Marine heat waves caused by the warming climate are capable of sparking rapid changes in sea sponges with scientists describing the pace of change as “evolution at super speed.”
Research by marine biologists at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington found sponges that survive marine heat wave conditions can undergo significant changes in their microbial make-up within one generation.
These changes may be a way for the sponges to cope with increasing environmental stress, says Ph.D. candidate Francesca Strano who carried out the research with Professor James Bell from the University’s Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora—School of Biological Sciences.
In their study, the researchers exposed the common sea sponge Crella incrustans to marine heat wave conditions in the lab.
“Our experiments found just over a third of adult sponges died after only 10 days spent at 21°C—conditions similar to those in Wellington harbor during the marine heat wave in January 2018,” Professor Bell said.
2023-07-05 19:00:06
Article from phys.org