Cold Biosilicification in Metazoan: Psychrophilic Glass Sponges

Numerous species of sponges (Porifera) habituate cold waters, including Antarctic seas. Silica-based skeletal structures, including spicules and skeletal frameworks, of representatives from both Demospongiae and Hexactinellida taxons arise due to biosilicification processes. The mechanism of this sp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tabachnick, Konstantin, Janussen, Dorte, Menshenina, Larisa
Other Authors: Ehrlich, Hermann
Format: Book Part
Language:English
Published: Springer International Publishing 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/48912/
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/48912/1/Tabachnick.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45340-8_2
Description
Summary:Numerous species of sponges (Porifera) habituate cold waters, including Antarctic seas. Silica-based skeletal structures, including spicules and skeletal frameworks, of representatives from both Demospongiae and Hexactinellida taxons arise due to biosilicification processes. The mechanism of this special biomineralization under psychrophilic conditions remains unknown. In this chapter, the psychrophilic problem is discussed as it pertains to different aspects of the life cycle of hexactinellid sponges. New data on the vertical distribution of Hexactinellida which proves the previous analogous investigations are given, as well as new interpretation of their mortal process. A new type of deep-sea reef construction of hexactinellid sponge Sarostegia oculata is described for the first time.