ABOUT THE LAB

We study sponges to understand how key features of animal body plans — including polarity, gastrulation and tissues, the germ lineage, nerves and muscle — may have arisen during evolution. Our work takes a whole organism approach, from ecology to physiology and molecular biology. In the lab we use a practical and tractable model system, sponges hatched from gemmules, with which we can look for genes expressed, manipulate phenotype, and study behaviour and signalling in the petri dish.

In the field we use SCUBA and more often the unmanned submersible ROPOS (ropos.com, below) to study the animals in their environment. This powerful tool has allowed us to measure feeding, pumping, and study silica and nutrient content of sponges at great depths.

Canada makes Sponge Reefs a Marine Protected Area 

Several years ago four glass sponge reef complexes covering over 1000 square kilometers were identified as an 'Area of Interest' for designation as a marine protected area (MPA). On February 2017 the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area was created.

Now in March 2019 new protection measures have been announced for reefs in Howe Sound near Vancouver. 
Picture
2017 Hecate Strait Blog

IN THE PRESS

MOST RECENT
Howe Sound sponge reef closures
Explore Glass Sponge reefs: 
Quirks and Quarks 
Globe & Mail
Canadian Geographic

NERVOUS SYSTEMS AND SPONGES
New Yorker: Consider the sponge

SPONGE REEFS
A delicate balance: Yale e360
Entertainment Vancouver
Glass Castles in the Sea: Natural History Magazine 

SNEEZING SPONGES
Animal Without a Brain Can “Sneeze,” Surprising Study Shows: National Geographic 
Video: U of A student's research shows that freshwater sponges can sneeze: Edmonton Journal 

Sally Leys Interview (Start at 10m 20s): As it Happens Jan 13, 2014
 Sponges Sneeze: BoingBoing
Tweet: Quirks and Quarks
Sneezing sponges suggest existence of sensory organ: PhysOrg
 Sponges can do something surprisingly human: The Blaze
Sneezing Sponges Caught on Camera: Red Orbit

Study Shows Animals Without Brains Have Ability to Sneeze: GuardianLV
Sponges sneeze too, University of Alberta research: CanoeNews
Sponges can sneeze, may have new sensory organ: Popular Science 

AND FROM QUEBEC, A GREAT FILM!
Éternuer comme une éponge (in French): Radio Canada