Chapter 1. Climate change, ocean acidification and sponges: an introduction -- Chapter 2. Lessons from the past: sponges in the geological record -- Chapter 3. Sponges as proxies for past climate change events -- Chapter 4. Gene expression and epigenetics and acclamatory mechanism in sponges -- Chapter 5. Molecular and functional ecology of sponge and their microbial symbionts -- Chapter 6. Temporal impacts of large-scale climatic variation on sponge assemblages -- Chapter 7. Excavating sponges and the future of coral reefs -- Chapter 8. Budgets, nutrient fluxes and ecological functions of coral reefs sponges in a warming planet -- Chapter 9. Analysing the relationship between climate change and sponges disease outbreaks.- Chapter 10. The deep glass sponge reefs -- Chapter 11. Future research directions, and gaps in our understanding of climate change and ocean acidification impacts on sponges.

While sponges represent a very simple group of organisms, which are represented by over 8000 species, there is considerable interest in the increasing role they may play in future marine ecosystems. While we still have a comparatively limited understanding of how sponges will respond to ocean warming and acidification there is evidence that some species may have the ability to acclimate or even adapt to these stressors. This comprehensive collection of articles describes our current understanding of the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on sponges across multiple levels of biological organisation, and from the geological past to the present. With expert contributions from across the world this book represents the most up-to-date view on sponge responses to climate change. This book will be of interest to a wide audience of marine scientists and managers, who are grappling with how to manage, conserve and protect marine ecosystems.