EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Sponges prevalent in fully illuminated shallow reef environments are subject to competition from photosynthetic benthos, such as algae and symbiotic (hermatypic) corals and octocorals, or to pressure from predators.

Detailed explanation-2: -In coral reef communities, sponges play an important role in competition for space (Suchanek et al. 1983).

Detailed explanation-3: -To compete with these organisms corals must defend their perimeters. They do this by harvesting energy through their surface (e.g., photosynthesis and feeding) then using part of this energy for defense.

Detailed explanation-4: -Regardless of these differences, sponges are important inhabitants of coral reef ecosystems. A diverse sponge population can affect water quality on the reef as the sponges filter water, collect bacteria, and process carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

Detailed explanation-5: -Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, and many species of fish. Coral reefs are also linked ecologically to nearby seagrass, mangrove, and mudflat communities.