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News Release 14-025
Overfishing of Caribbean coral reefs favors coral-killing sponges
Caribbean-wide study shows protected coral reefs dominated by sponges with chemical defenses
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A sponge smothers a living coral head on a reef that lacks predatory angelfish.
Credit: Joe Pawlik, UNCW
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More than five species of sponges cover a coral reef in the Bahamas.
Credit: Joe Pawlik, UNCW
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Aplysina cauliformis (violet) on Agelas clathrodes (orange); both carry potent chemicals.
Credit: Joe Pawlik, UNCW
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Large chemically-defended sponges on a reef with abundant sponge-eating fish in the Bahamas.
Credit: Joe Pawlik, UNCW
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A yellow burrowing sponge attacking a plate-forming stony coral.
Credit: Joe Pawlik, UNCW
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Close-up of the brilliantly-colored Ailochroia crassa (purple) and Agelas sp. (brown).
Credit: Joe Pawlik, UNCW
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