Sponge Communities of Submarine Caves and Tunnels on the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Northeast Brazil

A recent study significantly expands the known diversity of sponge species in submarine caves and tunnels within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Researchers documented 69 sponge species, doubling the previously recorded number (29) for these cryptic environments. The study highlights distinct community structures across cave zones: semi-dark areas are rich in Demospongiae, Homoscleromorpha, and Calcarea, while transition zones feature desma-bearing sponges and thinly encrusting spirastrellids. Notably, the darkest zone in Ilha do Meio Cave was nearly azoic, containing only three species. The research involved scuba diving explorations at depths of 5 to 18 meters across three cavities—Sapata Cave, Ilha do Meio Cave, and Pedras Secas Tunnel—revealing the unique biodiversity and ecological dynamics of these underwater habitats in the Southwestern Atlantic.

Muricy, G., Lage, A., Sandes, J., Klautau, M., Pinheiro, U., Laport, M. S., de Oliveira, B. F. R., Pequeno, C. B., & Lopes, M. V. (2024). Sponge Communities of Submarine Caves and Tunnels on the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Northeast Brazil. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12(4), 657. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12040657