Vanessa de Souza Machado

Freshwater sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) indicators of some coastal habitats in South America: redescriptions and key to identification

Surveys for freshwater sponges were performed at several water bodies at sandy environments along a north-south direction of particularly the Brazilian coastal line. The results allowed for the distinction of four different species-specific environments along this coastal border. The main fact considered was the dominant or the sole recurrent occurrence of a single sponge species at one particular habitat. The first one is that of the lagoonal mesohaline habitats at the tropical and subtropical realms, indicated by Spongilla alba Carter, 1849. The second one refers to shallow ponds among dunes at the tropical area indicated by Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera (Ezcurra de Drago, 1974). The third one is that of also shallow ponds close to the dune belt at the temperate region indicated by Racekiela sheilae (Volkmer-Ribeiro, De Rosa-Barbosa & Tavares, 1988). The fourth one is that of organically enriched environments, at the marginal areas of lagoons and mouth of small rivers, evolving towards freshwater muddy ponds and coastal swamps, not far from the ocean border: Ephydatia facunda Weltner, 1895 is the species to occupy this habitat with almost exclusiveness. The above species are thus proposed as indicators of such habitats and have their descriptions improved and that of their environments summarized. A taxonomic key based on the spicules of the four species is proposed. The results presented aim to contribute to the identification of spicules of these sponges in sediment columns recovered at the Brazilian and South American coastal area. Determination of paleo ocean borders are a present issue of upmost importance in what respects projections of timing and fluctuations of ascending/regressing sea levels.

Inventary of the Sponge Fauna of the cemitério Paleolake, Catalão, Goiás, Brazil

The Cemitério Paleolake, Catalão, Goiás, is a lacustrine deposit that is rich in spicules of continental sponges. These spicules, which are present in three sections (1-3), were analyzed for the taxonomic identification of the species in order to reconstruct the late Quaternary palaeoenvironment. An indigenous assemblage of lentic sponges was found, consisting of Metania spinata (Carter 1881), Dosilia pydanieli Volkmer-Ribeiro (1992), Radiospongilla amazonensis Volkmer-Ribeiro and Maciel (1983), Trochospongilla variabilis Bonetto and Ezcurra de Drago (1973), Corvomeyenia thumi (Traxler 1895), Heterorotula fistula Volkmer-Ribeiro and Motta (1995), plus Corvoheteromeyenia australis (Bonetto and Ezcurra de Drago 1966), which here has its first record in an assemblage formed by biosiliceous deposits. Furthermore, at the base of the sections, spicules of sponges from lotic environments were detected, including Corvospongilla seckti Bonetto and Ezcurra de Drago (1966), Oncosclera navicella (Carter 1881) and Eunapius fragilis (Leidy 1851), which suggests a contribution from flowing water. We identified 25 spongofacies horizons caused by sponge assemblages typical of a lentic environment, dated from at least 39,700 years BP., and currently occurring in lakes typical of the Cerrado Biome.

Freshwater sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) in a benthic filter feeding community at the Guanacaste Dry Forest, Costa Rica

As esponjas de agua doce Trochospongilla variabilis Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago (1973), Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882), Spongilla cenota Penney & Racek (1968) e Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera (Ezcurra de Drago, 1974) compoem, com o bivalve esferideo Eupera cubensis (Prime, 1865) e diversos briozoarios Phylactolaemata, uma comunidade bentica de filtradores em ambientes sazonais lenticos e loticos com alto Carbono Orgânico Particulado (POC), baixa condutividade e pH acido no bioma da Floresta Decidual da Costa Rica. Os especimes de esponjas coligidos conduziram a redescricao das quatro especies.

Corvomeyenia epilithosa sp. nov. (Porifera, Metaniidae) no Parque Nacional da Serra Geral, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Corvomeyenia epilithosa sp. nov. is described and registered for a protected area at southern Brazil. An updating of Manconi & Pronzato ’s (2002) definition and distribution of genus Corvomeyenia Weltner, 1913 is presented altogether with a taxonomic key for the four species in the genus: C. everetti (Mills, 1884) and C. carolinensis Harrison (1971) , from the Neartic Region, C. thumi (Traxler, l895) and C. epilithosa sp. nov. from the Neotropical Region. Remarkable habitat distinctions exhibited by these species are commented.

Drulia cristinae, new species of sponge from the rio Xingu, Amazonas Basin, Brazil (Porifera: Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida: Metaniidae Volkmer-Ribeiro, 1986)

ABSTRACT. A recent survey of the aquatic fauna in the rio Xingu, Pará State, Brazil, revealed a new species of Drulia Gray 1867, an extraordinary genus of freshwater sponge endemic to South America. Drulia cristinae n. sp. is distinguished in part by having gemmoscleres typically with elliptical outline and outer face with small, central crest or irregular bulge (exceptionally nude), oscules set atop conical projections of skeleton, and microscleres minute, wholly nanospined amphioxea. A taxonomic key is presented for the six species now composing the restored and redefined genus Drulia: D. brownii, D. cristata, D. uruguayensis, D. conifera, D. ctenosclera and D. cristinae n. sp. Furthermore, the monotypic South American genus Houssayella is retained as valid in Spongillidae on the basis of sharing gemmoscleres with true birotulate pattern (i.e., symmetrical disks separated by short or long, spiny or smooth shaft).

Cauixi em cerâmica arqueológica da região de Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais: inclusão de esponjas processadas ou exploração de depósitos sedimentares com espículas?

Abstract: This article presents the first identification of cauixi sponge material in archaeological pottery from the Lagoa Santa region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This zooarchaeological study addresses whether the presence of spicules of freshwater sponges in this pottery was a conscious choice on behalf of ancient potters. Based on faunal elements detected in the collection of the Vereda III site and information obtained from ethnographic records and archaeological research on the presence of cauixi in pottery, we discuss whetherits presence in the material results from the inclusion of processed freshwater sponges in the clay or if it derives from the exploitation of sedimentary deposits with spicules. As one of the outcomes, this articlepoints to a necessary revision of the archaeological pottery material of the Aratu-Sapucai tradition in Minas Gerais where the identification of cauixi and its origin should both be considered. Keywords: Zooarchaeology. Cauixi sponge. Archaeological pottery. Aratu-Sapucai tradition. Lagoa Santa.RODRIGUES, Igor Morais Mariano; VOLKMER-RIBEIRO, Cecilia; MACHADO, Vanessa de Souza. Cauixi em cerâmica arqueologica da regiao de Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais: inclusao de esponjas processadas ou exploracao de depositos sedimentares com espiculas?

Investigation of freshwater sponges spicules deposits in a karstic lake in Brazil

The environmental conditions which contributed to the formation of the notorious quaternary deposits of freshwater sponge spicules in karstic lentic environments in Brazil have been subject of some speculation. No investigation has yet been conducted to test whether these deposits currently originate in karstic lakes. To provide for such an investigation, Serra Negra Lake, which is formed on an ultramafic-alkaline-carbonatite dome at central western Brazil, close to the area of occurrence of the paleo-deposits was selected for the study. Bottom sediments were sampled at 10 stations across the lake, and water was sampled at five of the stations, in June/2011 (rainy season) and October/2011 (dry season). Analysis of granulometry, organic matter and presence of spicules were carried out in the sediments. Lake water was analysed for the main physical and chemical characteristics. Deposit of spicules was restricted to the northern area of the lake, which is rich in macrophyte. The taxonomic analysis of the spicules indicated the contribution of five sponge species, Dosilia pydanieli, Metania spinata, Radiospongilla amazonensis, Trochospongilla variabilis and Heterorotula fistula, which formed large deposits in neighbouring areas. The high silica concentration, derived from the dome volcanic rocks, constant water level and available substrate are credited for the continuous production of sponges and spicules, confirmed by the rare presence of gemmoscleres. The lake is classed as a minerotrophic fen type of bog with a heavy contribution from the surrounding creeks. Lake sediments are fine with high levels of organic matter and peat, which contributed to the trapping of spicules in the sediments.