Characterisation of sponge sublittoral habitats for the Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest, Nova Scotia, Canada / by Claire Goodwin, J. Andrew Cooper, Peter Lawton, Torben Brydges, Laura L. Teed, Nicholas...: Fs97-6/3679E-PDF

"A SCUBA diver-based survey was conducted at 42 sites in the Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest (AOI), Nova Scotia. Within the AOI's 2089 km² of submerged sublittoral habitat, high resolution multibeam data determined that 569 km² (27%) was between 10 to 35 m depth (below chart datum). Sites with high seabed slope features at this depth range were selected to survey for sponges, other species, substrate characteristics, and water quality. A total of 54 dives to depths from 11 to 33 m (below sea level) resulted in 220 observations for 27 different sponge taxa. Overall sponge abundance and diversity did not appear to be especially high in this area yet observations included three new records for Canada (Hymedesmia jecusculum, H. stellifera, and Plocamiancora arndti) and a range extension for a species new to science (Crellomima mehqisinpekonuta) recently described from the Bay of Fundy. There were also four species which may be new to science (Halichondria sp., Hymedesmia sp., Protosuberites sp., and Sphaerotylus sp.). Site habitat characteristics were analyzed to assess if location, depth, habitat features, or associated species could be used to inform differences in sponge abundance and diversity. Sponges were found to occupy a diversity of micro-habitats, often several different ones in proximity. A total of eight distinct habitat classes were defined, based on varying abundances and diversity of sponges and associated benthic species. These are likely widely distributed among the many complex submerged seabed features within this AOI"--Abstract, page xi.

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