Work

Hydrodynamic entanglement in the abyss: Morphological adaptations of groups of Euplectella aspergillum

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Euplectella aspergillum is a deep-sea glass sponge that has attracted the interest of the scientific community for almost 150 years, for its surprising adaptations to the asperities of the abyss. The state-of-the-art on this organism focuses on specimens in isolation, but field observations question this premise. Footage from the abyss shows instances in which E. aspergillum live in bouquets comprising several organisms. Through high performance computing of the flow physics of E. aspergillum, we discover a complex hydrodynamic entanglement that favors downstream organisms at no cost to upstream ones. Such an interaction benefits the nutrition, reproduction, and resilience of the bouquet—the first instance of a hydrodynamic advantage that emerges due to purely passive interactions in a group.

Source: PNAS Nexus

DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag165

Authors: Giacomo Falcucci, Ourania Giannopoulou, Paolo Proia, Giorgio Amati, Maurizio Porfiri

Institutions: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Harvard University, Cineca, New York University

Language: English

Topic: Marine Sponges and Natural Products

Subfield: Biotechnology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,202