First Records of Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae) for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Copeland JE, Kunigelis SC, Stuart EA, Hanson KA. 2020. First Records of Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillidae) for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science. 95(1):59-62
ABSTRACT: A survey of four selected streams in the Tennessee portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was conducted to document the presence of freshwater sponges. Streams were surveyed by wading and observing rock and log substrates for sponges. Sponges were viewed with a 10X magnifier for gemmules. If gemmules were present a portion of the sponge containing gemmules was collected. Scanning electron microscopy of gemmules and spicules was used for taxonomic identification. Two species, Radiospongilla crateriformis and TrochospongiUa horrida, were discovered. Both were found in the Abrams Creek embayment of Chilhowee Lake. These findings represent the first records of freshwater sponges within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Copeland, John; Kunigelis, Stan; Stuart, Emily; Hanson, Kayleigh
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Abrams Creek, All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, ATBI, freshwater sponges, GRSM-02315, Porifera, Radiospongilla crateriformis, Spongillidae, Trochospongilla horrida