Sponge contribution to the silicon cycle of a diatom-rich shallow bay

In coastal systems, planktonic and benthic silicifiers compete for the pool of dissolved silicon, a nutrient required to make their skeletons. The contribution of planktonic diatoms to the cycling of silicon in coastal systems is often well characterized, while that of benthic silicifiers such as sponges has rarely been quantified. Herein, silicon fluxes and stocks are quantified for the sponge fauna in the benthic communities of the Bay of Brest (France). A total of 45 siliceous sponge species living in the Bay account for a silicon standing stock of 1215 tons, while that of diatoms is only 27 tons. The silicon reservoir accumulated as sponge skeletons in the superficial sediments of the Bay rises to 1775 tons, while that of diatom skeletons is only 248 tons. These comparatively large stocks of sponge silicon were estimated to cycle two orders of magnitude slower than the diatom stocks. Sponge silicon stocks need years to decades to be renewed, while diatom turnover lasts only days. Although the sponge monitoring over the last 6 years indicates no major changes of the sponge stocks, our results do not allow to conclude if the silicon sponge budget of the Bay is at steady state, and potential scenarios are discussed. The findings buttress the idea that sponges and diatoms play contrasting roles in the marine silicon cycle. The budgets of these silicon major users need to be integrated and their connections revealed, if we aim to reach a full understanding of the silicon cycling in coastal ecosystems.

Development of coral–sponge–microbialite reefs in a coated grain-dominated carbonate ramp (Upper Jurassic, eastern Sardinia, Italy)

The Late Jurassic is a peak time of diversification of reefs with corals, stromatoporoids, calcareous and siliceous sponges, and microbialites during the Phanerozoic. This study focuses on the Callovian–Kimmeridgian carbonate succession of eastern Sardinia, deposited at tropical latitudes on the European passive margin that recorded from the late Oxfordian the evolution from a coated grain-dominated to a reef-bearing carbonate ramp. The coated grain-dominated carbonate ramp (phase 1; Callovian–middle Oxfordian) includes inner ramp ooidal shoals and peloidal packstone in the middle-to-outer ramp. The overlying reef-bearing ramp (phase 2; late Oxfordian–late Kimmeridgian) is characterized by three types (1–3) of bioconstructions. The distribution of these build-ups along the middle-to-outer ramp depositional profile reflects bathymetric parameters, related to the interplay of water energy and light penetration. Type 1 build-ups developed in the proximal middle ramp and consist of 45 m thick, 100 m wide, coral-stromatoporoid boundstone associated with coral–stromatoporoid rudstone–grainstone. Type 2 build-ups, colonizing deeper environments in the middle ramp, are lens-shaped coral–calcareous sponge–diceratid boundstone including stromatoporoids and chaetetid sponges, 1–2 m thick and 3–4 m wide, associated with bioclastic packstone–grainstone. Type 3 lens-shaped calcareous and siliceous sponge–coral–microbialite boundstone build-ups (1 m thick and a few metres wide) formed in lower energy, distal middle-to-outer ramp settings. The evolution of the eastern Sardinian carbonate ramp reflects the Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian spread of the coral–sponge-microbialite reefs along the Tethyan European passive margin.

Turrispirillina Karasikensis (n. sp.) and Turrispirillina Pervesleri (n. sp.) Associated with Large Sponges on the Gakkel Ridge (Arctic Ocean)

ABSTRACT Here we describe two new species of the genus Turrispirillina associated with large siliceous sponge reefs on the Karasik Seamount (Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean). Careful analysis of Rose Bengal-stained samples and observations on untreated frozen sponge material revealed both species live exclusively inside siliceous sponges of the genus Geodia. More detailed information on the intra-sponge habitat was obtained from untreated frozen sponge material that showed both Turrispirillina species attach themselves to the large megascelere spicules that stabilize the choanoflagellates-harbouring subcortical crypts situated under the thick sponge cortex. Unstained specimens of both species were very abundant in the sediments surrounding the sponge. The number of Rose Bengal-stained specimens in each sample obviously depended on the penetration of a Geodia sponge, likely also the exact position of penetration with respect to the sponge. As sexual and asexual generations are observed in both taxa and sampling took place in autumn, opportunistic behavior with rapid reproduction following the spring bloom may determine the standing stock of both species. These are the first Arctic Turrispirillina species described with pseudospines.

Upland Lakes of the Carajás Region: Origin and Development through Time

Upland lakes (ULs) of the Carajás, southeastern Amazonia, have been intensively studied to their evolution during the Quaternary, as well as the development of the associated biota. In this review, several classical and modern approaches from structural geology to the pollen rain and sedimentary data which cover an area of around 41,300 km2 were compiled. Multi-elemental geochemistry indicates that the detrital sediments derived from weathered crusts and soils, while the sedimentary organic matter represent autochthonous (siliceous sponge spicules, algae, macrophytes) and allochthonous (C3 plants and freshwater DOC) sources. Modern pollen rain suggests that even small lakes and canga areas can reflect forest signal, which depends on the topographic control and prevailing wind direction on pollen deposition. Integrated data of the sedimentary cores indicate that the active lakes never dried up during the last 50 ka cal BP. However, subaerial exposure occurs on filled lakes such as ST02 Lake during the LGM, LB3 and R2 lakes at the mid-Holocene due to drier paleoclimate conditions. Considering the organic proxies, only LB3 Lake presents expansion of C4 canga (montane savanna) plants since ULs of the Serra da Bocaína does not present siderites. Siderite formation on ULs deposits also points to drier paleoenviromental conditions, interrupting predominantly wet conditions. However, there is no evidence for widespread expansion of savanna into Southeastern Amazonia during the late Pleistocene and Holocene.