Hardy sponge thrives in polluted Spanish marina, spawning mobile clones after 455 days
Researchers moved 42 sponges into a contaminated harbor in Girona, where 91.7% of the chicken kidney sponge survived for over a year and began reproducing by crawling.
Scientists from the Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes tested five native Mediterranean sponges by placing them on artificial reefs inside Marina Palamós, a heavily disturbed Spanish harbour. After an initial laboratory phase, only the chicken kidney sponge, Chondrosia reniformis, persisted, with 91.7% of the original specimens alive after 455 days. Unlike the other species, which died within weeks to months, this sponge attached to experimental plates, migrated to protected cracks, and reproduced asexually by fission, creating mobile clones.
Its ability to “creep” away from unfavorable conditions and generate genetic copies could make it a pioneer for biological cleanup of polluted ports. The findings, reported in Frontiers in Marine Science, also note the sponge’s dense symbiotic microbes, which may aid in processing harbour toxins. Researchers plan multi-year monitoring to assess microbial shifts and continue testing additional sponge candidates for habitat restoration.
Why it matters
The study shows a natural way to help clean polluted harbours using resilient sponges that filter water and multiply on their own.
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