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Massive Sponge Gardens Discovered on top of Seamounts in the Arctic Ocean
Sponges are animals with dense, porous skeletons. They are one of the most basal forms of animal life. These creatures are adaptable and successful in their environments. Sponges accommodate different organisms in a symbiotic relationship. Massive sponge gardens on top of seamounts in the Central Arctic Ocean were recently discovered by scientists from Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Kiel during an expedition.The sponge gardens appeared to feed on the remnants of extinct fauna. Alongside the microorganisms that this community of sponges has a symbiotic relationship with, they exploit the fluffy fauna as a source of food and energy. This discovery by scientists has revealed how sponges adapt to the most nutrient-poor environment. “Our analysis revealed that the sponges have microbial symbionts that can use old organic matter. This allows them to feed on the remnants of former, now extinct inhabitants of the seamounts, such as the tubes of worms composed of protein and chitin and other trapped detritus,” Teresa Morganti, one of the members of the team, said.Image credit: Alfred Wegener Institute/PS101 AWI OFOS system#discovery #sponges #aquaticlife #ArcticDeepSea #spongegardens
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