Dataset of biogenic crusts from submarine caves of the Aegean Sea: An example of sponges vs microbialites competition in cryptic environments

This dataset aims at illustrating the relationships between Metazoa and Bacteria in confined environments. For this purpose, the biotic crusts inside two submarine caves of the Aegean Sea were examined in order to characterize organisms involved in their formation. The present manuscript provides additional data and information to our research article “Composition and biostratinomy of sponge-rich biogenic crusts in submarine caves (Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean)” [1] (Guido et al.). The data were collected with an integrated approach utilizing microfacies observations in optical microscopy and micromorphological and geochemical characterization in electron microscopy (SEM and EPMA). We present here microfacies showing the boundstone framework, which is rich in microcavities partly filled by sponge spicules and scant autochthonous micrite. SEM and EPMA data put in evidence the abundance of sponge spicules inside the crusts and allow discriminating between two types of micrite: detrital micrite and autochthonous micrite. The data presented in this article and those described in Guido et al. [1] allow the evaluation of the relationship between sponges and carbonatogenetic bacteria in the cryptic conditions of submarine caves, and provide new knowledge to interpret the fossil record.