10/30/05
Crush, a seventh grader from Burke County, wants to know about the glass sponges you have seen during the sub dives.
At least three different types of glass sponges have been seen on this mission. One is shaped like a ball, one is mass of cylinder shapes, and the third is shaped
like a wine glass. The interesting thing about glass sponges is that they are composed of spicules that, if touched, break off easily and pierce the skin. These
spicules can cause tingling, itching, and irritation, much like touching fiberglass does. We have collected a few different species and, in some of them, you
can see the sharp spicules with your eyes. Unfortunately, a few of us have felt them, too.
Nate and Amanda, college students from NC State, and Matt, a ninth grader from Virginia, wonder
if hurricanes affect life in the deep ocean. If they do, what are the effects and how long do these effects last?
Hurricanes do not generally have long-term effects on deep ocean habitats but can cause temporary changes in local currents or energy
flow. Normally, energy flows from the surface of the ocean down to the bottom. Hurricanes may cause that flow of energy to increase or
decrease, depending on the disturbances that occur at the surface due to the storm. We expect that everything in our sampling area will
be back to normal within 24–48 hours after Hurricane Wilma.
