Freshwater sponges – skeletal structure analysis using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

2016
Document Type:
Article (Published version)

© 2016 by The Serbian Water Pollution Control Society
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Show full item recordAbstract:
Freshwater sponges, compared to their marine counterparts have not been studied extensively in the past. The
standard approach in their identification is microscopy analysis of the sponge skeletal structures, combined with
the, ever more popular, genetic analysis. The aim of this paper is to briefly describe the use of light microscopy
and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), two methods applied in sponge ultrastructure analysis, as well as to
present preliminary results on identification of samples from the Danube River. Based on the reviewed material,
the species Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus 1759) and Ephydatia fluviatilis (Linnaeus 1759) were identified.
This paper describes sample preparation and highlights some of the skeletal characteristics crucial for the
identification of these two freshwater sponge species, widespread in Europe, Asia and North America.
Keywords:
Freshwater sponges; spicules; light microscopy; SEMSource:
Water Research and Management, 2016, 6, 2, 15-17Funding / projects:
- Geologic and ecotoxicologic research in identification of geopathogen zones of toxic elements in drinking water reservoirs- research into methods and procedures for reduction of biochemical anomalies (RS-176018)
- Monitoring and Modeling of Rivers and Reservoirs (MORE) - Physical, Chemical, Biological and Morphodynamic Parameters (RS-37009)
- Biosensing Technologies and Global System for Long-Term Research and Integrated Management of Ecosystems (RS-43002)