immature fish in sponge reef

The sponge reefs form a deep water habitat of great complexity for fish and invertebrates. The large mounds can have very steep sides forming walls. The dense cover of sponges provides a diversity of openings of different size and shape for cover for organisms of all sizes. Tiny juvenile and pregnant rockfish have been seen in the complex cover provided by the sponges suggesting a possible nursery function for the reefs. Octopuses are found here indicates that the reefs provide enough habitat complexity to support these hunters. A variety of crabs and other crustaceans - notably shrimp, prawns, euphausids and squat lobsters are commonly seen.