Marine Heterobranchia (Gastropoda, Mollusca) in Bunaken National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia—A Follow-Up Diversity Study

Abstract

Bunaken National Park has been surveyed for a fourth time in 14 years, in an attempt to establish the species composition of heterobranch sea slugs in a baseline study for monitoring programs and protection of this special park. These molluscs are potentially good indicators of the health of an ecosystem, as many are species-specific predators on a huge variety of marine benthic and sessile invertebrates from almost every taxonomic group. Additionally, they are known to contain bio-compounds of significance in the pharmaceutical industry. It is therefore of paramount importance not only to document the species composition from a zoogeographic point of view, but to assist in their protection for the future, both in terms of economics and aesthetics. These four surveys have documented more than 200 species, with an approximate 50% of each collection found only on that survey and not re-collected. Many species new to science have also been documented, highlighting the lack of knowledge in this field.

Description of a new Moridilla species from North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Aeolidioidea)—based on MicroCT, histological and molecular analyses

“…Specimens were collected in Bunaken National Park (BNP), North Sulawesi, Indonesia during 2015-2016 by scuba diving (Figure 1, Table 1). For details see Eisenbarth et al (2018). One further specimen from Bangka Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, collected in 2017, was also included in the analysis, as it looks similar to the new species.…”

“…A barcoding approach of the Bunaken material from the studies of Eisenbarth et al (2018) and Kaligis et al (2018) revealed that two of the therein mentioned Noumeaella species actually group with the genus Moridilla. This corroborates the difficulty in assigning specimens correctly to the genera mentioned.…”

Antibacterial potential of nudibranch-associated bacteria from Saparua and Nusa Laut Islands, Indonesia

“…Bunaken National Park in North Sulawesi is one location that well surveyed. Four surveys by Eisenbarth et al 2018 documented more than 200 species, which approximate 50% of the specimens have been identified, and the rest still unknown. In this study, a total of 13 specimens were collected and identified based on the morphological characteristics according to identification book "Nudibranch Behavior" (Behrens et al 2005).…”

“…The several specimens belonging to C. lochi were 18-SM-N-3, 18-SM-N-6, 18-SM-N-7, 18-SM-N-10, and 18-SM-S-7. Specimen 18-SM-N-14 is suggested as C. annae because of its blue with darker markings and lack of a mid-dorsal longitudinal line; small black specks within the blue areas (Eisenbarth et al 2018). At this location, three different species of genus Phyllidiopsis were collected and identified as P. pipeki (18-SM-N-2), P. fissurata (18-SM-N-8), and P. krempfi (18-SM-S-11).…”

Bioactivity of compounds secreted by symbiont bacteria of Nudibranchs from Indonesia

“…The Indonesian archipelago is a hotspot for biodiversity in the world (Gastropoda et al, 2018). Studies regarding the screening of secondary metabolites-producing bacterial symbionts are important for understanding their biotechnological potential (Radjasa et al, 2011).…”