Sponge community (Porifera) in coral reef ecosystem in Sabang, Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Aulia ED, Hadi TA, Utama RS. 2021. Sponge community (Porifera) in coral reef ecosystem in Sabang, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3394-3402. Sponges are one of the most influential benthic organisms in coral reef ecosystems. Many studies about sponge communities have been carried out globally, from tropical to temperate regions. In Indonesia, however, sponge communities have not been adequately observed, especially their diversity and interaction with habitats. Sabang, a developing city located in the northwest of Indonesia, has a lack of information about benthic communities and no reports about sponges. This study investigated the sponge community (species richness, coverage, and morphological characters) and the interactions, both within sponges and with corals and substrates, in Sabang. The study found that the sponge richness (species and morphology) and coverage are categorized as poor, having only 24 species with seven morphologies, and coverage of 1.79 ± 1.03% (SE). The interaction analyses showed significant relationships occur among sponge variables but not between sponges and corals, nor between sponges and their substrates. These results could be attributed to the hydrodynamic-related stresses in Sabang, which are likely influenced by exposure to the open ocean, a condition that is less favorable to diversity and interaction. It is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of benthic communities in Sabang in order to better understand their stable state and detect any change over time.

Indonesian marine and its medicinal contribution

“…The successful chemical study of sponges gave rise to a global escalation in sponge bioprospecting resulting in the number of studied species and the resulting isolated molecules outnumbering those from other marine organisms. The study of Indonesian marine sponges was conducted mostly in the eastern part of Indonesia including the Spermonde Archipelago, Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Derawan Islands, Kalimantan, and Wakatobi waters [ 20 ]. There are approximately 9500 novel compounds that have been isolated from marine sponges in the period 1950 to 2019 [ 21 ] and 732 secondary metabolites isolated from Indonesian marine sponges from 1970 to 2017 [ 13 ].…”

Penyuluhan Bahasa Inggris Bagi Masyarakat Di Destinasi Wisata Sabang

“…Salah satu destinasi wisata tersebut adalah Pulau Weh di kota Sabang. Sabang adalah kota di Provinsi Aceh yang terletak di ujung barat Indonesia, terkenal dengan lautnya yang cantik dengan berbagai ikan dan terumbu karang, karenanya Sabang merupakan salah satu kota di Indonesia dengan pemandangan laut yang menakjubkan (Aulia, Hadi, & Utama, 2021). Oleh karena itu, sejak perjanjian damai antara Indonesia dan Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) ditandatangani, pariwisata Sabang telah menarik banyak pengunjung dari dalam dan luar negeri.…”