Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to grow Haliclona simulans sponge larvae on soft materials
By Li Z et al.·2026·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Large-scale cultivation of Haliclona simulans sponge larvae on soft substrates and the enhancing effect of Chlorella
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how to grow sponge larvae from the species Haliclona simulans in a way that is sustainable and easy to manage. Researchers tested 40 different materials to see which ones the larvae would settle on best and found that 80-mesh nylon worked the best. They then raised about 160,000 larvae using this nylon and found that when they were kept indoors, about 65% settled successfully. After 28 days, the larvae were moved to the sea, where they grew significantly, but they faced challenges like environmental stress and predators. Overall, the findings provide useful information for growing these sponge larvae on a larger scale, but more work is needed to improve the transfer process to the sea.
Abstract
Sustainable sponge cultivation depends on advanced larval cultivation techniques. This study investigates the cultivation of Haliclona simulans larvae on soft substrates, aiming to develop a scalable and easily manipulated method. Initial screening of 40 materials identified linen, 80-mesh nylon, 80-mesh polyethylene mesh, and black silk as optimal settlement materials. 14-day survival test confirmed 80-mesh nylon as the optimal soft substrate. Subsequent large-scale cultivation on nylon sheet involved approximately 160,000 H. simulans larvae. These larvae experienced indoor incubation followed by in-situ sea cultivation. Indoor cultivation resulted in a 65.26 ± 13.32 % settlement rate, and groups supplemented with microalgae achieved a 63.71 ± 23.98 % survival rate over 30 days. The optimal indoor-to-in-situ transition window was determined to be 28 days, with one individual achieving a 130-fold volume increase within 14 days post-transfer. During in-situ cultivation, larvae showed higher survival rates when oriented sideward or downward. However, environmental stress, sedimentation, and predation highlighted the need for optimizing the indoor-sea transfer process. This study presents initial insights into larval cultivation on soft substrates, offering valuable information for the sustainable, large-scale cultivation of H. simulans larvae and potentially other sponge species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/IND609398386