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Environmental flow regimes for Dysidea avara sponges
Dominick Mendola1, Sonia de Caralt, Maria J Uriz
1Bioprocess Engineering Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Marine Biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)
|May 8, 2008
Summary
Understanding water flow around Dysidea avara sponges is key for designing effective culture systems. Proximal flow rates and oscillatory regimes influence sponge morphology and oscula size, crucial for avarol production.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Aquaculture
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Dysidea avara sponges are a source of the valuable compound avarol.
- Successful aquaculture of D. avara requires understanding their natural habitat, particularly water flow dynamics.
- Previous research has not fully characterized the flow regimes experienced by D. avara in their natural environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize water flow regimes in the natural habitat of Dysidea avara.
- To provide essential flow data for designing optimal tank systems for D. avara aquaculture.
- To investigate the relationship between ambient flow and sponge morphology.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a 1-year study of water flow in a shallow sublittoral environment (Northwestern Mediterranean).
- Utilized 3D Doppler current profilers to measure velocities at 8-10m depths.
- Employed a thermistor flow sensor to map proximal flow fields (approx. 2cm) around individual sponges at varying depths (4.5m, 8.8m, 14.3m).
- Performed flow visualization studies to identify flow regimes (e.g., oscillatory flow).
Main Results:
- Ambient flow velocities ranged from 5-15 cm/s, with storm-induced peaks up to 66 cm/s.
- Proximal flows averaged 1.6 cm/s (calm) to 5.9 cm/s (storm), decreasing exponentially with depth.
- Oscillatory flow (0.20-0.33 Hz) was the dominant regime around sponges.
- Sponge morphology varied with depth and flow: compact with large oscula in high flow (4.5m), erect with tall protuberances in moderate flow (8.8m), and branched with small oscula in low flow (14.3m).
Conclusions:
- Water flow characteristics, including velocity and regime, are critical environmental factors influencing Dysidea avara morphology.
- The characterized flow data provides a basis for designing aquaculture tank systems that mimic natural conditions for efficient avarol production.
- Understanding the flow-morphology relationship can inform strategies for optimizing sponge growth and compound yield in cultivation.
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