Using a thermistor flowmeter with attached video camera for monitoring sponge excurrent speed and oscular behaviour

PeerJ

Damien Jorgensen¹  Brian W. Strehlow²  Mari-Carmen Pineda³  Nicole S. Webster³  Alan Duckworth³ 

[1]Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia

[2]Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, School of Plant Biology, and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia

[3]Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Crawley, WA, Australia

关键词: Flowmeter;    Sponge;    Thermistor;    Pumping;    Behaviour;    Contraction;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2761

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

A digital, four-channel thermistor flowmeter integrated with time-lapse cameras was developed as an experimental tool for measuring pumping rates in marine sponges, particularly those with small excurrent openings (oscula). Combining flowmeters with time-lapse imagery yielded valuable insights into the contractile behaviour of oscula in Cliona orientalis. Osculum cross-sectional area (OSA) was positively correlated to measured excurrent speeds (ES), indicating that sponge pumping and osculum contraction are coordinated behaviours. Both OSA and ES were positively correlated to pumping rate (Q). Diel trends in pumping activity and osculum contraction were also observed, with sponges increasing their pumping activity to peak at midday and decreasing pumping and contracting oscula at night. Short-term elevation of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) within the seawater initially decreased pumping rates by up to 90%, ultimately resulting in closure of the oscula and cessation of pumping.

【 授权许可】

Unknown