The Marine Life Information Network

The sponge is attached to the substratum and is unlikely to survive substratum loss. However, settlement of new colonies is likely within one year and growth rate is almost certainly rapid. Therefore, intolerance and recoverability have been recorded as high.

The sponge may derive some benefit from organic matter as food in the suspended sediment but there is probably an energetic cost in clearing sediment from tissues. On balance, tolerant is suggested.

Halichondria bowerbanki may occur under overhangs and in damp places on the lower shore but does not live in such open conditions as Halichondria panicea. Desiccation would be likely to have a significant adverse effect on the sponge with bleaching and tissue death likely at the edges of the colony. Regrowth will most likely occur rapidly as growth is likely from remaining tissue or settlement. However, for the level of the benchmark, an intolerance of intermediate is suggested with a recoverability of high.

Desiccation is likely to be the main impact of increased emergence and established colonies are likely to be significantly damaged and lost at the upper limit of their intertidal range. The species prefers subtidal habitats and Vethaak et al. (1982) described intertidal colonies of Halichondria bowerbanki in the Oosterschelde as undersized. Where emergence is increased, intertidal colonies will most likely be killed and so, with reference to intertidal colonies, intolerance is assessed as high.

The species is mainly subtidal so that a decrease in emergence that makes intertidal species subtidal will benefit the species.

Halichondria bowerbanki is tolerant of various hydrographic regimes (Vethaak et al., 1982). The species is found in locations exposed to strong tidal flow but, where it is growing in habitats where tidal streams are normally weak, an increase in flow may result in damage to the colonies through tearing-off of erect structures or by poorly attached massive growths being swept away. The substratum may also be dislodged in part through the drag caused by the sponge. Feeding may be inhibited by strong flow.  However, damage is likely to be rapidly repaired (see Bowerbank, 1857) and mortality is unlikely to be total with re-growth occurring once water flow rates return to normal. An intolerance of intermediate with a very high recovery has been suggested.

Halichondria bowerbanki has been recorded in isolated lagoons with no water movement in the Oosterschelde (Vethaak et al., 1982).  Although small in its upper range, larger specimens were found growing lower down. A reduction in water flow rates in situations sheltered from wave action may lead to a reduced food supply and possible local de-oxygenation although in general, an intolerance of low has been suggested since mortality is unlikely.

Halichondria bowerbanki has a wide distribution in the north-east Atlantic with Britain and Ireland central to that distribution so that the species exists well-within its normal temperature survival range.

Halichondria bowerbanki has a wide distribution in the north-east Atlantic with Britain and Ireland central to that distribution so that the species exists well-within its normal temperature survival range.

Halichondria bowerbanki was found to occur in higher population densities on more shaded and totally dark surfaces compared to well lit areas in the Oosterschelde (Vethaak et al., 1982). It may extend its range to shallow areas previously dominated by algae if turbidity increases. However, change in turbidity may be caused by increased suspended sediment levels which may clog feeding pores or cause expenditure of energy to clean colonies (see Increase in suspended sediment above). On balance, 'tolerant' is suggested.

Halichondria bowerbanki occurs in low light levels and algae may encroach the upper limits of its range if turbidity declines and light levels increase. If the change in turbidity is caused by decreased suspended sediment levels, sponges will expend less energy in cleaning. On balance, tolerant is suggested.

The shape of sponge colonies is influenced heavily by the hydrodynamics of the environment and, in ‘high stress’ environments such as very wave exposed areas, the colonies are often undersized or encrusting (Vethaak et al., 1982). Colonies of Halichondria bowerbanki live in areas sheltered from wave action and, where wave exposure increases, some large and poorly attached colonies may be displaced. For a closely related species, Halichondria panicea, the growth rate is rapid (about 5% increase per month: Barthel, 1988) and recovery would be expected to occur quickly after reversion to previous conditions. Intolerance is assessed as intermediate and recoverability as high.

Colonies of Halichondria bowerbanki thrive in areas sheltered from wave action so that they would be expected to benefit from a decrease in wave action.

Sponges have no known receptors for noise.

Sponges have no known visual receptors.

The sponge is attached to the substratum and is unlikely to survive abrasion and physical disturbance.  However, where merely damaged, repair is likely to occur very rapidly as in the related Halichondria panicea (Bowerbank, 1857) whilst settlement of new colonies is likely within one year and growth rate is rapid.  Sponges may also regrow from tissue remaining in crevices or other irregularities and that were not affected by the abrasion. Therefore, an intolerance of intermediate is suggested with a recoverability of high.

The sponge is attached to the substratum and is unlikely to survive being detached and displaced even though it remains in the area unless the location is very sheltered from disturbing conditions such as wave action. It is possible that detached colonies that become trapped under boulders or in fissures may re-attach. Settlement of new colonies is likely within one year and the growth rate is rapid. Sponges may also regrow from tissue remaining in crevices or other irregularities and that were not affected by the displacement.

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Very little information has been found. It appears that the similar species Halichondria panicea survived in areas affected by the Torrey Canyon oil spill (Smith, 1968), although few observations were made. If mortality occurred, settlement of new colonies is likely within one year and growth rate is rapid.

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Halichondria bowerbanki is euryhaline (Vethaak et al., 1982) and occurs in areas subject to full and low salinity and tolerant has been suggested.

Halichondria bowerbanki is euryhaline and has been recorded in polyhaline lagoons in the Oosterschelde (Vethaak et al., 1982). It seems likely that it will survive acute changes for a few days because the sponge grows in areas subject to high freshwater outflow in periods of heavy river flow and, overall, tolerant has been suggested.

Halichondria bowerbanki lives in areas of flowing water, which suggests that it is likely to need a good supply of oxygen for survival. Cole et al. (1999) suggest possible adverse effects on marine species below 4 mg/l and probable adverse effects below 2mg/l.   However, no information was found concerning the tolerance of Halichondria bowerbanki to changes in oxygenation. Settlement of new colonies is likely within one year and the growth rate is rapid.

No literature was found concerning diseases and parasites in Halichondria bowerbanki. The similar sponge Halichondria panicea has a mechanism for sloughing off the outer tissue layer (Bartel & Wolfrath, 1989) which may also be a means of removing pathogens or epizooites.

There are no alien species currently known to compete with or adversely affect Halichondria bowerbanki.

No targeted extraction of this species is known. Were it to be extracted, it is expected that tissue would be left behind and would regrow. Growth rates of about 5% per week are recorded for the similar Halichondria panicea (Barthel, 1988).

The species is not known to be associated with other species that might be extracted.