Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

Sponge spicules preserved in sediments offer a novel, non-destructive method to assess past and present sponge fauna diversity in Ha Long Bay's karst lakes. The study identified distinct sponge taxa compositions across four lakes and surrounding sea areas, with significant differences between inland and marine environments. Notably, four sponge genera previously unrecorded in the South China Sea were detected, highlighting the potential of sedimentary spicules as a proxy for comprehensive biodiversity studies. This approach circumvents the challenges of studying cryptic sponges, providing valuable insights into their ecological distribution and historical presence.

Reboa, A., Calcinai, B., Cerrano, C., Turvano, E., Bavestrello, G., Thung, D. C., & Bertolino, M. (2024). Sponge Spicules in Sediments: A Proxy for Past and Present Sponge Fauna Assessment in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12(12), 2162. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12122162