Our last regular field site to check after the hurricane last fall- no #freshwatersponges unfortunately but did find this cute water snake peeking out

Culturing #sponge #microbes from #freshwatersponges with the I-tip method (from Jung et al2014 FEMS). Some amazing undergrads leading this, excited to see what we get!

Freshwater sponge on a rock.

Freshwater sponges on unionid mussels.

Was thrilled to find so many freshwater sponges during a practice dive in the St. Lawrence River, including some growing on unionid mussels! #freshwatersponges

Here to wave goodbye on another 🧵to celebrate the wonders of the lovely Little Ouse, on the submerged branches of the rich growth of willows at Lakenheath Fen, the freaky fingers of freshwater sponges (Spongillidae). #invertebrate #rivers #sponge #spongethursday #freshwatersponges #Porifera 11/11

Baarseieren / Perch eggs

Snoek / Pike

Zoetwaterspons / Freshwater sponge

Zoetwaterspons aangegroeid op Zebramossel (Dreissena sp) / Freshwater sponge settled on a Dreissena sp.

Vanmorgen een duik van 96 minuten in de Blijkpolderplas met scooter. Het leven komt op gang. Baarseieren, actieve grondels. Watertemperatuur varieerde van 9°C - 14°C. We hebben het busje gevonden en er huisde een grote snoek. #duiken #Scubadiving #freshwatersponges @ravonnederland.bsky.social

Here's a selection of freshwater sponges from Willow Brook (top), green on bed, cream in tree root cave, & (below) from the hull of a narrow boat on the parallel River Nene - adjacent to each other but different colours. #freshwatersponges #Elton #RiverNene #SpongeThursday 6/12

Some spectacular spongescapes, including Kermit the Sponge, some on fallen tree branches, at the confluence of the River Wissey with the River Great Ouse. Assume Lake Sponge (Spongilla lacustris).

Quite a few diseased fish eg this Roach.

#SpongeThursday #freshwatersponges 2/10

But besides the #nonnativespecies in the Great Ouse, eg Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea), there still seemed to be a healthy population of Swollen River-Mussel (Unio tumidus) & some delightful freshwater sponges growing off the pontoon at Brownshill Lock. #freshwatersponges
7/9

The River Lark is cave-like under the overhanging Alders and tunnel-like between the banks of warbler-loud Reed and Bur-reed.
Always love the rippling reefs of Starwort below the water & seeing #freshwatersponges never ceases to be a treat. Species?
#SpongeThursday #Suffolk
5/5

Lining the tunnel where River Lark passes under the A11 & Old Mill Lane, Barton Mills, a healthy population of freshwater sponges, some green, some creamy coloured. Ephydatia fluviatilis? Spongilla lacustris?
#Freshwatersponges #freshwatersponges #spongeThursday #WestSuffolk 3/5

At the confluence of the Rivers Little Ouse & Thet, in downtown Thetford, unbeknownst to shoppers, spectacular spongescapes carpet the riverbed, softening the outline even of a brick #WorldRiversDay #Thetford #Freshwatersponges #spongethursday #sponges #porifera #Chalkstreams 5/6

There's a healthy population of freshwater sponges carpeting parts of Rivers Thet & River Little Ouse where they converge in Thetford town centre. Here's a two tone one. Wonder how many residents are aware of these otherworldly inhabitants of their town!
#Freshwatersponges
8/9

As well as this freshwater snail resident in the Brandon Staunch Eel Ladder, around the lock are some superb freshwater sponges with eerie green fingers waving in the current.
#RiverLittleOuse #LittleOuse #Chalkstreams #WestSuffolk #Brecks #BrandonLock #freshwatersponges
7/10

Some fun freshwater sponges - and an egg mass? - in the River Lark by the bridge at Isleham Marina weir.

#freshwatersponges #RiverLark #Isleham #Cambridgeshire #Suffolk #Fenland #Fens #Chalkstreams 2/4