Sponge chemical defenses are a possible mechanism for increasing sponge abundance on reefs in Zanzibar.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are experiencing increasing anthropogenic impacts that result in substantial declines of reef-building corals and a change of community structure towards other benthic invertebrates or macroalgae. Reefs around Zanzibar are exposed to untreated sewage and runoff from the main city Stonetown. At many of these sites, sponge cover has increased over the last years. Sponges are one of the top spatial competitors on reefs worldwide. Their success is, in part, dependent on their strong chemical defenses against predators, microbial attacks and other sessile benthic competitors. This is the first study that investigates the bioactive properties of sponge species in the Western Indian Ocean region. Crude extracts of the ten most dominant sponge species were assessed for their chemical d

SUBMITTER: Helber SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6010217 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature