Suspended sediments can affect the health of marine benthic suspension feeders, with concomitant effects on community diversity, abundance and ecosystem function. Suspended sediment loads can become elevated through trawling and dredging, and via resuspension of bottom sediments and/or direct input from land during storms. We assessed the functioning (survival, respiration, morphology) of a common New Zealand cushion sponge, Crella incrustans (Carter, 1885), during four weeks of exposure to a gradient of suspended sediment concentrations (SSC). Survival was high, and oxygen consumption was not affected. Sponges did, however, develop apical fistules, a phenomenon never-before observed in this species. Although sediments accumulated internally within the sponges, around a third had cleared these sediments two weeks after the elevated SSCs were removed. The environments these sponges inhabit may predispose them to coping with high SSCs. Such experiments are useful for defining SSC tolerances, which may influence how such impacts can be managed.

中文翻译：

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常见的新西兰沿海海绵对悬浮沉积物升高的反应：适应性指标。

悬浮的沉积物会影响海洋底栖悬浮动物的健康，并伴随着对社区多样性，丰度和生态系统功能的影响。悬浮的泥沙负荷可能会通过拖网和挖泥，以及底部的泥沙重新悬浮和/或暴风雨期间土地的直接投入而升高。我们在暴露于悬浮沉积物浓度梯度（SSC）的四个星期中，评估了一种常见的新西兰坐垫海绵Crella incrustans（Carter，1885年）的功能（生存，呼吸，形态）。存活率高，并且氧气消耗不受影响。然而，海绵确实长出了顶端的瘘管，这种现象在该物种中从未见过。尽管沉积物在海绵内部积累，高架的南南合作社被删除后两周，大约有三分之一清除了这些沉积物。这些海绵居住的环境可能使它们容易应对高SSC。这样的实验对于定义SSC公差很有用，它可能会影响如何管理此类影响。