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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Scientists Sleuth Out Sponge Diversity in New Initiative

August 2020

2 researchers preparing samples.
Marine ecologists Holly Sweat (SMS) and Andia Chaves Fonnegra (HBOI) prepare a sample for genetic analysis as part of a Smithsonian Global Genome Initiative project on sponge diversity in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (Photo: Iris Segura-Garcia/HBOI)

Scientists Sleuth Out Sponge Diversity in New Initiative



Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and the Smithsonian Marine Station are collaborating on a new initiative to better understand sponge diversity in the Indian River Lagoon, a 156-mile long estuary system that stretches along Florida's eastern coast. A source of food and shelter for many other organisms in the lagoon, sponges also play an important role in nutrient cycling, removing pollutants from the water, stabilizing oyster reefs, improving water clarity, and even providing sources of new drugs for human cancers and HIV.



Just over 50 species have been cataloged from the lagoon to date--but examinations of specimen collections from around the region suggest that the true diversity of sponges in the estuary is probably much higher.

Prepared samples in a foil tray
At SMS, Dr. Holly Sweat prepared samples of sponges collected from around the Indian River Lagoon. The true diversity of these invertebrates is unknown, though they provide food and habitat for many other organisms in the lagoon--and occur in a range of intriguing colors and forms. (Photo: Holly Sweat/SMS)
4 snorkelers collecting sponges
HBOI researchers John Reed, Shirley Pomponi, Andia Chaves Fonnegra and Cristina Diaz collect samples of sponges in the Indian River Lagoon in July 2020. (Photo: Jimmy Nelson/HBOI)

With safety measures in place to protect all researchers involved, a three-week collecting frenzy, led by HBOI researchers in July, kicked off this new project to catalog and characterize the biodiversity of sponges in the lagoon. 



The initial round of sampling netted over 200 samples comprised of around 80 suspected species. "It's great evidence so far that Indian River Lagoon biodiversity is even better than we realized," said SMS marine ecologist Dr. Holly Sweat, a collaborator on the project. 

Sponge with brittle stars in cavities
This sponge from the Indian River Lagoon is filled with ophiuroids, or brittle stars, which live inside. Sponges around the Indian River Lagoon provide critical habitat and food for many other species in the lagoon. (Photo: Andia Chaves Fonnegra/HBOI)
Tethya sponge
The bizarre shape of this Tethya sponge demonstrates just one of the many intriguing forms sponges can take in the Indian River Lagoon. (Photo: Holly Sweat/SMS)
Researcher preparing voucher specimens
Dr. Iris Segura-Garcia prepares voucher specimens collected for an SMS-HBOI collaboration investigating diversity of sponges in the Indian River Lagoon. (Photo by Andia Chaves Fonnegra/HBOI)

The effort aims to collect a total of 450 samples and Sweat said they ultimately expect to identify around 100 species that have not yet been documented in the lagoon.

Species will be identified not only by physical and ecological characteristics but also at a genetic level. Along with former SMS genomics researcher Dr. Iris Segura-Garcia, now at HBOI, the team will be preparing samples to send to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Laboratories of Analytical Biology (LAB) for genetic analysis for species identification. Ultimately, species information will be available for free use for research and education as part of the Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory.



The project is part of the Smithsonian's Global Genome Initiative, which provided funding for the research along with the HBOI Foundation.

--Michelle Donahue