User:Tds10/Wikipedia Assignment

Phylogeny of Desmacella hyalina
Reconstructing the phylogeny of Sponges is one of the remaining challenges to resolve the Metazoan tree of life and in solving that, we will be able to understand early animal evolution. Demospongiae, what the species Desmacella hyalina is, have skeletons made out of bipolymer spongin or they can also have a fibrous skeleton. In this Demospongiae class there are 15 total orders, 88 families, and about 500 genera. Demospongiae include about 85% of all recently described species so, there is always a new species of these specific sponges being discovered. These sponges tend to have discreet cellular elements with the axial filament embedded in the triangular or hexagonal cavity. Demospongiae also have blastula larvae and are either viviparous or oviparious concerning reproductive strategies. Desmacella hyalina are considered a cryptic species, meaning not a lot is known about them. Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Desmacella hyalina is that Demospongiae are normally considered filter feeders, but these sponges eat other sponges that are considered to be glass sponges. Desmacella Hyalina also have hooks that help them latch onto other sponges, or 'encrust' them in order for them to eat. Below is the classification of this species that comes from ( Dohrmann et al., 2008).


 * Porifera (phylum)
 * Demospongiae (class)
 * Heteroscleromorpha (subclass)
 * Desmacellida (order)
 * Desmacellidae (family)
 * Desmacella (Genus)
 * Desmacella hyalina (species)

The name Desmacella hyalina refers to its ability to encrust on other sponges. The word hyalinus was borrowed from the greek word "hualinous" meaning "of crystal or glass". Demacella hyalina has three known morphotypes that have ever been found: White morphotype, yellow morphotype, mauve morphotype. They encrust the surface of reef forming glass sponges and can live on live and dead H. calyx and A. vastus. The spicules they have in order to live on glass sponges are called tylostyles and they are long, thin, and smooth with a slightly curved form. Desmacella hyalina also have a hispid surface with non-apparent oscules.

Spicules of Demospongiae
As seen in the picture to the right, Demosponge spicules are very diverse and come in all shapes and sizes. spicules in this species are commonly made of silica and coordinate with their silicate skeleton. They play a major role in biosilification in certain waters (Weaver et al., 2003). These organisms have this in order to attach to the surface of glass sponges in their respective habitat. Scientists are not sure if this is an adaptation to overpopulation in these areas or an adaptation to beat out the glass sponges when competing for food. Nevertheless, these structures are important for Desmacella hyalina and without them, this species could surely die off.

Habitat of Desmacella hyalina
Since these sponges are siliaceous or fibrous they tend to like and live in deeper waters. This means they dwell in the intertidal zones of water or in the deep sea. The only known habitat this cryptic species has been found in has been in the northeast pacific. More specifically in the northern reef complex of Hecate strait and Queen Charlotte sound glass sponge reef protected area right off the coast of British Columbia. This sponge has been found to form nearly 20% of live sponge cover in reefs which in turn indicates its importance in reefs. High abundances of this sponge have only ever been found in areas with high dissolved silicate, low light, cooler temperatures (9-10°C), and low suspended sediments (Hooper et al.,2002).

Importance of Desmacella hyalina in reefs
Since this sponge has been found to form nearly 20% of live sponge coverage in reefs off the coast of British Columbia, it is obvious that it is pretty important to reefs. Desmacella hyalina is a silaceous sponge along with being a filter feeder/ suspension feeder, so these sponges can filter out harmful sediments in the water making the water quality better. Another reason this species of sponge is important in glass sponge reefs is that it keeps the booming population of glass sponges under control so it does not run rampant. These species of sponge have also been found to have suprisingly strong skeletons that have actually influenced some infastructure of today( Fernandes et al., 2021). With this being said, these sponge skeletons have been critical in keeping the infastructures of reefs strong and in keeping the reef growing as well.