Influence of sponges on invertebrate recruitment: A field test of allelopathy

We manipulated live sponges in Belize, Central America, Big Pine Key, Florida (USA), and Indian River lagoon, Florida (USA) in summer/autumn, 1988. At each location, live sponges of three species were placed within 0.5 cm of ceramic tiles. Tiles with synthetic sponges positioned in the same manner and tiles with no sponges served as controls. Of 26 recruiting species analyzed, only one (Sponge sp. 6 — Indian River) was inhibited by living sponges. Four species (Perophora regina — Belize;Aiptasia pallida — Big Pine Key; andCrassostrea virginica andAscidia nigra — Indian River) recruited in greater numbers in the presence of sponges, suggesting that some larvae may be attracted rather than repelled by sponge allelochemicals. Allelopathic effects were less important than small-scale flow effects and patchy larval supply in determining recruitment patterns on surfaces adjacent to sponges.