"A new study have now discovered molecular mechanisms in the model organism Lendenfeldia chondrodes via which the sponges respond actively to changes in their microbiome. The researchers see their findings as an indication of deep evolutionary origins for phylogenetic interaction between microbiome and host".

#microbiome #Lendenfeldiachondrodes #sponges
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/994160

#NewSpecies!
New carnivorous sponge from the Great Barrier Reef just surfaced:

Abyssocladia falkor
Holotype: Queensland Museum

Treatment: http://treatment.plazi.org/id/038A1C6B-FFB2-5243-8E87-FA709EE189B7
Publication: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5293.3.2
#Zootaxa

#FAIRdata
#science #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #porifera #sponges #greatbarrierreef #australia

A new study suggests that ancestors of comb jellies, not sponges, were the first to break off from the common ancestor of all animals.

#science #sciencefacts #jellies #combjellies #sponges #evolution

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/comb-jellies-may-be-the-worlds-oldest-animal-group-180982209/

How One of the Oldest Animals in the World Constantly Rearranges Their Insides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85nki-YAGgQ

Great video, I really enjoy this channel: The Octopus Lady.
#science #biology #ocean #sponges

When I teach my #invertebrate #zoology course, we talk only very briefly about #glass #sponges, despite the fact that they're super cool.

In this new paper the authors describe some incredible glass sponge #biodiversity off the coast of #New #Zealand. They used standard methods (morphology, genetics). But they also used #phylometabolomics – that is, they successfully classified specimens based on metabolites in their tissues. That's new to me!

🧽🧬🧪

🔗 https://peerj.com/articles/15017/

Bizarre Beasts: *Why Does This Worm Have So Many Butts?*

:youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9632hMjUr00

This is about the Ramisyllis multicaudata, a branching species of bristle worm (from the Annelid phylum). Extremely odd creature! CW: Don't watch if you are triggered by #worms and #sponges. Although this worm looks more like a brittle star (who are not related at all btw).

:wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramisyllis_multicaudata

#annelids #bristleWorms #marineLife

Bizarre Beasts: *Why Does This Worm Have So Many Butts?*

:youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9632hMjUr00

This is about the Ramisyllis multicaudata, a branching species of bristle worm (from the Annelid phylum). Extremely odd creature! CW: Don't watch if you are triggerd by #worms and #sponges. Although this worm looks more like a brittle star (who are not related at all btw).

:wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramisyllis_multicaudata

#annelids #bristleWorms #marineLife

50 percent of a #tree is made up of #water.

By the way, trees need a reliable supply of water and can serve as natural #sponges. They collect and filter water from rain and the soil and will evaporate it back into the air afterwards.
#FunFactFriday #waterless #resources

Arrested in glass: #Actin within sophisticated architectures of #biosilica in #sponges https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202105059 #IMBEpapers

#Tissue #homeostasis in #sponges: Quantitative analysis of cell proliferation and apoptosis https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.23138 #IMBEpapers #CellTurnover #CellProliferation #apoptosis #Porifera #Calcarea #Demospongiae

RT @stefanako71@twitter.com

If you wish to start using #sponges as biodiversity troves, make sure you use the best possible protocols. Here, masterfully led by @lynseyrharper@twitter.com, you'll find everything you need:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/edn3.392
#eDNA #nsDNA
@WileyEcolEvol@twitter.com @NERCscience@twitter.com

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/stefanako71/status/1616441888596463625

It's #FossilFriday and I'm not sure that I've seen any sponges yet on Mastodon. Thus, here is Polytholosia astoma from the upper(?) Triassic of Nevada. An important part of the post-Permian mass extinction recovery. #paleontology @ the #CaliforniaAcademyOfSciences #sponges #porifera #massExtinction #Permo-Triassic https://flic.kr/p/jB7aFo

Craddles Of Glass

Cradles of Glass is a primer on the glass cloud sponges of #BritishColumbia #Canada. These #sponges are delicate organisms and are in dire need of protections.
Since production the 9 reef sites mentioned have received some protections and the BC Park reef has received full protections.

https://youtu.be/yLVsmBf5pVQ

#GlassSponge #conservation

Less than a week before #Christmas , so out #fossil hunting during the only warm day of the week.
Location: #MineralWellsFossilPark #MineralWells ( #PaloPinto county) Texas.
#Pennsylvanian ( #Carboniferous ) reef deposit.

Lots of #crinoids and #brachiopods as usual. Quite a few #sponges and large stick #bryozoa (alas no veil bryozoa this time), and 3 distinct species of #gastropod.

Less than a week before #Christmas , so out #fossil hunting during the only warm day of the week.
Location: #MineralWellsFossilPark #MineralWells ( #PaloPinto county) Texas.
#Pennsylvanian ( #Carboniferous ) reef deposit.

Lots of #crinoids and #brachiopods as usual. Quite a few #sponges and large stick #bryozoa (alas no veil bryozoa this time), and 3 distinct species of #gastropod.

Why #sponges may be the ‘canary in the coal mine’ for impacts of marine #heatwaves https://theconversation.com/loss-decay-and-bleaching-why-sponges-may-be-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-for-impacts-of-marine-heatwaves-194146 #ocean #habitat #fossilfuel

Nice crystals✨️, rare shape and structure. Everything is perfect 👌 Unfortunately, the sintered funnel is still waiting for you!!
#chemistry #science #photo #crystals #laboratory #flask #shape #sponges

Trying to be non-political today, not talk about covid, or climate. Maybe a little climate related, but not directly.

first post was frying pans (LOVE my cast iron pan, and it loves me back because I treat it with love)

A few months ago I switched from an artificial bath sponge to a natural sponge. Since I made the switch, I've discovered my skin is happier, and I've been using it for 3 months, it hasn't degraded at all.

I did a lot of reading on them, and while information differs place to place, what I've discovered:

1. A natural sponge, if properly cared for, is good for up to, and maybe longer than, around 5 years. In contrast, an artificial plastic sponge is good for ~30 days. You can use it longer, but it deteriorates and loses its cohesiveness pretty quickly, and much longer it's a giant mess.

2. Once a month or so, you just throw a natural sponge in a pot of boiling water for a minute or two, kills off any bacteria or fungus, anything that might start to grow. A natural sponge is naturally resistant to both, but those things are tenacious and will start to grow eventually anyways. A quick boil once a month will keep that from ever being an issue. Throw a plastic sponge in boiling water for a few minutes, it'll melt and ruin your pot. Gross.

3. A natural sponge is biodegradable and safe to throw in the garbage when you're done with it. The artificial version, while not hardy at all as far as keeping its shape, will spend 1000s of years with very little degradation from when you threw it out.

#Bathing #Sponges #WhoWouldaThunkIt #EarthFriendly #Biodegradeable #PlasticSucks #TeamEarth #Clean

Bleached sea sponges found in New Zealand waters for first time

Bleached sea #sponges found in #NewZealand waters for first time. The university’s marine biology professor James Bell said in some parts as many as 95% of the sponges were bleached. New Zealand was no exception, with 2021 its hottest year on record. Temperatures in April were still unseasonably high, with coastal water temperatures up to 2.6°C above average.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/16/bleached-sea-sponges-found-in-new-zealand-waters-for-first-time

#ClimateCatastrophe #Reef #Bleaching #Ocean

RT @EVNautilus
Some #glasssponges, such as this Caulophacus species, grow long, flexible stalks to reach higher in the water column for filter feeding. Scientists aren’t sure how long it takes, but some #sponges are thought to be hundreds or thousands of years old. #SpongeSunday