Editing Hexactinellid (section)

== Conservation ==
Most hexactinellids live in deep waters that are not impacted by human activities. However, there are glass sponge reefs off the coast of British Columbia. The Canadian government designated 2140&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of the Hecate strait and Queen Charlotte sound as a marine protected area. This area contains four glass sponge reefs. The new regulations prohibit bottom contact fishing within 200 meters of the sponge reefs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Fisheries and Oceans Canada |date=2019-09-18 |title=Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area (HS/QCS MPA) |url=https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/mpa-zpm/hecate-charlotte/index-eng.html |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca}}</ref> Although human activities only affect a small portion of glass sponges, they are still subject to the threat of climate changes. Experiments using the species ''Aphrocallistes vastus'' have shown that increases in temperature and acidification can lead to weakened skeletal strength and stiffness.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stevenson |first1=A. |last2=Archer |first2=S. K. |last3=Schultz |first3=J. A. |last4=Dunham |first4=A. |last5=Marliave |first5=J. B. |last6=Martone |first6=P. |last7=Harley |first7=C. D. G. |date=2020-05-18 |title=Warming and acidification threaten glass sponge Aphrocallistes vastus pumping and reef formation |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=8176 |doi=10.1038/s41598-020-65220-9 |pmid=32424237 |pmc=7235243 |bibcode=2020NatSR..10.8176S |issn=2045-2322}}</ref> In 1995, an Antarctic ice shelf collapsed due to climate change. Since then, studies of the area have shown that hexactinellid reefs have been increasing in size despite the changes in climate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fillinger |first1=Laura |last2=Janussen |first2=Dorte |last3=Lundalv |first3=Tomas |last4=Richter |first4=Claudio |date=July 22, 2013 |title=Rapid glass sponge expansion after climate-induce Antarctic ice shelf collapse |journal=Current Biology |volume=23 |issue=14 |pages=1330–1334 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2013.05.051 |pmid=23850279 |s2cid=18142746 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2013CBio...23.1330F }}</ref>