Freshwater sponges
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Still investigating. So far I've found where they've died out in the US. Such as:
The freshwater sponge,Spongilla sponginosa Penney were investigated. This species, reported only from the type locality, Week''s Pond, Sumter County, South Carolina, has apparently been extirpated due to highly acidic pH levels in the pond water.
The freshwater sponge,Spongilla sponginosa Penney were investigated. This species, reported only from the type locality, Week''s Pond, Sumter County, South Carolina, has apparently been extirpated due to highly acidic pH levels in the pond water.
Here's a trail to follow:
The Distribution and Habitat Preferences of Freshwater Sponges (Porifera) in Four Southern Lake Michigan Harbors
THOMAS E. LAUERA, ANNE SPACIEB, and DAVID K. BARNESC
Three species of freshwater sponges (Porifera): Spongilla lacustris (Linneaus), Eunapius fragilis (Leidy) and Ephydatia muelleri (Lieberkuhn) were identified in four southern Lake Michigan harbors: Belmont (IL), East Chicago (IN), Michigan City (IN) and St. Joseph (MI). Samples were collected from artificial substrates and are the first report of sponges in three of the harbors. Sponge cover on revetment walls, stone rip-rap and wood pier posts ranged up to 13% of the available surface area, whereas no sponges were growing on the soft silt bottom. Eunapius fragilis appeared to be the most common species. An angle-density relationship was observed for sponges growing on the stone rip-rap in Michigan City and East Chicago; as the orientation of the attachment substrate changed from horizontal to vertical, the density of sponges increased.
The Distribution and Habitat Preferences of Freshwater Sponges (Porifera) in Four Southern Lake Michigan Harbors
THOMAS E. LAUERA, ANNE SPACIEB, and DAVID K. BARNESC
Three species of freshwater sponges (Porifera): Spongilla lacustris (Linneaus), Eunapius fragilis (Leidy) and Ephydatia muelleri (Lieberkuhn) were identified in four southern Lake Michigan harbors: Belmont (IL), East Chicago (IN), Michigan City (IN) and St. Joseph (MI). Samples were collected from artificial substrates and are the first report of sponges in three of the harbors. Sponge cover on revetment walls, stone rip-rap and wood pier posts ranged up to 13% of the available surface area, whereas no sponges were growing on the soft silt bottom. Eunapius fragilis appeared to be the most common species. An angle-density relationship was observed for sponges growing on the stone rip-rap in Michigan City and East Chicago; as the orientation of the attachment substrate changed from horizontal to vertical, the density of sponges increased.
More:
Distribution of freshwater sponges and bryozoans in northwest Indiana.
Current biogeographical distributions of freshwater sponges (Porifera) and bryozoans (Ectoprocta and Entoprocta) are poorly known in Indiana. Although seemingly ubiquitous in many aquatic communities, neither group has received much notoriety in this state, nor the midwestern United States. In an initial effort to begin the systematic taxonomic distribution of these groups in Indiana, this study identified 2 sponges and 13 bryozoans in northwest Indiana lakes. The recent appearance of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Great Lakes has focused new attention on the sessile benthic communities, as significant changes in benthic community structure are expected with the introduction of this exotic species. Without knowing the historical and current distribution of native invertebrates, such as the sponges and bryozoans, it is not possible to identity changes in community composition over time.
Keywords: Porifera, Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, freshwater bryozoan, freshwater sponge
The distribution and taxonomy of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae) in North America has not received widespread attention, although some notable works exist for the entire United States (Penney & Racek 1968), and regions surrounding the Great Lakes (Potts 1887; Smith 1921; Old 1931; Jewell 1935; Neidhoefer 1940; Eshleman 1950; Ricciardi & Reiswig 1993). Ricciardi & Reiswig (1993) found 15 different species and suggested that additional taxa could be identified in eastern Canada with further study. Sponges may be more ubiquitous than the available scientific literature indicates; and the absence or limited ranges of some species may not reflect their true zoogeographical distribution, but rather a lack of observation (Frost 1991). We have only been able to find six published records of sponge distributions in Indiana (Evermann & Clark 1920; Kintner 1938; Early et al. 1996; Lauer & Spacie 1996; Early & Glonek 1999; Lauer et al. 2001), and these are limited in scope.
Although bryozoans (Ectoprocta and Entoprocta) are widely distributed in epibenthic and littoral communities (Rogick 1934, 1957; Bushnell et al. 1987; Ricciardi & Lewis 1991), little is known about their zoogeo-graphical status. There are 25 species known in North American freshwater (Wood 2001; Smith 1992), and the distribution of many of these species is thought to be ubiquitous (Bushnell 1974). In the Great Lakes region, some taxonomic records exist (Brown 1933; Rogick 1934; Bushnell 1965a, 1965b, 1965c; Maciorowski 1974; Ricciardi & Reiswig 1994). However, no published documentation could be found for this taxonomic group in Indiana except for these recent studies in the northern part of the state (Wood 1996; Lauer et al. 1999; Last & Whitman 1999/2000).
Without knowing the historical and current distribution of native sponges and bryozoans, it is not possible to identify changes in community composition over time. Rapid modification in the quantity and diversity of benthic species has been observed in the Great Lakes with the appearance of non-indigenous species, such as the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). These invasions have threatened the biotic integrity of native organisms and negatively affected the ecosystem stability of sessile benthic communities (Hebert et al. 1991; Mills et al. 1994).
The objectives of this study were to determine the biogeographical distribution of freshwater sponges and bryozoans in the lakes of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, Indiana (excluding Lake Michigan), and to identify the water quality habitats of both bryozoans and freshwater sponges where they are found.
METHODS
Twenty lakes in three northwest Indiana counties were sampled for freshwater sponges and bryozoans during the summer of 1998 (Fig. 1). The lakes sampled were public, freshwater natural lakes remnant from the geological activity that occurred during the Pleistocene glaciation approximately 12,000 years ago (reviewed by...
Distribution of freshwater sponges and bryozoans in northwest Indiana.
Current biogeographical distributions of freshwater sponges (Porifera) and bryozoans (Ectoprocta and Entoprocta) are poorly known in Indiana. Although seemingly ubiquitous in many aquatic communities, neither group has received much notoriety in this state, nor the midwestern United States. In an initial effort to begin the systematic taxonomic distribution of these groups in Indiana, this study identified 2 sponges and 13 bryozoans in northwest Indiana lakes. The recent appearance of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Great Lakes has focused new attention on the sessile benthic communities, as significant changes in benthic community structure are expected with the introduction of this exotic species. Without knowing the historical and current distribution of native invertebrates, such as the sponges and bryozoans, it is not possible to identity changes in community composition over time.
Keywords: Porifera, Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, freshwater bryozoan, freshwater sponge
The distribution and taxonomy of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae) in North America has not received widespread attention, although some notable works exist for the entire United States (Penney & Racek 1968), and regions surrounding the Great Lakes (Potts 1887; Smith 1921; Old 1931; Jewell 1935; Neidhoefer 1940; Eshleman 1950; Ricciardi & Reiswig 1993). Ricciardi & Reiswig (1993) found 15 different species and suggested that additional taxa could be identified in eastern Canada with further study. Sponges may be more ubiquitous than the available scientific literature indicates; and the absence or limited ranges of some species may not reflect their true zoogeographical distribution, but rather a lack of observation (Frost 1991). We have only been able to find six published records of sponge distributions in Indiana (Evermann & Clark 1920; Kintner 1938; Early et al. 1996; Lauer & Spacie 1996; Early & Glonek 1999; Lauer et al. 2001), and these are limited in scope.
Although bryozoans (Ectoprocta and Entoprocta) are widely distributed in epibenthic and littoral communities (Rogick 1934, 1957; Bushnell et al. 1987; Ricciardi & Lewis 1991), little is known about their zoogeo-graphical status. There are 25 species known in North American freshwater (Wood 2001; Smith 1992), and the distribution of many of these species is thought to be ubiquitous (Bushnell 1974). In the Great Lakes region, some taxonomic records exist (Brown 1933; Rogick 1934; Bushnell 1965a, 1965b, 1965c; Maciorowski 1974; Ricciardi & Reiswig 1994). However, no published documentation could be found for this taxonomic group in Indiana except for these recent studies in the northern part of the state (Wood 1996; Lauer et al. 1999; Last & Whitman 1999/2000).
Without knowing the historical and current distribution of native sponges and bryozoans, it is not possible to identify changes in community composition over time. Rapid modification in the quantity and diversity of benthic species has been observed in the Great Lakes with the appearance of non-indigenous species, such as the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). These invasions have threatened the biotic integrity of native organisms and negatively affected the ecosystem stability of sessile benthic communities (Hebert et al. 1991; Mills et al. 1994).
The objectives of this study were to determine the biogeographical distribution of freshwater sponges and bryozoans in the lakes of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, Indiana (excluding Lake Michigan), and to identify the water quality habitats of both bryozoans and freshwater sponges where they are found.
METHODS
Twenty lakes in three northwest Indiana counties were sampled for freshwater sponges and bryozoans during the summer of 1998 (Fig. 1). The lakes sampled were public, freshwater natural lakes remnant from the geological activity that occurred during the Pleistocene glaciation approximately 12,000 years ago (reviewed by...
Polypterus Senegalus;1288602; said:so is that a no for n.h.?
There might be some sponges in NH.
Try Spongilla lacustris, an upright, branching, egg producing sponge found in Adam's Pond, Richland County, N.H., these are cool water but more interesting than most, nice size for a tank.
guppy;1292120; said:
Those are awsome sponges! I'm going to do a search myself but, what do you guys know about sponges in Wisconsin? I'm going to be getting my diver's licence soon so I can collect them myself in the spring.
fishyz;1292757; said:
There are several species listed in Wisconsin includining S. lacustris and S. fragilis. Two lakes containing S. lacustris are Trout Lake and Littlerock Lake. At least 28 more lakes are listed but the site that has the list is not one I am subscribed to.
