Life-history traits of a common Caribbean coral-excavating sponge, Cliona tenuis (Porifera: Hadromerida)

摘要: Clionaids are important competitors and bio-eroding agents on coral reefs; however, little is known of their biology. We studied aspects life history Cliona tenuis, in particular its sexual reproduction growth. Temporal variations these traits were over a year, correlation with water temperature as proxy for seasonality. Growth occurred at separate times followed intra-annual temperature. increased during the warmest months reaching an average rate 29.9 ± 6.7 mm 286 days. tenuis oviparous, results suggest gonochorism. Gametogenesis between coldest period when was increasing. Recruitment constant throughout possibly associated post-settlement processes. Juvenile-size individuals represented population, suggesting that processes like competition mortality may control whose size structure be s...