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Sponges survive and develop infaunal snapping shrimp communities when transplanted immediately after clonal propagation: implications for restoration.

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Title: Sponges survive and develop infaunal snapping shrimp communities when transplanted immediately after clonal propagation: implications for restoration.
Authors: Sharp, William C.1 (AUTHOR) william.sharp@myfwc.com, Hart, John E.1 (AUTHOR), Delgado, Gabriel A.1 (AUTHOR), Butler, Jack1 (AUTHOR), Harris, Rachel J.1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Restoration Ecology. Jul2026, Vol. 34 Issue 5, p1-13. 13p.
Abstract: Introduction: Sponges historically dominated the heterotrophic biomass of Florida Bay's hard‐bottom habitat, providing crucial ecosystem services including shelter for soniferous shrimp that contribute to the marine soundscape. The loss of the sponge communities has inspired restoration efforts using in‐water nurseries for vegetative propagation and transplantation. Objectives: This study refined sponge restoration methodologies to support larger‐scale restoration efforts. Methods: Using a reciprocal transplant experiment with three sponge species amenable to vegetative propagation (Spheciospongia vesparium, Ircinia campana, and I. felix), we assessed the survival of newly propagated cuttings either immediately transplanted or left at their place of origin. To evaluate the density‐dependent development of infaunal shrimp communities in vegetatively propagated S. vesparium, we outplanted newly propagated sponges into comparatively higher and lower density sponge communities and monitored their growth rates, internal canal system, and infaunal shrimp densities. Results: Post‐propagation survival did not differ between immediately transplanted sponges and those that remained on the propagation site. S. vesparium transplanted directly into the lower density sponge communities exhibited higher growth rates, developed more extensive internal canal networks, and hosted greater numbers of resident infaunal snapping shrimp compared to sponges placed in the higher density sponge communities. Conclusions: Newly created sponges are resilient to the potential stress of immediate post‐propagation transplantation. S. vesparium transplanted into the lower density sponge communities exhibited higher growth rates, developed internal canal systems, and hosted greater numbers of infaunal shrimp compared to sponges placed in comparatively denser sponge habitat. Implications for Practice: Large‐scale restoration of functional sponge communities requires efficient, cost‐effective techniques. This study demonstrated that newly propagated sponges survived equally whether immediately transplanted or left at their propagation site, expediting the restoration process. Furthermore, Spheciospongia vesparium transplanted into lower density sponge communities exhibited higher growth rates, developed more extensive internal canal networks, and hosted denser infaunal shrimp communities compared to sponges transplanted into comparatively higher density sponge communities. These experiments indicate Florida Bay sponge restoration could be enhanced by moving newly propagated sponges immediately from high‐density nurseries onto lower‐density restoration sites, where they grow faster and more rapidly develop the structural complexity necessary to support important infauna vital to ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:Introduction: Sponges historically dominated the heterotrophic biomass of Florida Bay's hard‐bottom habitat, providing crucial ecosystem services including shelter for soniferous shrimp that contribute to the marine soundscape. The loss of the sponge communities has inspired restoration efforts using in‐water nurseries for vegetative propagation and transplantation. Objectives: This study refined sponge restoration methodologies to support larger‐scale restoration efforts. Methods: Using a reciprocal transplant experiment with three sponge species amenable to vegetative propagation (Spheciospongia vesparium, Ircinia campana, and I. felix), we assessed the survival of newly propagated cuttings either immediately transplanted or left at their place of origin. To evaluate the density‐dependent development of infaunal shrimp communities in vegetatively propagated S. vesparium, we outplanted newly propagated sponges into comparatively higher and lower density sponge communities and monitored their growth rates, internal canal system, and infaunal shrimp densities. Results: Post‐propagation survival did not differ between immediately transplanted sponges and those that remained on the propagation site. S. vesparium transplanted directly into the lower density sponge communities exhibited higher growth rates, developed more extensive internal canal networks, and hosted greater numbers of resident infaunal snapping shrimp compared to sponges placed in the higher density sponge communities. Conclusions: Newly created sponges are resilient to the potential stress of immediate post‐propagation transplantation. S. vesparium transplanted into the lower density sponge communities exhibited higher growth rates, developed internal canal systems, and hosted greater numbers of infaunal shrimp compared to sponges placed in comparatively denser sponge habitat. Implications for Practice: Large‐scale restoration of functional sponge communities requires efficient, cost‐effective techniques. This study demonstrated that newly propagated sponges survived equally whether immediately transplanted or left at their propagation site, expediting the restoration process. Furthermore, Spheciospongia vesparium transplanted into lower density sponge communities exhibited higher growth rates, developed more extensive internal canal networks, and hosted denser infaunal shrimp communities compared to sponges transplanted into comparatively higher density sponge communities. These experiments indicate Florida Bay sponge restoration could be enhanced by moving newly propagated sponges immediately from high‐density nurseries onto lower‐density restoration sites, where they grow faster and more rapidly develop the structural complexity necessary to support important infauna vital to ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10612971
DOI:10.1111/rec.70383