Cymbastela lamellata explained

Cymbastela lamellata is a species of marine sponge in the family Axinellidae.

The sponge was first described in 1961 by Patricia Bergquist as Axinella lamellata,^[1] However the name had already been used, and she renamed it in 1970 as Axinella tricalciformis.^{[2] [3]}

It is known from both the Chatham Islands and from waters around Tasmania, where it has been found at depths of 6–90 m. It is a sessile, filter feeder.^[4]

C. lamellata is a dominant marine sponge in Fiordland, New Zealand. A mass bleaching event (akin to coral bleaching) of C. lamellata was reported throughout much of Fiordland following a heatwave in mid-2022, causing C. lamellata to expel their symbiotic algae. This was the largest case of temperate sponge bleaching ever recorded. Despite the bleaching event, most of the bleached sponges were found to be still alive, although at intensified risk of fish predation.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Bergquist, P.R. . 1961. Demospongiae (Porifera) of the Chatham Islands and Chatham Rise, collected by the Chatham Islands 1954 Expedition. Bulletin of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research . 139. 169-206 20 figs [188].
2. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Cymbastela lamellata (Bergquist, 1961). www.marinespecies.org. 2020-09-23.
3. Bergquist, P.R.. 1970. The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Porifera,Demospongiae, Part 2 (Axinellida and Halichondrida). New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Memoir. 51. 9–85.
4. Web site: Australian Faunal Directory: Axinella tricalyciformis Bergquist, 1961. 2020-09-23. AFD.
5. Web site: 2022-06-23 . New Zealand records largest ever bleaching of sea sponges . 2022-10-02 . the Guardian . en.
6. Web site: 2022-06-23 . Scientists fear mass bleaching of Fiordland sea sponges the largest of its kind . 2022-10-02 . RNZ . en-nz.
7. Web site: "We were really worried they would all die." . 2022-10-02 . New Zealand Geographic . en-NZ.