Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Selective feeding by the giant barrel sponge enhances foraging efficiency

Publication ,  Journal Article
McMurray, SE; Johnson, ZI; Hunt, DE; Pawlik, JR; Finelli, CM
Published in: Limnology and Oceanography
July 1, 2016

Foraging theory predicts the evolution of feeding behaviors that increase consumer fitness. Sponges were among the earliest metazoans on earth and developed a unique filter-feeding mechanism that does not rely on a nervous system. Once thought indiscriminate, sponges are now known to selectively consume picoplankton, but it is unclear whether this confers any benefit. Additionally, sponges consume dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and detritus, but relative preferences for these resources are unknown. We quantified suspension feeding by the giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta on Conch Reef, Florida, to examine relationships between diet choice, food resource availability, and foraging efficiency. Sponges consistently preferred cyanobacteria over other picoplankton, which were preferred over detritus and DOC; nevertheless, the sponge diet was mostly DOC (∼70%) and detritus (∼20%). Consistent with foraging theory, less-preferred foods were discriminated against when relatively scarce, but were increasingly accepted as they became relatively more abundant. Food uptake was limited, likely by post-capture constraints, yet selective foraging enabled sponges to increase nutritional gains.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Limnology and Oceanography

DOI

EISSN

1939-5590

Publication Date

July 1, 2016

Volume

61

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1271 / 1286

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 37 Earth sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
  • 04 Earth Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
McMurray, S. E., Johnson, Z. I., Hunt, D. E., Pawlik, J. R., & Finelli, C. M. (2016). Selective feeding by the giant barrel sponge enhances foraging efficiency. Limnology and Oceanography, 61(4), 1271–1286. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10287
McMurray, S. E., Z. I. Johnson, D. E. Hunt, J. R. Pawlik, and C. M. Finelli. “Selective feeding by the giant barrel sponge enhances foraging efficiency.” Limnology and Oceanography 61, no. 4 (July 1, 2016): 1271–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10287.
McMurray SE, Johnson ZI, Hunt DE, Pawlik JR, Finelli CM. Selective feeding by the giant barrel sponge enhances foraging efficiency. Limnology and Oceanography. 2016 Jul 1;61(4):1271–86.
McMurray, S. E., et al. “Selective feeding by the giant barrel sponge enhances foraging efficiency.” Limnology and Oceanography, vol. 61, no. 4, July 2016, pp. 1271–86. Scopus, doi:10.1002/lno.10287.
McMurray SE, Johnson ZI, Hunt DE, Pawlik JR, Finelli CM. Selective feeding by the giant barrel sponge enhances foraging efficiency. Limnology and Oceanography. 2016 Jul 1;61(4):1271–1286.
Journal cover image

Published In

Limnology and Oceanography

DOI

EISSN

1939-5590

Publication Date

July 1, 2016

Volume

61

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1271 / 1286

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 37 Earth sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
  • 04 Earth Sciences