There is a sponge die off going on now along the SW portion of Ramrod Key
in the Florida Keys. My daughter (Dora DeMaria) took the video below today
(May 5, 2015) while we snorkeled along Ramrod Key.
I don't know what species of sponge this is, but it is the only species
impacted--all other species of sponge look fine.
It is a branching type sponge, raised oscules aligned along the dorsal
side, brownish (when alive), fairly firm, but pulls apart easily (when alive).
This sponge was alive not too long ago--maybe an month or so. Today, I
could not [...]