svampföreningar
Svampföreningar, literally translated as «sponge associations», refer to ecological communities that are built around and structured by sea sponges. These associations are found primarily in shallow coastal waters, coral reefs, and in some deep‑sea habitats where sponges act as foundation species. A single sponge or a cluster of sponges can provide habitat, shelter, and food for a variety of other organisms. In a typical svampförening, sessile invertebrates such as barnacles, crustaceans, ascidians, polychaete worms, and small fish species attach to the sponge’s surface, while mobile species may use the sponge structure for refuge from predators or currents.
Because sponges are efficient filter feeders, they modify the local water environment, enhancing nutrient availability and
Scientific studies of svampföreningar help elucidate patterns of biodiversity, community dynamics, and the effects of environmental