Distribution of sponges on the Mauritanian continental shelf
Van Soest, R.W.M. (1993). Distribution of sponges on the Mauritanian continental shelf. Hydrobiologia 258(1-3): 95-106
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic organisms > Marine organisms > Aquatic animals > Marine invertebrates
Barriers
Distribution
Geography > Biogeography
Population characteristics > Population density
Sampling > Biological sampling
Water bodies > Coastal waters
Porifera [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
Transect sampling on the continental shelf off the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, revealed a patchy distribution of sponge species and populations. Major sponge habitats are inshore coastal sandstone flats harbouring a diverse infaunal sponge fauna, and the moving substrate of shells of live gastropods or empty shells occupied by hermit crabs which harbour a numerically important but species-poor incrusting sponge fauna. The latter forms occur over most of the depth profile. Horizontal distribution of the sponges shows a distinct gap in species and numbers associated with a muddy bottom area where the sediment-rich Banc d'Arguin run-off is found. North and south of this gap the specific composition of the infaunal sponges is considerably different and this is explained as evidence for limitation of range extensions, notably of the southern sponge fauna, by the muddy area. |
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