Demosponge diversity from North Sulawesi, with the description of six new species

Abstract

Sponges are key components of the benthic assemblages and play an important functional role in many ecosystems, especially in coral reefs. The Indonesian coral reefs, located within the so-called “coral triangle”, are among the richest in the world. However, the knowledge of the diversity of sponges and several other marine taxa is far from being complete in the area. In spite of this great biodiversity, most of the information on Indonesian sponges is scattered in old and fragmented literature and comprehensive data about their diversity are still lacking. In this paper, we report the presence of 94 species recorded during different research campaigns mainly from the Marine Park of Bunaken, North Sulawesi. Six species are new for science and seven represent new records for the area. Several others are very poorly known species, sometimes recorded for the second time after their description. For most species, besides field data and detailed descriptions, pictures in vivo are included. Moreover, two new symbiotic sponge associations are described.This work aims to increase the basic knowledge of Indonesian sponge diversity as a prerequisite for monitoring and conservation of this valuable taxon.

Unravelling the moons: review of the genera Paratetilla and Cinachyrella in the Indo-Pacific (Demospongiae, Tetractinellida, Tetillidae)

“…Previous Indonesian records are from Spermonde Archipelago in Sulawesi (de Voogd and Cleary 2005, Becking et al 2006, de Voogd et al 2006), North Sulawesi (Calcinai et al 2017), Berau (de Voogd et al 2009, Becking et al 2013), Thousand Islands in Java (de Voogd and Cleary 2008), and Raja Ampat (Becking 2008). In addition, this species has also been found in Gulf of Oman (van Soest and Beglinger 2008), Seychelles Islands (Thomas 1973) Southwest Madagascar (Vacelet et al 1976), Zanzibar (Pulitzer-Finali 1993), Thailand (Kritsanapuntu et al 2001a-b, Putchakarn 2007), Singapore (Lim et al 2008), Vietnam (Azzini et al 2007), Philippines (Longakit et al 2005), Northern Territory of Australia (McDonald et al 2002), and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (Burton 1934).…”

Compositional analysis of archaeal communities in high and low microbial abundance sponges in the Misool coral reef system, Indonesia

“…Its consistency is crumbly to stony and often very difficult to tear. Aaptos lobata (Calcinai et al 2017) occurs in shallow coral reef ecosystems (de Voogd and Cleary 2008) and has a thick irregular lobate growth form with numerous small oscules. The exterior is dark brown coloured and the interior is canary yellow.…”

Unravelling the moons: review of the genera Paratetilla and Cinachyrella in the Indo-Pacific (Demospongiae, Tetractinellida, Tetillidae)

“…Cinachyrella australiensis has a wide distribution in Indonesia, including Berau, Bunaken, Raja Ampat, Ternate, and Java. Previous Indonesian records are from Spermonde Archipelago in Sulawesi (de Voogd and Cleary 2005, Becking et al 2006, de Voogd et al 2006, North Sulawesi (Calcinai et al 2017), Berau (de Voogd et al 2009, Thousand Islands in Java (de Voogd and Cleary 2008), and Raja Ampat (Becking 2008). In addition, this species has also been found in Gulf of Oman (van Soest and Beglinger 2008), Seychelles Islands (Thomas 1973) Southwest Madagascar (Vacelet et al 1976), Zanzibar (Pulitzer-Finali 1993), Thailand (Kritsanapuntu et al 2001a-b, Putchakarn 2007, Singapore (Lim et al 2008), Vietnam (Azzini et al 2007), Philippines (Longakit et al 2005), Northern Territory of Australia (Mc-Donald et al 2002), and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (Burton 1934).…”