Cold Biosilicification in Metazoan: Psychrophilic Glass Sponges

• Main Authors: Tabachnick, Konstantin, Janussen, Dorte, Menshenina, Larisa
• Other Authors: Ehrlich, Hermann
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Springer International Publishing 2016
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Glass sponges
• 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

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.