TY - JOUR AB - Haliclona elegans is particularly useful for a study of skeletal variation, because it is easily identified by the 'slime strand' test. Spicule samples of specimens collected at low water spring tides throughout the year have been measured and subjected to statistical analysis. Monthly changes in the mean lengths and widths of the spicules were found, and in their standard deviations and coefficients of variation (C.V.). There was a marked drop in the C.V. for width and length in June, explicable by a cessation in spicule production: Vertical and surface sections of the sponges in February were strikingly diffetent from those in August. The taxonomy of the species and causes of skeletal variation are discussed. A1 - Jones, W.C. JO - Publications of the Sherkin Island Marine Station N1 - Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Atlanto-Mediterranean Sponge Taxonomy, Sherkin Island September 1983 SP - 109 EP - 129 C1 - 1: 109-129 TI - Seasonal variations in the skeleton and spicule dimensions of Haliclona elegans (Bowerbank) sensu Topsent (1887) from two sites in North Wales. In: Jones WC (ed) European contributions to the taxonomy of sponges. UR - https://marbef.org/data../aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=147498 VL - 1 PY - 1987 Y2 - 2024-03-29 ER -