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Sponges from the Kara Sea (Arctic Russia) collected by the Dutch Polar Expedition 1882-83 are identified and discussed. The expedition experienced an unfortunate course of events, as the research vessel RV ’Varna’ was ice-bound and eventually got crushed by ice, leaving the crew and the scientists stranded on an ice floe drifting around in the Kara Sea. The scientists still managed to do many observations and made collections of bottom animals lowering collecting gear through a hole in the ice. After being enclosed for more than a year in the ice, the men travelled in small boats and sledges to the mainland of Russia and from there returned home. The zoological collections were brought to Copenhagen by the Danish research vessel RV ‘Dijmphna’, from where the material was picked up by the Dutch scientists. Most animal groups were subsequently discussed in a series of papers published in the Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde volume 14 (1887). The sponges of the Dutch Polar Expedition were in a rather bad condition when they arrived in Amsterdam and possibly for that reason were largely ignored. They nevertheless appear to be interesting and are here presented as a belated contribution to the 1887 issue, including the description of a species new to science, Lycopodina ruijsi sp. nov. The results are discussed in the framework of our present knowledge of the sponge fauna of the Kara Sea. In Appendix ten already known species are briefly described and SEM images of their spicules provided as a contribution to Kara Sea sponge morphology

Benthic surveys were conducted on submerged lava beds of varying age off the east coast of Reunion in 2011. Scuba-mediated collecting and photography was undertaken within depth zones at 10 sites on four pre-1977 lava beds and those formed in 1977, 2002, 2004 and 2007. Sponges (23 species in 18 genera and 17 families), octocorals (20 species in 9 genera and 5 families) and ascidians (4 species in 4 genera and 2 families) were identified and these were differentially distributed in terms of lava bed age but not depth. Older lava formations had a greater biotic density and diversity, and colonisation of the lava beds appeared to be slow. The benthic fauna differed from that on the west coast of Reunion and the octocoral diversity was impoverished relative to published records elsewhere in the region. These characteristics of the benthos were attributed primarily to harshness of the lava reef, abrasive nature of the associated sediment and the turbulent sea conditions.

A comparison is made of sponge diversity and abundance in nine cold-water coral reef locations situated in four regions of the north-east Atlantic, Rockall Bank (two reef locations, both deep, oceanic), Porcupine Bank (two locations, both deep, oceanic), Mingulay (two reef locations, both shallow, near-shore), Skagerrak (three reef locations, all shallow, near-shore). Literature data from two reefs were used to supplement our own data from seven reef locations. Geographical distance between the regions may be summarized as Rockall Bank < Porcupine << Mingulay <<< Skagerrak. The first three regions are all situated west of the British Isles, and prevailing current patterns and bottom conditions would make direct larval transport between all three a distinct possibility. The fourth region, Skagerrak, is situated away from the Atlantic regions, with larval contact hampered by long distances over predominantly shallow sedimented sea bottoms. Accordingly, we expected the largest taxon turnover to be between the three Atlantic regions and the Skagerrak localities. However, cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling clearly show, that shelf reefs at Mingulay were faunistically closer to the geographically- distant shelf reefs at Skagerrak than to the geographically closer bathyal reefs of the Porcupine–Rockall area. Further research is necessary to determine whether depth is a proxy for other abiotic factors such as oceanic circulation or trophic conditions.

This study describes species of the genusHymedesmiafrom three areas of cold-water coral reef: Mingulay Reef Complex (Scotland, UK) and Rockall and Porcupine Banks (off UK and Irish coasts). Five new species are described:Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) gibbosa, H. stoneae, H. tendali, H. xavieraeandH. valentinae. Records are provided of other poorly knownHymedesmiaspecies:H. bocki, H. cohesibacilla, H. curvichela, H. ebria, H. gustafsoni, H. simillima, H. irregularis, H. proxima, H. hibernicaandH. primitiva. Information on distribution of otherHymedesmiaspecies occurring in Britain and Ireland is presented. The sites studied represent a variety of depth-ranges and the data collected suggest that someHymedesmiaspecies may be restricted to particular bathymetric zones.

Sponge communities found in Caribbean mangroves are typical to this habitat: partly endemic and very distinct from sponge communities on nearby reefs. A trade-off between resistance to competitors and predators appears to influence success of individual sponge species in mangrove habitats. We speculate that differences in the symbiotic microbial communities may partly be responsible for these differences, as partial degradation of recalcitrant compounds by tannin-degrading microorganisms may enhance palatability and facilitate dissolved organic matter (DOM) assimilation in the presence of high concentrations of tannins, thereby improving their competitive capabilities. We tested tannase activity and ability to degrade mangrove-derived DOM in a random set of sponge species collected from mangrove roots in Curaçao and adjacent reefs. Our results suggest that sponges commonly associated with mangrove roots contain bacteria that are capable of degrading mangrove-derived DOM, while bacterial communities associated with sponges that are more typical to reef environments appear less proficient in degrading mangrove-derived DOM. Host specificity of bacterial endobionts capable of degrading mangrove-derived DOM and the presence of high concentrations of recalcitrant organic compounds may lead to ecological separation between mangrove and reef sponge communities.

In this study we assessed the sequence variation in the I3-M11 partition of the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) in ten populations of the Atlanto-Mediterranean demosponge Phorbas fictitius (Porifera: Poecilosclerida) at two spatial scales: a regional scale comparing mainland (Iberian) and insular (Macaronesian) populations, and a local (Archipelagic) scale focusing on different island populations of the Azores archipelago. A multiple approach combining diversity measures, FST estimates, phylogenetic inference and nested clade phylogeographic analysis was used to assess the genetic structure and elucidate the evolutionary history of this species. Genetic differentiation, based of FST estimates, was found among most populations at both scales revealing highly structured populations. This results of a presumably low dispersal potential and bathymetric range of the species, and the geographical isolation of the studied populations. However we found evidence of long distance dispersal events between some populations. Phylogenetic and network analyses indicate a separation of insular (Macaronesian) and mainland (Iberian) clades with only two haplotypes shared between these areas. The high genetic diversity and prevalence of ancestral haplotypes suggest the Macaronesian islands as the likely place of origin of this species with posterior expansion to mainland locations via current-mediated dispersal of larvae or sponge fragments. This study adds to the growing evidence of structured populations in the marine realm and highlights the importance of the Macaronesian islands on the evolutionary history of the Northeast Atlantic marine biota.

Carbon-supported catalysts containing Cu and Cr are active in oxidation and reduction reactions. In CO oxidation experiments, an activity hysteresis has been observed for the Cu/Cr-carbon catalyst during temperature cycling. From results of CO oxidation experiments and Temperature-Programmed Reduction (TPR) in CO of fresh, pre-reduced and pre-oxidized samples, it is concluded that an oxidation–reduction cycle of the active phase is the reason for this hysteresis phenomenon. Furthermore, TPR(CO) reveals the presence of highly active oxygen species on a Cu/Cr catalyst, which might be the reactive intermediate in CO oxidation. It is also shown that the active phase catalytically oxidizes the carbon support, resulting in a high TPR(CO) background.

Over the past several decades molecular tools have shown an enormous potential to aid in the clarification of species boundaries in the marine realm, particularly in morphologically simple groups. In this paper we report a case of cryptic speciation in an allegedly cosmopolitan and ecologically important species—the excavating sponge Cliona celata (Clionaidae, Hadromerida). In the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean C. celata displays a discontinuous distribution of its putative growth stages (boring, encrusting, and massive) leading us to investigate its specific status. Phylogenetic reconstructions of mitochondrial (COI, Atp8) and nuclear (28S) gene fragments revealed levels of genetic diversity and divergence compatible with interspecific relationships. We therefore demonstrate C. celata as constituting a species complex comprised of at least four morphologically indistinct species, each showing a far more restricted distribution: two species on the Atlantic European coasts and two on the Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic coasts (Macaronesian islands). Our results provide further confirmation that the different morphotypes do indeed constitute either growth stages or ecologically adapted phenotypes as boring and massive forms were found in two of the four uncovered species. We additionally provide an overview of the cases of cryptic speciation which have been reported to date within the Porifera, and highlight how taxonomic crypsis may confound scientific interpretation and hamper biotechnological advancement. Our work together with previous studies suggests that overconservative systematic traditions but also morphological stasis have led to genetic complexity going undetected and that a DNA-assisted taxonomy may play a key role in uncovering the hidden diversity in this taxonomic group.

Sponges are an integral part of marine benthic communities with a high-impact role in benthic–pelagic coupling processes, as an important source of food for demersal grazers and predators, as hosts of a highly diverse microbial biomass, and as bio-eroders. Sponges provide age-old (hygienic) services to humans and continue to be of interest in modern times as sources of an unprecedented array of useful substances.

Demosponge higher-level systematics is currently a subject of major changes due to the simplicity and paucity of complex morphological characters. Still, sponge classification is primarily based on morphological features. The systematics of the demosponge order Agelasida has been exceptionally problematic in the past. Here, we present the first molecular phylogenetic analysis based on three partially independent genes in demosponges in combination with a comprehensive search for biochemical synapomorphies to indicate their phylogenetic relationships. We show how sponges with fundamentally different skeletons can be in fact closely related and discuss examples of the misleading nature of morphological systematics in sponges.

The antimicrobial activity of the chloroform extracts of ten marine sponges collected from the Atlantic coast of Morocco and from the Gulf of Thailand was tested against four bacterial species and five fungal species using the agar disk method. Extracts tested showed antimicrobial activity against at least one of the test strains, 50% of them showed antibacterial activity while only 20% exhibited antifungal activity. Among them, the extracts of Hippospongia communis and Ircinia variabilis collected from the Atlantic coast of Morocco appeared to be quite promising due to their capacity to inhibit the growth of Candida tropicalis R 2 (an amphotericin B and nystatin resistant strain) as well as their broad spectrum activity against other bacteria and fungi. The antifungal activity of the extracts was further characterized by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against four fungal species selected using the broth microdilution method and two test media.

Halichondrida is a pivotal demosponge order of which the classification underwent major changes in the recent history. The monophyly of this order and its intra-ordinal phylogeny cannot be reliably determined on the basis of morphology. Here we present a 28Sr RNA gene tree of selected halichondrids, which supports the hypothesis of halichondrid non-monophyly and elucidates further inter-ordinal relationships. We enlarged the analysis by previously published sequences, discuss how previous analyses suffer from taxon bias and analyse the resulting phylogenetic implications. Most halichondrid families (in particular Axinellidae und Dictyonellidae) cluster polyphyletic and the molecular classification of several genera does not agree with the current (morphological) system. Zusammenfassung Die Systematik der Ordnung Halichondrida ist von Bedeutung fur die Phylogenie aller Demospongien und hat in den letzten Jahren grose Veranderungen vollzogen. Dennoch konnte die Monophylie dieser Ordnung und ihrer Familien noch nicht mit morphologischen Merkmalen deutlich gemacht werden. Hier prasentieren und diskutieren wir eine 28SrDNA-Phylogenie reprasentativer Halichondrien. Teils wurde diese Stammbaumrekonstruktion durch Sequenzen aus anderen Arbeiten erweitert und der Einfluss des Taxonsets auf das Resultat analysiert. Die Monophylie der Ordnung wird durch diese Fragmentanalyse nicht gestutzt, und mehrere Familien (insbesondere Axinellidae und Dictyonellidae) gruppieren polyphyletisch. Die Position mehrerer Gattungen, insbesondere Axinyssa und Stylissa, ist nicht im Einklang mit dem aktuellen (morphologischen) System.

Taxonomy within the sponge Order Haplosclerida remains somewhat contentious. Both morphology and biochemistry have been employed to help unravel the relationships of the Order with limited results perhaps because of the small number of reliable characters. We employed phylogenetic analysis of 750 base pairs of the 5′ end of the 28S rRNA gene to study relationships between 20 taxa within the Order. While preliminary (low number of taxa, one gene region) results suggested strong discrepancy to former phylogenies, there was no support for the monophyly of the Order and almost all morphologically defined genera appeared to be polyphyletic. Zusammenfassung Die taxonomische Einteilung der Schwammordnung Haplosclerida erscheint immer noch etwas kontrovers. Sowohl morphologische als auch biochemische Merkmale wurden als Hilfen herangezogen, um die Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen innerhalb der Ordnung aufzuklaren; wahrscheinlich wegen der geringen Zahl an verlaslichen Charaktermerkmalen, blieb der Erfolg begrenzt. Wir haben eine phylogenetische Analyse auf Grund eines 750 BP langen Abschnitts am 5′-Ende des 28S rRNA Gens durchgefuhrt, um die Beziehungen zwischen 20 Arten der Ordnung zu untersuchen. Wenn, wegen der geringen Zahl an Arten und der Beschrankung auf nur einen Genabschnitt, auch nur vorlaufig, so weisen die Ergebnisse doch auf eine starke Diskrepanz zu den fruheren Phylogeniestudien hin; die Monophylie der Ordnung fand keine Unterstutzung und fast alle als monophyletisch beschriebenen Gattungen erwiesen sich als polyphyletisch.

16 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 tabla., Three new sponge species are described from the Pacific coast of Panama, namely Crambe panamensis n. sp., Discorhabdella urizae n. sp. and Discorhabdella littoralis n. sp. This is the first record of the genera Crambe and Discorhabdella for the eastern Pacific, which represents not only a considerable expansion in their known biogeographical distribution, but also empirical support for their Tethyan origin. The new species provide a better understanding of the skeletal evolution in these peculiar genera, representing a lineage in which aster-derived spicules occur within a typical poecilosclerid skeleton. The skeleton of C. panamensis consists of ectosomal subtylostyles, choanosomal tylostyles with smooth tyle, basal desmas of astroclone type only, and anchorate isochelae. The skeleton of D. urizae consists of ectosomal subtylostyles, choanosomal tylostyles with tuberose tyle, basal acanthostyles with aster-like tyle, anchorate isochelae, sigmas, and distinctive twisted microxeas. The skeleton of D. littoralis consists of ectosomal tylostyles, choanosomal tylostyles that occasionally show remains of tubercles in the tyle, basal acanthostyles with a tyle intermediate between aster-like and regular morphology, and sigmas. The skeletal affinities of Crambe and Discorhabdella with the genera Lithochela and Monanclwra are discussed, and a new family concept based on all four genera is proposed. The name Crambeidae is proposed for such a family, to replace the pre-occupied name Crambidae., This research has been partially supported by a postdoctoral Fulbright fellowship (FU93-2207057), European Community funds provided by the LSF Program (1998) of the Natural History Museum of London, and grant of the Spanish Government (MEC-PB98-0485).

Two marine sponges of the genus Monanchora (Poecilosclerida, Crambeidae) have been found to contain new polycyclic guanidine alkaloids bearing the (5,6,8b)-triazaperhydroacenaphthylene skeleton. Their structures have been determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Dehydrobatzelladine C (1) has been isolated from M. arbuscula and crambescidins 359 (2) and 431 (3) from M. unguiculata. The chemotaxonomic implications of these findings are discussed.

Eight new tetramic acid glycosides named rubrosides A−H have been isolated from the marine sponge Siliquariaspongia japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data as tetra...

A detailed analysis of the chemical constituents of a Caribbean specimen of Aiolochroia crassa was performed. Five brominated products (1 -5) were isolated and one of these was a new bromotyrosine metabolite. The structure of the new compound 1 has been established from spectral studies. Compounds 1 and 2, which are the major brominated metabolites and have not been previously identified in any Aiolochroia species, could be usefully employed as chemotaxonomic markers.

Alvarez, Belinda, Rob W.M. van Soest, and Klaus Rutzler. A Revision of Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the Central West Atlantic Region. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 598,47 pages, 23 figures, 18 tables, 1998.—Twenty-one species of the family Axinellidae (sensu Levi) reside in the central West Atlantic region, from the Carolinas to the southern Caribbean. They are distributed in seven genera, and five are new species: Axinella pomponiae, A. meandroides, PseudaxinellaC?) zeai, Dragmaxia undata, and Auletta tuberosa. A taxonomic diagnosis of these genera and species indicates that the nominal genera Teichaxinella de Laubenfels and Homaxinella Topsent previously recorded from the region are invalid and that in the study area their species can be allocated to Axinella. Acanthella and Ptilocaulis, traditionally grouped with the Axinellidae but recently allocated to the families Dictyonellidae and Desmoxyidae of the Order Halichondrida (sensu van Soest et al., 1990), are included in this revision because the scope of the other families has not yet been established. Ptilocaulis, at least, is shown to be closely related to Axinella. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Annals of the Smithsonian Institution. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Alvarez, Belinda. A revision of Axinellidae (Porifera : Demospongiae) of the Central West Atlantic region / Belinda Alvarez, Rob W.M. van Soest, and Klaus Rutzler. p. cm. — (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 598) Includes bibliographical references (p. 45) and index. 1. Axinellidae—Atlantic Coast (U.S.)—Classification. 2. Axinellidae—Caribbean Sea—Classification. I. Soest, R. W. M. van. II. Rutzler, Klaus. III. Title. IV. Series. QL1.S54 no. 598 [QL373.D4] 590 s—dc21 [593.4'6] 98-16422

The Micronesian sponge Oceanapia sp. afforded three pyridoacridine alkaloids: the known compounds kuanoniamine C (1) and kuanoniamine D (2), as well as the new N-deacyl derivative (3) of the kuanoniamines. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited insecticidal activity toward neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insect Spodoptera littoralis (LC50 of 156 and 59 ppm, respectively), when incorporated into artificial diet. Both compounds also showed toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality test with a LC50 of 37 micrograms/mL (compound 1) and 19 micrograms/mL (compound 2), respectively. The N-deacyl derivative did not show any remarkable effect in both bioassays. Cytotoxcity of the alkaloids was studied in vitro, using two human cell lines. The new derivative (3) appeared to be active in the same range of concentrations as kuanoniamine C (1) and D (2). The IC50 of 3 was 1.2 micrograms/mL toward HeLa cells and 2.0 micrograms/mL toward MONO-MAC 6 cells. In receptor binding assays compound 2 showed affinity to A1- and A2A-adenosine receptors with Ki values of 2.94 and 13.7 microM, respectively. Compound 1 was less active than compound 2, whereas compound 3 showed no affinity toward adenosine receptors. In addition, compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate affinity to benzodiazepine binding sites of GABAA receptors.

Fractionation of the MeOH extract of the sponge Plakortis sp. collected around the Amirantes Islands yielded four novel polyketides (4−7). The structures have been established by a detailed highfield 2D NMR study.

Ten new steroidal sulfates, acanthosterol sulfates A-J (1-10), have been isolated from a marine sponge, Acanthodendrilla sp., collected in western Japan. Acanthosterol sulfates I and J (9 and 10) showed antifungal activity against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae A364A and its mutants at 0.1 mg/disk.

Sixteen sponge species were recorded from Little Letite Passage, an area of highvelocity tidal currents located in the Bay of Fundy near Deer Island, New Brunswick, Canada. Of these 16 species, four species (Myxilla fimbriata, Hymeniacidon heliophila, Hemigellius sp. aff. flagellifer, and Crella rosea) have not previously been recorded from the Bay of Fundy. One new species, Hymedesmia canadensis, is described, based on the presence of a second peculiar chelate microsclere added to the spicule armament.

Analysis of the tropical marine sponge Axinella carteri afforded six unusual alkaloids, including the new brominated guanidine derivative 3-bromo-hymenialdisine. The structure elucidation of the new alkaloid is described. The alkaloid patterns of sponges collected in Indonesia or in the Philippines were shown to be qualitatively identical suggesting de novo synthesis by the sponge or by endosymbiontic microorganisms rather than uptake by filterfeeding. All alkaloids were screened for insecticidal activity as well as for cytotoxicity. The guanidine alkaloids hymenialdisine and debromohymenialdisine exhibited insecticidal activity towards neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insect Spodoptera littoralis (LD50s of 88 and 125 ppm, respectively), when incorporated into artificial diet and offered to the larvae in a chronic feeding bioassay. The remaining alkaloids, including the new compound, were inactive in this bioassay. Cytotoxicity was studied in vitro using L5178y mouse lymphoma cells. Debromohymenialdisine was again the most active compound (ED50 1.8 μg/ml) followed by hymenialdisine and 3-bromohymenialdisine, which were essentially equitoxic and exhibited ED50s of 3.9 μg/ml in both cases. The remaining alkaloids were inactive against this cell line

New sponge species belonging to the closely related fistular genera Zyzzya, Cornulella, Damiria, and Acheliderma are described from reef habitats off the coasts of Colombia, Bonaire and Curaçao in the southern Caribbean. With very few exceptions these sponges are small to tiny specimens inhabiting crevices and other cryptic habitats; some may be excavating. For comparison both published and unpublished material belonging to these genera from other parts of the world was examined, and this yielded several nomenclatorial changes and a further three new species from the Indian Ocean. The new species are: Zyzzya invemar (Caribbean), Cornulella santamartae (Caribbean), C. tyro (Seychelles), C. amirantensis (Seychelles), Damiria leonorae (Caribbean), D. toxifera (Seychelles) and Acheliderma lisannae (Caribbean). All species belonging to these genera, as well as to the closely related Indo-Pacific genus Paracornulum, are briefly diagnosed. The genera and species of this group are found to be distributed over tropical and subtropical waters of all three oceans. The five genera were so far of controversial systematic allocation, although their close relationship with Cornulum was generally accepted. The recently revived family Iophonidae is demonstrated to be the likely assemblage for them. A brief survey of Iophonidae genera is presented and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the fistular genera is attempted. Although several parts of the phylogenetic relationships remain unsolved, it is nevertheless clear that in all genera the closest relatives are not found in adjacent areas, but are often disjunct.

Spongia (Spongia) zimocca (Schmidt, 1862) is a real problem for taxonomists. This is due to the fact that it exhibits a wide diversity of forms as well as similarities with other species of the genus. Nevertheless, professional sponge fishermen are able to recognize this species easily based on their own empirical criteria. The lack of easily recognized taxonomic characters in conjunction with the ambiguity concerning the original description makes necessary an updated description of the species. We tried to solve the uncertainty existing among the taxonomists who have been involved with the description of this Mediterranean sponge, basing our description on the Schmidt type specimen and on material deposited in the Amsterdam Museum. In this paper we have summoned up not only the known morphological characters used for the identification of other species belonging to this genus (color, size, shape, skeleton structure, size of the fibers) but also additional morphological characters, used for a first time, aiming to obtain a clearer picture. These new characteristics are: tensile strength, skeletal density, morphology of the conules and the organic content of the fiber mass.

Twenty sponge species (totalling 190 individuals) were collected during the 1938, 1994 and 2004/5 expeditions to the remote island of Clipperton in the East Pacific Ocean. Seven species are widespread Indo-Pacific sponges; nine species comprise sponges new to science; four species were represented only by small thin patches insufficient for proper characterization and could be only determined to genus. The new species may not be necessarily endemic to the island, as several show similarities with species described from elsewhere in the East and West Pacific. Four species: Tethya sarai Desqueyroux-Faundez & Van Soest (1997), Callyspongia (Callyspongia) roosevelti n.sp., Spongia (Spongia) sweeti (Kirkpatrick, 1900) and Suberea etiennei n.sp. were found commonly occurring in localities around the island in depths between 10 and 55 m, growing on dead corals, under overhangs and rubble stones. The remaining sponges were either rare or were thinly encrusting on coral fragments. The latter may be more abundant than appears from the present study as they are probably not easily observed. The sponge fauna of Clipperton Island shows strongest affinities with the Central and West Pacific regions and only two or three species are shared with the East Pacific region.

Carbon supported copper-chromium catalysts are shown to be very active for both the reduction of nitric oxide with carbon monoxide and the oxidation of carbon monoxide with oxygen. Mixed copper-chromium oxide active phases have good activity in the simultaneous removal of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide from exhaust gases. The influence of several catalyst variables has been investigated. The activity per volume of catalyst increases with increasing loading, while the intrinsic activity shows a maximum around C/M=100−50. An optimum catalyst for nitric oxide reduction and carbon monoxide oxidation has a copper/chromium ratio of 2/1. The apparent activation energy for the carbon monoxide oxidation over carbon supported copper-chromium catalysts is 77 kJ/mol, suggesting that the CuO bond rupture is the rate-limiting process. The reduction of nitric oxide takes place at higher temperatures. Since all catalysts have a low selectivity for molecular nitrogen formation at lower temperatures, the dissociation of nitric oxide is probably rate determining, resulting in a slightly reduced catalyst system. In an excess of carbon monoxide the reaction is first-order in nitric oxide and zero-order in carbon monoxide. Moisture inhibits the reaction by reversible competitive adsorption, whereas carbon dioxide does not. Oxygen completely inhibits the reduction of nitric oxide due to the more rapid reoxidation of the catalytic sites compared to nitric oxide. Therefore, the reduction of nitric oxide takes place only when all oxygen has been converted and, hence, is shifted to higher temperatures. As a possible consequence, the production of nitrous oxide is reduced. Nitric oxide and molecular oxygen react preferentially with carbon monoxide, so, in an excess of oxidizing component, gasification of the carbon support occurs at higher temperatures after carbon monoxide has been completely consumed.

Transect sampling on the continental shelf off the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, revealed a patchy distribution of sponge species and populations. Major sponge habitats are inshore coastal sandstone flats harbouring a diverse infaunal sponge fauna, and the moving substrate of shells of live gastropods or empty shells occupied by hermit crabs which harbour a numerically important but species-poor incrusting sponge fauna. The latter forms occur over most of the depth profile. Horizontal distribution of the sponges shows a distinct gap in species and numbers associated with a muddy bottom area where the sediment-rich Banc d’Arguin run-off is found. North and south of this gap the specific composition of the infaunal sponges is considerably different and this is explained as evidence for limitation of range extensions, notably of the southern sponge fauna, by the muddy area.

In this first report on the chemistry of the sponge Stylissa caribica, two known bromopyrrole metabolites and a new compound, N-methyldibromoisophakellin (1), were isolated and identified. The structure of 1 was determined using spectroscopic methods and the computer program Cocon. N-Methyldibromoisophakellin (1) was shown to be the only secondary metabolite in Stylissa caribica that, at its natural concentration, is active as a feeding deterrent against a common omnivorous reef fish.

Kalihinene-A [17] and kalihinene-B [18] two new toxic isocyano diterpenes have been isolated from a Seychelles specimen of the marine sponge Acanthella cavernosa. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of their spectral properties. The chemotaxonomic value of these secondary metabolites is discussed.

Seven cytotoxic 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids, hachijodines A-G, have been isolated from two marine sponges of the genera Xestospongia and Amphimedon. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data. These alkaloids are moderately cytotoxic against P388 murine leukemia cells with IC(50) values of 1.0-2.3 microg/mL.

The Mingulay reef complex in the Sea of the Hebrides west of Scotland was first mapped in 2003 with a further survey in 2006 revealing previously unknown live coral reef areas at 120 to 190 m depth. Habitat mapping confirmed that distinctive mounded bathymetry was formed by reefs of Lophe- lia pertusa with surficial coral debris dating to almost 4000 yr. Benthic lander and mooring deployments revealed 2 dominant food supply mechanisms to the reefs: a regular rapid downwelling of surface water delivering pulses of warm fluorescent water, and periodic advection of high turbidity bottom waters. Closed chamber respirometry studies suggest that L. pertusa responds to seawater warming, such as that seen during the rapid downwelling events, with increases in metabolic rate. Lipid biomarker analy- sis implies that corals at Mingulay feed predominantly on herbivorous calanoid copepods. Integrating geophysical and hydrographical survey data allowed us to quantify the roles of these environmental factors in controlling biodiversity of attached epifaunal species across the reefs. Longitudinal structur- ing of these communities is striking: species richness (α) and turnover (β) change significantly west to east, with variation in community composition largely explained by bathymetric variables that are spa- tially structured on the reef complex. Vibro-cores through the reef mounds show abundant coral debris with significant hiatuses. High resolution side-scan sonar revealed trawl marks in areas south of the coral reefs where vessel monitoring system data showed the highest density of local fishing activity. The interdisciplinary approach in this study allowed us to record the food supply and hydrographic environ- ment experienced by L. pertusa and determine how it may be ecophysiologically adapted to these con- ditions. Improved basic understanding of cold-water coral biology and biodiversity alongside efforts to map and date these long-lived habitats are vital to development of future conservation policies.

Coscinoderma sporadense sp.n. is described from shallow waters in the North Aegean. This is the first record of a Coscinoderma species from the Mediterranean. The new species is compared to the deep water East Atlantic Coscinoderma confragosum Polejaeff, 1884, and clear differences between them are established. The status of the genus Coscinoderma is discussed.

A new species of the genus Phorbas Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864 (junior synonym Anchinoe Gray, 1867) is described from the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). Phorbas posidoni n.sp. is distinguished from the known Mediterranean species of Phorbas primarily by its elaborate repent-ramose habit combined with an extensive, spongin-enforced, plumoreticulate skeleton of oxea-like tornotes and the usual echinating acanthostyles and arcuate chelae. As in most Phorbas the surface bears characteristic areolae. The only other elaborate Mediterranean species, P. mercator (Schmidt) differs clearly in spiculation, since it lacks microscleres and has strongyles as the main skeletal elements. Phorbas fictitius (Bowerbank), P. tenacior (Topsent) and P. paupertas sensu Topsent are all incrusting and differ in spicule form and sizes as well. Likewise, Phorbas species from the neighbouring East Atlantic each show clear differences with P. posidoni n.sp. The genus Phorbas is discussed and compared with Pronax Gray (1867)...

The distribution and abundance of sessile organisms under coral rubble has been studied at Bonaire and Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Species richness under rubble is extremely high with at least 367 species of which sponges, tunicates and bryozoans are the most important. Shallow sub-rubble communities can be considered refuges as the majority of these species are crypt-obligate. Sub-rubble communities may also have a preserve function for sponges, but do not harbour enough corals to ensure a quick coral recolonization of the reef surface after a major disaster. Cryptic community composition is affected by depth and pollution, and differs substantially between the two neighbouring islands, possibly as a result of different bottom characteristics. Biomass of the sub-rubble communities may contribute considerably to total reef biomass. Diversity varies inversely with increased depth and increased rubble size, possibly indicating abiotic control (e.g. physical disturbance by wave action and reef slope substrate collapse).

Sponges are major epibionts of mangrove roots in the Caribbean. Mangrove sponge communities in the Caribbean mainly consist of species that are typical to this habitat and community compositions often differ from those found on coral reefs nearby. Heterogeneity in species distributions between locations and within locations between roots is often reported. This study quantifies the diversity and abundance of mangrove associated sponges in the inner bays of Curaçao and Aruba and correlates variability of regional sponge diversity with environmental variables measured along the surveyed sites. Tannin concentrations vary between mangrove roots, and were correlated to sponge cover as a possible cause for habitat heterogeneity on a smaller scale. A total of 22 species was observed. Heterogeneity in species richness and abundance was apparent, and several sponge species were restricted in their depth of occurrence. Statistical data reduction suggests that sponge diversity may be partly explained by the distance towards adjacent reefs and to the degree of eutrophication, in which the latter is comprised of rate of planktonic respiration, total carbon and turbidity. Tannin concentrations did not determine within locality species heterogeneity as a priori postulated, but were positively related to sponge cover for reasons not yet elucidated.

A C16 norsesterterpenoid (euplectellodiol, 1) and a norditerpenoid (2) have been isolated fromthe marine sponges Mycale euplectelloides and Diacarnus megaspinorhabdosa, respectively.Their structures have been determined by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 are newnatural products.

Comparison of Sollasella digitataLendenfeld, 1888, up until the present assigned to its own family Sollasellidae Lendenfeld, 1887 in the order Hadromerida, and Raspailopsis cervicornisBurton, 1959, assigned to Raspailiidae Nardo, 1833 in the order Poecilosclerida, leads to the conclusion that both should be considered congeneric and are best assigned to a single genus Sollasella. This conclusion is based on examination of habit and skeletal characters of the type material of S. digitataand both type and freshly collected material of S. cervicornis. The conclusion is strengthened by the discovery of a new species, Sollasella moretonensisn.sp. collected in North Australia (primarily in the northeastern coast, but also an isolated record from the northwestern Australian coast), which possesses in addition to the characteristic surface pattern and skeletal structure, genuine echinating acanthostyles. The redefined genus Sollasellashares axial / extra-axial arrangement of the skeleton, special surface brushes of oxeas surrounding a single protruding style, and vestigial occurrence of acanthostyles with many Raspailias.l. Nevertheless, it is retained as a separate genus, on account of its peculiar polygonal arrangement of surface pores. The distribution of the genus is disjunctive including both (southeast, northeast and northwest) Australian and Western Indian Ocean localities, but so far no intermediate records. Based on this morphological evidence, it is proposed – pending publication of corroborating molecular evidence to be presented in a follow-up study – to reassign Sollasellaand the family Sollasellidae to the poecilosclerid family Raspailiidae.

[reaction: see text] A screening program designed to find new antiinflammatory agents has identified the sponge meroterpenoid pelorol (1) as an in vitro activator of the inositol-5-phosphatase SHIP. Pelorol (1) and several functional group analogues have been synthesized from sclareolide (4).

The Caribbean sponge Agelas conifera was found to produce a mixture of previously described bromopyrrole alkaloids of which oroidin (1) and sceptrin (2) were predominant. This sponge harboured large populations of heterotrophic bacteria but no photosynthetic symbionts (cyanobacteria). However, 1 and 2 were not associated with the bacteria but with the sponge cells as shown by their distribution in enriched cell fractions obtained by differential centrifugation and Ficoll density gradients. Spherulous cells, found in great abundance in the sponge ectosome, were assumed to be involved in the production of 1 and 2. The target compounds were detected, although in small amounts, in short-term cultures of sponge cells, validating the possibility of a continuous cell culture source. Laboratory assays showed that organic sponge extracts affected the behaviour of the coral Madracis mirabilis in causing closure and retraction of the polyps at concentrations of the combined compounds 1 and 2 (1:3.3) as low as 0.7 mg/l (0.0125% of the concentration in whole sponges). At higher concentrations (1.4 mg/l) no recovery of the polyps occurred. The extracts, at almost natural concentrations of 1 and 2, deterred feeding by the predatory reef fish Stegastis partitus, supporting other reported research. In field experiments, wounding induced a sharp increase of 1 and 2 in the sponge tissues but prolonged predator exclusion by caging and forced confrontation with coral neighbours did not yield measurable changes in 1 and 2 concentrations. All sponges were found to release measurable amounts of bromopyrrole alkaloids in seawater conditioned for 30 min. Crude and fractionated sponge extracts and pure sceptrin (2) were active against bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi. Taken together, these results support a role of oroidin (1) and sceptrin (2) in defence mechanisms against predators and possibly against space competitors and invading and fouling organisms.

80 methanolic extracts from sponges of Indonesia and Oman were screened for antifungal activity against ten strains fungi: Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus oryzae, Trichoderma harzianum, Aspergillus niger, Mucor pusillus, Absidia corymbifera and Absidia ramosa. The bromopyrrolic alkaloids hymenidin and sceptrin isolated from the sponges Agelas dispar and Agelas conifera, respectively, were also tested against the above fungi.

The influence of environmental factor, namely depth and sponge-coral interactions as well as the effects of infliction of standardized damages on the production of bromopyrrolic alkaloids isolated from the sponges Agelas dispar and Agelas conifera were analysed.

Astrophorida Sollas (Demospongiae), also sometimes known as Choristida Sollas, include sponges with asterose microscleres and tetractinal megascleres (either sometimes lost), together with microxeas, microrhabds and oxeas, and skeletal architecture always radial, at least at the surface, but more confused towards the centre of the body. Five families are currently included (with 38 genera and two subgenera), and species are known from all oceans and at all depths.

Structurally unique new sesquiterpenoid quinones dactyloquinone A (1) and B (2), each possessing a dihydropyran moiety, were isolated from an Okinawan sponge Dactylospongia elegans, along with known sesquiterpenoid quinones. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis.