Environmental conditions for glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound

The research project will synthesize existing research on hexactinellid (glass) sponge reefs with chemical and geospatial analyses to draw conclusions about optimal habitat conditions and improve the ability of researchers to predict where new reefs may be found. The research will be conducted with a combination of lab and field work. Reef sites in Howe Sound will be visited to collect water samples at reef and surface depth, which will then be analyzed in the Douglas College lab for phosphate, nitrate, silica and dissolved oxygen concentration. The importance of these parameters has been established through a review of existing literature on glass sponges; colorimetric and atomic absorption results on seawater has established these parameters can be measured. A comprehensive geospatial analysis will also be performed to determine relationships (if any) between the post-glacial marine geomorphology of Howe Sound, sediment transport in the region, and the location of known glass sponge reefs. It is anticipated that chemical analyses will demonstrate identifiable biochemical dynamics that will reinforce existing research on the role glass sponge reefs play in supporting marine biodiversity. The chemical analyses will also help draw conclusions about optimal habitat conditions for glass sponges. These conclusions will be strengthened by the spatial analysis portion of this study. The spatial analysis will attempt to apply our understanding of British Columbia's post-glacial geomorphology to identify candidate locations for undiscovered reefs. It will also demonstrate the importance of such geomorphology in explaining why glass sponge reefs are unique to this region of the world. Poster submission was sponsored by Dr. Brenda Addison-Jones, (Earth & Environmental Sciences Department) for course EAES 2537 and was presented at the New Westminster campus on April 12, 2023, for Student Research Days 2023.