BIOTIC Species Information for Dysidea fragilis
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| Researched by | Sean Lindsley-Leake | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Dysidea fragilis | Common name | A sponge | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | C1667 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Porifera | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Demospongiae | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Dictyoceratida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Dysideidea | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Dysidea | Species | fragilis | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | |||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Crustose soft Massive Cushion |
Feeding method | Active suspension feeder |
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| Mobility/Movement | Permanent attachment |
Environmental position | Epilithic |
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| Typical food types | Fine suspended organic matter. | Habit | Attached | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | Low (10-45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Medium(11-20 cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | 15cm | Growth Rate | |||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Dependency | Independent | |||||||||||||
| Sociability | Colonial | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | It may be thinly encrusting or cushion to massive lobose in form. It is usually less than 15 cm across but can be greater than this in tidal, rocky estuaries. | ||||||||||||||
| Biology References | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | This species is widely distributed around the coasts of Britain and Ireland but rare on the north east coast of Scotland. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Found from north-west Europe to the Mediterranean. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Temperate. | Depth range | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Bedrock Large to very large boulders |
Physiographic preferences | |||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Lower Littoral Fringe Upper Eulittoral Mid Eulittoral Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral |
Wave exposure | |||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Salinity | ||||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | |||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Budding Permanent hermaphrodite |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | June to August | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | Insufficient information | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | Insufficient information | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Insufficient information | Fertilization type | Internal | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | The sperm of sponges are frequently 'broadcast' into the water column. A sponge creates and concentrates the sperm, before expelling it from the excurrent (oscula) pores. The masses of sperms thus released are sometimes so dense that the sponge appears to be smoking. The sperm are then carried by the water current towards another sponge. There, they are captured by the female cells, the choanocytes. Inside the female, the sperm are transported to eggs by special cells. Fertilization occurs, and the resulting [zygotes] [fertilised eggs] develop into [ciliated] larvae. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | |||||||||||||||
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