The curious case of photosymbiotic sponges and their importance for marine productivity

Project Member(s): Pernice, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Trust (Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust)
Trust (Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust)

Start year: 2022

Summary: This project will use quantitative, experimental approaches to examine photosymbiotic sponge physiology and productivity, and the resulting consequences for ecosystem functioning. In particular, the aim of the study is to reveal how productive the symbiosis between various tropical sponges and their photosynthetic microbes is, and to what extent the photosynthetic energy produced by the microbes is shared with the sponge host.

FOR Codes: Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems, Ecosystem adaptation to climate change, Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.