Editing Sponge (section)

=== Diseases ===

Caribbean sponges of the genus ''[[Aplysina]]'' suffer from [[Aplysina red band syndrome]]. This causes ''Aplysina'' to develop one or more rust-colored bands, sometimes with adjacent bands of [[necrosis|necrotic]] tissue. These lesions may completely encircle branches of the sponge. The disease appears to be [[Contagious disease|contagious]] and impacts approximately ten percent of ''A. cauliformis'' on Bahamian reefs.<ref name="Gochfeld_2012">{{cite journal|last=Gochfeld |first=D.J. |display-authors=etal |title=Population Dynamics of a Sponge Disease on Caribbean Reefs |journal=Diving for Science 2012 |editor1=Steller, D. |editor2=Lobel, L. |publisher=Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 31st Symposium |year=2012|url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/10327 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904045439/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/10327 |archive-date=2015-09-04 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The rust-colored bands are caused by a [[cyanobacterium]], but it is unknown whether this organism actually causes the disease.<ref name="Gochfeld_2012"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=J.B. |last2=Gochfeld |first2=D.J. |last3=Slattery |first3=M. |title=Aplysina red band syndrome: a new threat to Caribbean sponges |journal=Diseases of Aquatic Organisms |volume=71 |issue=2 |pages=163–8 |date=July 2006 |pmid=16956064 |doi=10.3354/dao071163 |doi-access=free }} {{lay source |template=cite web |last=Clarke |first=M. |date=2006-10-17 |title=New disease threatens sponges |website=Practical Fishkeeping |url=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1113 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235654/http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1113 |archive-date=2007-09-26}}</ref>