Reproductive trait measurements of deep-sea demosponges: oocytes, embryos, spermatocyst, and larval size datasets

This dataset contains measurements and compiled comparative data supporting a study on reproductive traits in deep-sea poecilosclerid demosponges. Species included in the dataset include Mycale (Mycale) loveni, Tedania (Tedania) kagalaskai, Monanchora pulchra, and Stelodoryx oxeata. These species are important habitat-formers in the North Pacific, specifically around the Aleutian Islands. We also provide additional comparative larval measurements compiled from published studies. The dataset is provided as comma-separated values (CSV) files and can be accessed and reused for comparative studies of sponge reproductive biology, life-history strategies, and deep-sea biodiversity. Reproducible workflowThe full analysis pipeline and scripts are available in an open GitHub repository:🔗 https://github.com/lara-maleen/sponge_reproduction This repository contains the R script and R Markdown document used to generate figures and perform statistical analyses reported in the associated manuscript. These data and scripts can be reused for comparative studies using histological analysis (also in other taxa). Associated manuscriptA preprint of the associated manuscript is available at:🔗 Datasets This repository includes three datasets: Oocyte measurements (oocytes_sponges.csv) Measurements of sponge oocytes obtained from histological sections (feret diameter). The dataset includes species identity, specimen information, slide and image identifiers, microscope magnification, reproductive stage, measurement number, area, intensity measurements, Feret diameter measurements, and cleaned reproductive stage categories (e.g., previtellogenic, vitellogenic I, and vitellogenic II). Spermatocyst measurements (spermatocysts_sponges.csv) Measurements of sperm heads inside spermatocysts from histological sections. The dataset includes species and specimen identifiers, image identifiers, spermatocyst and sperm head measurements, head area, Feret diameter, minimum Feret diameter, calculated head diameter, and observations on sperm tails and cyst characteristics. Comparative sponge larval size dataset (poecilosclerid_larva.csv) A compiled dataset of larval sizes from published literature and newly generated measurements from the present study. The dataset includes species, family, geographic location, approximate latitude, depth, and reported larval size values. These data were compiled for comparative analyses of latitudinal patterns in sponge larval size (Thorson's rule). The full list of included references can be found in the Supplementary Table 2 of the associated publication.