a landscape: Environmental tolerances, habitats, and morphological variation

AbstractFreshwater sponges are important to ecosystem functioning; however, information about their biogeography and interspecific variation is fragmentary, limiting our ability to assess their role. Although the specific epithets of two common species suggest that sponges found in lentic habitats are Spongilla lacustris, and those found in lotic habitats are Ephydatia fluviatilis, the number of sponge species in the UK is unresolved. We sampled sponges in a variety of habitats and used both morphological and molecular (D3 domain of 28S rDNA) methods to identify six species, including the first record of Trochospongilla horrida. We contrasted species in terms of their environmental tolerances, habitats, and variation, and we expanded on the limited information available about the geographic distributions of these sponges. In our study, most sponge species colonized a variety of substrates, but exhibited different distributions. The most widespread sponge, S. lacustris, was present at lower mean water temperatures and was more often located above a latitude of 55°N. Ephydatia fluviatilis was the most common species in rivers, but was also located in lentic habitats. Salinity in anthropogenic habitats was not a significant factor for the presence of E. fluviatilis or the more patchily distributed species Eunapius fragilis. Instead, these species occurred more frequently at sites with negative oxidation–reduction potential. Sponge biodiversity may be affected by substrate availability in anthropogenic habitats, invasive species, and improved ability to recognize sponge taxa. Crucially, we provide foundation data as a prerequisite for future ecological evaluation.

АНАЛИЗ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ ГУБКИ ИЗ СЕМЕЙСТВА SPONGILLIDAE, ПРОИЗРАСТАЮЩЕЙ В ВОДОЕМАХ РЕКИ ВОЛГИ, В ПЕРИОД РЕГРЕССИИ КАСПИЙСКОГО МОРЯ

The article describes the habitat, systematics and species of freshwater sponge ( Badiaga spongia fluviatilis ) inhabiting water bodies of Russia. There have been characterized the hydrological features of water bodies - sponges’ habitats, and their ecological function has been characterized. In freshwater bodies of the central Russia there occur two most common and numerous types of sponges - lake badiaga ( Spongilla lacustris ) and river badiaga ( Ephydatia fluviatilis ) presenting a valuable raw material for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The attention is focused on the fact that sponge colonies can reach the commercial volumes only in the floodplain waters and the delta of the Volga River. Retrospective data on volumes of sponge fishery in the Astrakhan region suggest the reason for decreasing sponge productivity and volume of the sponge industry: a lack of reclamation works in small rivers in the Volga delta. There has been given a comparative analysis of the data on microscopic studies of sponge structure caught on experimental zones in the water bodies of the Astrakhan region and the information found in the scientific literature. Characteristics of soils where significant sponge plantations were found are analyzed. It has been stated that in the watercourses of the Astrakhan region there prevail species of lake sponge ( Spongilla lacustris ), whose biomass should increase tenfold taking into account the cyclicity of the regression processes of the Caspian Sea, carrying out complex ameliorative works on the waterways of the Volga and development of agriculture and livestock breeding. It has been recommended to prepare a scientific and production base for the rational and effective development of the potential of this natural resource for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes.

Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) of Tennessee

Freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) are an understudied fauna. Many U.S. state and federal conservation agencies lack fundamental information such as species lists and distribution data. Such information is necessary for management of aquatic resources and maintaining biotic diversity. During the months of June, July, and August of 2013, 2014 and 2015 a survey was conducted in Tennessee to document species of freshwater sponges and obtain preliminary distribution data. Selected rivers and streams were sampled at two to five sites. A total of 520 sponge samples were collected. Spicules and gemmules were viewed and photographed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Thirteen or 39% of the known species of freshwater sponges occurring in the North America have been collected from Tennessee's rivers and streams. Eunapius fragilis, Spongilla lacustris, and Trochospongilla horrida were the most abundant and widely distributed species. Corvospongilla becki and Heteromeyenia latitenta were the least frequently encountered sponges.