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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Inducing Complete Polyp Regeneration from the Aboral Physa of the Starlet Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis

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Effect of disturbance on assemblages: an example using porifera.

J J Bell¹, D K A Barnes

¹Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College Cork, Lee Maltings, Co. Cork, Ireland.

The Biological Bulletin

|October 30, 2003

Summary

Sponge communities in Lough Hyne vary significantly by habitat type, not environmental energy. Cliffs showed distinct sponge assemblages compared to rocks and artificial panels, regardless of disturbance levels.

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Area of Science:

Marine Biology
Ecology
Biodiversity Studies

Background:

Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve hosts diverse sponge assemblages.
Habitats within the reserve experience varied environmental conditions over short distances.
This provides a unique setting to study factors influencing sponge community structure.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate sponge assemblage composition across different hard substrata and energy environments.
To determine the influence of habitat type and disturbance (flow rate, stability) on sponge communities.
To identify factors driving variations in sponge distribution within the reserve.

Main Methods:

Sponge assemblages were surveyed on rocks, cliffs, and artificial slate panels.
Sites represented both high- and low-energy environments to assess disturbance.
Bray-Curtis similarity analysis and Multi-Dimensional Scaling visualized assemblage differences.

Main Results:

Sponge assemblages differed significantly between habitat types (rocks, cliffs, panels).
Cliffs exhibited distinct assemblages compared to rocks and panels, irrespective of energy levels.
Sponge morphology influenced habitat suitability, excluding certain species from 2D rock habitats.

Conclusions:

Habitat type is a primary driver of sponge assemblage structure in Lough Hyne.
Environmental energy had less impact on sponge communities than habitat characteristics.
Sponge morphology plays a role in species' distribution across varied habitats.