Chondrosia reniformis was the only one of five Mediterranean sponge species to survive and thrive after more than 455 days in a marina, marking it out as a candidate for restoring degraded harbours.
12.7 centimeters of movement and natural self-division gave the sponge an unusual edge: specimens repositioned as conditions changed, and the test population expanded from 24 to 40 through cloning alone.
At least one diseased specimen repeatedly regenerated lost tissue, while the species' filtering and habitat-building functions suggest it could help kick-start broader biodiversity recovery in polluted, low-circulation ports.
Computer-vision tracking and recycled-ceramic plates mounted on calcium-carbonate-coated Life Boosting Units were used to monitor and support the transplants, offering a template for future harbour renaturalisation projects.