In situ manifestations of nonself recognition between incrusting sponges

The present study investigates the morphological aspects of nonself recognition between three incrusting sponge species living in contact. Two types of association have been observed: nonmerging fronts and epizoism. In two of the three combinations studied, Hymeniacidon sanguinea/Halichondria panicea and Halichondria panicea/Ophlitaspongia seriata, nonself contacts consisted of either epizoism or of nonmerging fronts. In contrast, only nonmerging fronts were observed between Hymeniacidon sanguinea and Ophlitaspongia seriata. In the two types of associations, the main phenomenon consists of the isolation of the foreign sponges by a spongin barrier secreted by the partners in the zone of contact. The microscpic structure and the thickness of the barrier vary according to the type of association and the species paired, but they are clearly defined for a given combination. The conditions required for the establishment of epizoism and the existence of a natural xenogeneic tolerance between sponges are discussed.