Source: UNEP
Long overlooked, deep-water sponge grounds are now emerging as a key component of deep-sea ecosystems, creating complex habitats hosting manyother species. They are an important refuge in the deep ocean and they are also reservoirs of great species diversity, including commercially important fish. Playing a similar role to that of cold-water coral reefs with which they often co-occur, sponge grounds are even more ecologically and geographically diverse, consisting of many individual species and occurring in many places around the world.
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