Banca de DEFESA: ROSA DE LOURDES LOBATO MÁCOLA

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ROSA DE LOURDES LOBATO MÁCOLA
DATE: 08/12/2023
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: https://meet.google.com/akf-zuzo-vxc
TITLE:

Demospongiae (Porifera) from Todos os Santos Bay: taxonomic study and evaluation of the competitive potential with the bioinvasor Tubastraea spp.  (Cnidaria).

KEY WORDS:

Taxonomy; porifera; competition; invasive species; artificial substrates. 

PAGES: 224
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Zoologia
SUBÁREA: Taxonomia dos Grupos Recentes
SUMMARY:

Sessile invertebrates depend on spatial associations and interactions between species in
the reef environment. The biological interaction between invasive species can influence
the structure and organization of benthic communities, making them competitors for vital
resources and space. Sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) are sessile, filter-feeding
animals, have an aquiferous system, exclusive of phylum and some species can
overgrowth competing for space with scleractinian corals Tubastraea (Scleractinia,
Dendrophylliidae), popular knows as ‘sun-coral’. These corals, preferentially occur on
artificial substrates such as piers, concrete columns, and marina decks. Space is a limiting
resource and sponges and corals employ competitive strategies in defense against
predators and/or competitors for space, including chemical and physical mechanisms. The
establishment and expansion of Tubastraea spp. raise concerns about potential negative
effects on interactions among benthic communities, and studies on these competitive
interactions on artificial substrates are scarce. Therefore, this thesis is presented in two
chapter, with the following aims: Chapter I, aims to survey the sponge fauna occurring
on artificial substrates in the Todos-os-Santos Bay (STB) in locations where Tubastraea
spp. is present, describing possible new species and new records of occurring
Demospongiae. Chapter II, to investigate the impact of Tubastraea spp. density on sponge
diversity, assess differences in the abundance of the four previously studied interaction
categories (Approximately 5cm, contact without dominance, limit contact and
overgrowth), at different percentages of Tubastraea spp. coverage (low – medium –
high). Finally, in this chapter, aims to document which sponge species engage in more
competitive interactions with Tubastraea spp. on artificial substrates in the TSB. As a
result, in Chapter 1, 48 species of living sponges were identified on artificial substrates
in the TSB, representing 10 orders, 19 families, and 31 genera. Through taxonomic
survey, Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) spinulosa was recorded for the first time in
Brazil, and Mycale (Mycale) arenaria at Bahia State. Additionally, three new species are
described of Mycale Gray, 1867: Mycale (Zygomycale) sp. nov., Mycale (Naviculina) sp.
nov., Mycale (Paresperella) sp. nov. (Anexo I). In Chapter 2, a total of 326 interactions
between sponges and Tubastraea spp. were quantified, in five locations in the TSB, based
on the four interaction categories. Furthermore, statistical differences were observed in
sponge richness at different percentages of Tubastraea spp., with highest richness at
higher percentages (medium – higher). Statistical differences were also found among the
four interaction categories at all Tubastraea spp. densities. Our findings indicate that
overgrowth and limit contact interactions were more frequent, on medium and high
Tubastraea spp. densities, followed by approximately 5cm and contact without
dominance. Finally, species exhibiting the highest number of interactions were
Callyspongia sp. 1, Clathria venosa, Darwinella sp., Dysidea etheria, Desmapsamma
anchorata, Tedania ignis e Geodia gibberosa.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1249513 - RODRIGO JOHNSSON TAVARES DA SILVA
Externa à Instituição - LEILA DE LOURDES LONGO
Externo à Instituição - JULIO CESAR CRUZ FERNANDEZ
Externa à Instituição - ANAÍRA LAGE DE SANTA LUZIA DE JESUS
Externa à Instituição - JOANA CAROLINA FREIRE SANDES