Response of sponges with autotrophic endosymbionts during the coral-bleaching episode in Puerto Rico

摘要: An updated list of sponges with algal endosymbionts including new records for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, indicates that thirty-five species common Caribbean possess photosynthetic endosymbionts. Of these, 23 (67.6%) in seven orders, were found unicellular chroococcoid cyanobacteria (Aphanocapsa-like) 5 (14.7%) hadromerid zooxanthellae. Sponges other algae as symbionts occur less frequently (≦6%). Thirty-one sponge inspected bleaching during coral-bleaching months (July-September 1987; January 1988) Rico. Anthosigmella varians, Xestospongia muta Petrosia pellasarca bleached partially, but only few individuals within any given population became was very localized. Adaptations between cyanobacterial sponges, acquired long evolutionary history these two taxa may explain paucity when compared to high incidence corals reported.