Molecular evidence for multiple lineages in the gorgonian family Plexauridae (Anthozoa: Octocorallia)

Octocorals are diverse and abundant on many marine hard substrates, and, within this group, members of the family Plexauridae are an important component of tropical reef assemblages, especially in the Caribbean. To understand historical relationships within this large and diverse assemblage, and to test the monophyly of the family and some of its genera, DNA sequences of two mitochondrial loci (msh1 and ND2, ~1,185 bp) were analyzed from 46 species in 21 genera from deep and shallow waters in the tropical western Atlantic and in the tropical western and eastern Pacific (plus 9 taxa in the closely related Gorgoniidae and 1 species of the more distantly related Alcyoniidae). Five strongly supported clades were recovered. Three large clades correspond roughly to the Plexauridae, Paramuriceidae, and Gorgoniidae, and two smaller clades were comprised of taxa previously assigned to several families. Astrogorgia sp. did not group with any of the clades. The mutual relationships among the five clades remain unclear. Several genera previously regarded as unrelated appear to be grouped among the three families; e.g. Hypnogorgia sp. (Paramuriceidae) falls within a clade consisting of both Pacific and Atlantic Muricea spp. (Plexauridae), while Swiftia sp., Scleracis sp., and an Atlantic Thesea sp. (all Paramuriceidae) group with the gorgoniids. In several instances, genera containing Atlantic and Pacific species were recovered as monophyletic (Muricea spp., Bebryce spp.). However, in at least three cases (Echinomuricea spp., Thesea spp., Villogorgia spp.), placement of Atlantic and Pacific species in the same genus may reflect convergence of sclerite morphology. The results indicate a strong need for reexamination of octocoral taxonomy using a combination of molecular, morphological, and chemical evidence.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-1592-y.Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick     

Molecular phylogeny of vestimentiferans collected around Japan, revealed by the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA

The phylogenetic relationships among local populations of undescribed vestimentiferan species that belong to the genera Lamellibrachia and Escarpia and had been collected at six sites around Japan were analyzed on the basis of the partial (1023 bp) nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase I (COI), using a pogonophoran and a polychaete as outgroups. The identical amino acid sequence was deduced from the nucleotide sequence obtained from each of the vestimentiferans analyzed. The strong similarity among deduced amino acid sequences of COI suggested a close relationship between vestimentiferans and pogonophorans. On the basis of the phylogenetic relationships, the analyzed vestimentiferan populations were classified tentatively as five species. The genetic differentiation of vestimentiferans was suggested to occur bathymetrically as well as being a consequence of horizontal segregation. Two of these tentatively identified species inhabit both a hydrothermal area and a cold seep area, as is the case for some species of bivalves that belong to the genera Bathymodiolus and Calyptogena. Received: 28 August 1996 / Accepted: 2 October 1996     

Population genetics of the family ostreidae. II. Interspecific studies of the genera Crassostrea and Saccostrea

The estimated levels of genetic variation are reported for 6 Crassostrea and 3 Saccostrea species. The estimates are based on examination of 25 to 34 genetic loci. The average heterozygosities ranged from 6 to 22% for the Crassostrea species and from 17 to 19% for the Saccostrea species. A new sibling species (S. manilai) from the Philippines has been identified by means of protein electrophoresis. The genetic similarity and distance between species has been computed for each genus. Also, a pairwise comparison of loci and a dendrogram of the phylogenetic relationship of species has been constructed from the two genera. Some of the taxonomic levels during oyster speciation have been computed from the data of the electrophoretic study of the two lineages. The possibilities of oyster superspecies (e. g. C. gigas, C. virginica and S. cucullata) are discussed based on our population genetic study.     

Jugendstadien von Desmoscolex-Arten (Nematoda,Desmoscolecidae) und deren Bedeutung für die Taxonomie

A moulting specimen of Desmoscolex balticus sp.n. indicates that all species of the genera Eudesmoscolex, Eutricoma, and Prodesmoscolex are, in reality, juvenile stages of species of the genus Desmoscolex.     

Spring bloom sedimentation in a subarctic ecosystem

A 5-yr study (1985 to 1989) of spring bloom sedimentation in Auke Bay, Alaska, indicates that the sinking response of diatoms to ambient nutrients influences both species succession during the spring bloom and the subsequent sedimentation of new production. Diatoms from the genera Thalassiosira, Chaetoceros and Skeletonema formed the bulk of the spring bloom each year. Growth of Thalassiosira spp. consistently initiated the primary bloom, while Skeletonema costatum tended to grow later in, or after, the primary bloom. We postulate that this successional pattern is driven by interspecific nutrient competition. Overall, sedimentation flux of the dominant species of bloom diatoms was correlated with surface concentrations of cells integrated over the bloom period. In fact, different linear relationships existed when Thalassiosira and Chaetoceros spp. were considered separately, but not for Skeletonema sp., indicating that marked differences exist between the sedimentation tendencies of these genera. The observed inter-generic differences are explicable by the different overall sinking rates, as well as different nutrient-sensitivities of the sinking rates of each genus. Thalassiosira spp., the fastestsinking and most nutrient-sensitive species, contributed up to 10 x more carbon to the benthos in all years of the study, reaching a maximum of 11.1 gCm^-2 over a single spring bloom event in 1988. This study indicates that the tendency to sink to the benthos during and/or after a bloom is highly dependent on species-specific cell physiology, and supports the idea that it is the fast-sinking, nutrient-sensitive diatoms, such as Thalassiosira species, that constitute the major source of vertical carbon flux in this embayment and other such coastal ecosystems during the spring bloom.     

Culturable actinobacteria isolated from marine sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iotrochota</Emphasis> sp.

The study describes the diversity of actinobacteria isolated from the marine sponge Iotrochota sp. collected in the South China Sea. Species and natural product diversity of isolates were analyzed, including screening for genes encoding polyketide synthases (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), and 16S rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). PKS and NRPS sequences were detected in more than half of the isolates and the different “PKS-I–PKS-II–NRPS” combinations in different isolates belonging to the same species indicated a potential natural product diversity and divergent genetic evolution. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the isolates belonged to genera Streptomyces, Cellulosimicrobium, and Nocardiopsis. The majority of the strains tested belonged to the genus Streptomyces and one of them may be a new species. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bacterium classified as Cellulosimicrobium sp. isolated from a marine sponge. Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-recourses Sustainable Utilization (LMB-CAS), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica (LMMM-GD), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, People’s Republic of China.     

Isolation and cloning of DNA from somatic tissue of soft corals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia)

A method is described for isolating high molecular weight DNA from somatic tissue of soft corals. The method avoids problems associated with the presence of nucleases, pigments and other secondary metabolites in soft corals. Tissue is frozen in liquid nitrogen, pulverized with a pestle and mortar, and the powder extracted with buffered sodium dodecyl sulphate at 4°C in the presence of phenol/chloroform. This technique has been applied toAlcyonium, Sinularia, Sarcophyton andLobophytum species. Repeated sequences have been cloned fromAlcyonium sp., and used to probe slot-blots of genomic DNA and Southern blots of restriction digests. Homologous repeated sequences were detected in threeAlcyonium sp., but not in threeSinularia sp., despite these genera being closely related.     

Physioecology of zooplankton. I. Effects of phytoplankton concentration,temperature, and body size on the growth rate of Calanus pacificus and Pseudocalanus sp.

Changes in dry weight and in weight-specific growth rates were measured for copepodite stages of Calanus pacificus Brodsky and Pseudocalanus sp. cultured under various combinations of phytoplankton concentration and temperature. Mean dry weight of early copepodites was relatively unaffected by either food concentration or temperature, but mean dry weight of late stages increased hyperbolically with food concentration and was inversely related to temperature. The food concentration at which maximum body weight was attained increased with increasing temperature and body size, and it was considerably higher for C. pacificus than for Pseudocalanus sp. This suggests that final body size of small species of copepods may be determined primarily by temperature, whereas final body size of large species may be more dependent on food concentration than on temperature. Individual body weight increased sigmoidally with age. The weight-specific growth rate increased hyperbolically with food concentration. The maximum growth rate decreased logarithmically with a linear increase in body weight, and the slope of the lines was proportional to temperature. The critical food concentration for growth increased with body size proportionally more at high than at low temperature, and it was considerably higher for C. pacificus than for Pseudocalanus sp. Because of these interactions, early copepodites optimized growth at high temperature, even at low food concentrations, but under similar food conditions late stages attained higher growth at low temperature. The same growth patterns were found for both species, but the rates were significantly higher for the larger species, C. pacificus, than for the smaller one, Pseudocalanus sp. On the basis of findings in this study and of analyses of relationships between the maximum growth rate, body size, and temperature from other studies it is postulated (1) that the extrapolation of growth rates from one species to another on the basis of similarity in body size is not justified, even for taxonomically related species; (2) that the allometric model is inadequate for describing the relationship between the maximum weight-specific growth rate and body size at the intraspecific level; (3) that the body-size dependence of this rate is strongly influenced by temperature; and (4) that species of zooplankton seem to be geographically and vertically distributed, in relation to body size and food availability, to optimize growth rates at various stages of their life cycles.Contribution No. 1127 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA     

Chromosomal nucleolar organizer region (NOR) phenotypes in nine species of the genus Ophryotrocha (Polychaeta: Dorvilleidae)

Chromosomal nucleolar organizer region (NOR) phenotypes have been characterized in nine species of the genus Ophryotrocha (Polychaeta: Dorvilleidae), namely O. notoglandulata, O. sp. macrovifera, O. sp. labronica pacifica, O. labronica labronica, O. puerilis puerilis, O. diadema, O. sp. robusta, O. gracills and O. hartmanni. Irrespective of chromosome number and morphology, Ag positive regions were terminally located in all but one species, O. diadema, where the NORs were pericentromerical in a metacentric pair. The presence of a single chromosome pair bearing NOR in invertebrates is considered an ancestral trait. According to this assumption, O. sp. robusta, O. dialema, and perhaps O. p. puerilis appear to be more ancestral than the other species. On the contrary, O. notoglandulaia, O. sp. macrovifera, O. sp. labronica oacifica, with two chromosomal pairs bearing NOR sites, seem to represent examples of further evolution within the genus Ophryotrocha.     

Feeding ecology of the piscivorous birds Phalacrocorax varius,P. melanoleucos and Sterna bergii in Moreton Bay,Australia: diets and dependence on trawler discards

The diets of three piscivorous bird species from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, were monitored for 14 mo from April 1986 to September 1987. Regurgitated pellets from Phalacrocorax varius (pied cormorant), P. melanoleucos (little pied cormorant) and Sterna bergii (crested tern) were collected monthly and prey items were identified from otoliths, spines and whole-fish remains. Otolith weight to fish length and weight relationships were used to aid in calculation of diet composition. Sepia sp. was the commonest prey of P. varius and P. melanoleucos; Sterna bergii took few Sepia sp. In order of decreasing importance, the teleosts Sillago maculata, Apogon fasciatus and Leiognathus moretoniensis were the next most common prey in all diets. P. melanoleucos has previously been reported to eat primarily crustaceans. The size ranges of fish prey were 18 to 452 mm for P. varius; 25 to 246 mm for P. melanoleucos; and 33 to 226 mm for Serrna bergii. The three species had similarly narrow diets. There was a significant rank correlation between the diet of P. varius and the by-catch of the prawn trawlers. This, together with observations of feeding behaviour, the similarity of the diets and the benthic and benthopelagic nature of most prey species, suggests that in Moreton Bay the three bird species are primarily dependent on food from fishery discards. The population of about 350 P. varius possibly consumes 13.7% of the total fish by-catch. The relationships between the fishery and the piscivorous birds in discussed in relation to size of bird populations and its possible dependence on the fishery.     

The mudsnail genus Hydrobia s.s. in the northern Atlantic and western Mediterranean: a phylogenetic hypothesis

The mudsnail taxon Hydrobia s.l. plays a major role in numerous ecological and parasitological studies. Yet, its taxonomy is confusing and its biogeography is poorly understood. A principal problem is that taxa of Hydrobia s.l. belong to morphostatic radiations – widely allopatric species radiations with little or no habitat diversification and a low level of anatomical change. So far, three morphostatic radiations can be identified within Hydrobia s.l.: Hydrobia s.s., Peringia, and Ventrosia. These radiations are identical with the putative genera of Hydrobia s.l. The purpose of the paper is to infer phylogenetic relationships within one of these radiations, Hydrobia s.s. in the northern Atlantic and western Mediterranean. A total of 22 populations, including topotypical populations of five commonly used taxa, were studied genetically using partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Based on molecular data and the species concept we define, the following species and subspecies were identified: Hydrobia acuta acuta (Draparnaud, 1805) [=H. minoricensis (Paladilhe, 1875)], H. acuta neglecta Muus, 1963, and H. glyca (Servain, 1880) (=H. joossei van Aartsen, Menkhorst and Gittenberger, 1984). One population from Djerba, Tunisia (Hydrobia sp. A) and one population from Mallorca, Spain (Hydrobia sp. B) are genetically distinct from all other taxa studied here. Both populations potentially represent new species. Due to the fact that only one population each has been studied, and so the degree of variation within these two taxa cannot be assessed, a final decision regarding their species level cannot yet be made. Received: 6 October 1999 / Accepted: 12 September 2000     

Allozyme and morphological evidence for a newly introduced species of Aurelia in San Francisco Bay,California

The jellyfish Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus, 1758) is usually considered to be a cosmopolitan species. Aurelia sp. medusae observed at Foster City, San Francisco Bay, California, USA, since 1988 are morphologically distinct from Aurelia sp. collected 200 km away in Monterey Bay, but are morphologically similar to aquarium-cultured Aurelia sp. from Japan. They differ consistently in radial canal morphology. In allozyme electrophoresis, significant differences at 12 of 14 polymorphic loci strongly suggest that Aurelia sp. from Foster City and Tokyo Bay belong to one species, while Aurelia sp. from Monterey Bay and Vancouver Island belong to a second species. We propose that Aurelia sp. at Foster City is a recent introduction, possibly from Japan via ships' ballast water. The identities and taxonomic affinities of the two Aurelia defined in this study, and their relationships with the Linnaen A. aurita described from the North Atlantic, will require genetic and morphological study of the currently recognized species A. aurita and A. limbata (Brandt, 1838) from several zoogeographical provinces.     

Relationship between bottom characteristics and benthic organisms in the shallow water of Oppa Bay,Miyagi

An investigation was conducted to examine the species composition, abundance and biomass of benthic macrofaunal invertebrates in Oppa Bay, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, in August 1984. Among 212 species identified, nearly half (105) were Polychaetes. Usually five species, Ampharete sp. 1, Neosabellides sp. 1, Nephtys polybranchia, Chaetozone sp. 1, and Lumbrineris longifolia were numerically dominant. The faunal features of dominant species were clearly divided into two areas using two indicator species, Amphalete sp. 1 and Neosabellides sp. 1. The former species decreased in numbers in the area from the river to the bay mouth, while the latter increased. Sediments consisted of sand at the river mouth and in the northern bay; and of silt-clay in the central bay, bay mouth and southern part of the bay. Gradients of species diversity (H) were expressed as a function of distance by linear regression. The relationship was positive (r=0.812) from the river to the bay mouth accompanied by increasing depth; and negative (r=-0.906) from northern to southern parts of the bay in proportion to the increase of silt-clay in sediments.     

Differing patterns of sequestration of iridoid glycosides in the Mecininae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

We analyzed several species of the weevil family Mecininae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) that all feed on iridoid glycoside (IG) containing plants of the Plantaginaceae to investigate whether the beetles sequester these deterrent substances from their host plants. Within the Mecininae two genera of the tribe Cionini were found to sequester aucubin and catalpol: Cionus Clairville and Schellenberg and Cleopus Dejean. Both analyzed genera of the Mecinini, Mecinus Germar and Rhinusa Stephens, do not sequester IGs although the compounds are present in their food plants. They thus represent the first case of specialists on IG plants that have not evolved adaptations to use the compounds. However, in contrast to the Cionini these genera have a hidden lifestyle, so that their need for defence might be lower. Both Cionus and Cleopus, sequester catalpol with a higher efficiency than aucubin. However, in contrast to Cionus species, Cleopus species only sequester catalpol. In species feeding on Scrophularia, the aucubin concentration is higher while in beetles on Verbascum catalpol is usually dominating. This pattern can also be detected in the only species living on both plants, Cionus hortulanus. The ability to sequester IGs must have a single origin at the base of the sister genera Cionus and Cleopus.     

Biodiversity status of a protected area in West Himalaya: Askot Wildlife Sanctuary

SUMMARY

Biodiversity of a protected area of West Himalaya (Askot Wildlife Sanctuary) was studied and analysed for landscape, faunal and floral diversity. The forest and pasture land, ideal habitats for the flora and fauna, covered nearly 52% and 12%, respectively, of total reported area. Among the fauna Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), thar (Himitragus jemlahicus), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), koklas (Pucrassia macrolophas), monal (Lophophorus impejanus) and snow cock (Tetragalus tibetanus) are threatened species. Plant diversity is represented by 1262 species of vascular plants (Angiosperm 1112, Gymnosperm 7, Pteridophytes 143 taxa). Diversity of the species within families, genera, habitats, communities and along vertical gradient zone was analysed. Maximum diversity existed in the family Orchidaceae (120 taxa), genera Polystichum (13 taxa), altitude zone (1001–2000 m; 860 taxa), habitat (forest; 623 taxa) and community (Banj oak: 92 taxa). Seventy-one families were found to be monotypic. Species were further analysed for ethnobotanical use (medicine: 70, edible: 55, fodder: 115, fuel: 31, house building: 13 etc.), domesticated diversity (crops: 19, vegetables: 26, fruits: 16), agroforestry or marginal, threatened and endemic diversity. Similarity in species composition within the habitats indicated maximum similarity in areas of shrubberies and alpine meadows/ slopes (71.65%) and exposed open/grassy slopes and shady moist places (47.32%). 432 (34.2%) taxa are native to Indian Himalaya of which 24 are endemic and 235 are near endemics. 65.8% of taxa are represented in the neighbouring areas and other regions of the globe. Ten taxa occurring in the Sanctuary have been already recorded in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Conservation and management of species is focused.     

Distribution patterns of mesopelagic fishes with special reference to Vinciguerria lucetia Garman 1899 (Phosichthyidae: Pisces) in the Humboldt Current Region off Peru

The horizontal and vertical distributions of adult mesopelagic fishes are described from acoustic and trawl surveys over the full-depth of 500 m at 169 stations on a longitudinal transect crossing the Humboldt Current (03°45′S, 81°76′W and 18°23′S, 71°13′W) at 50–200 nautical miles off Peru during austral spring (October–November) of 2001, 2002 and 2003. A total of 2,952 kg of fishes was collected, which included 13 families, 23 genera and 28 species. The mesopelagic community is dominated by the families Phosichthyidae (Vinciguerria lucetia), Myctophidae (Diogenichthys laternatus and Lampanyctus idostigma) and Bathylagidae (Leuroglossus urotranus), accounting for 60.4, 12.8 and 3.7%, respectively, of the total catch. Based on horizontal distribution patterns these species were categorized into three groups, i.e. northern-central upwelling front group (L. urotranus, Nemichthys fronto and Scopelarchoides nicholsi), Southern upwelling front group (Hygophum reinhardti, Myctophum nitidulum, Paralepis sp and Scopeloberyx sp.) and pan-Humboldt Current group (V. lucetia, D. laternatus, L. (Nannobrachium) idostigma, L. omostigma, M. aurolaternatum, Triphoturus oculeus, Bathylagus (Melanolagus) berycoides, Leuroglossus stilbius, Argyropelecus affinis, Sternoptyx obscura, Melamphaes sp., Stomias sp. and Scopelosaurus sp.). Nighttime vertical distribution was characterized by a single abundance peak in the upper 50 m. Daytime patterns showed three peaks of abundance: an upper peak, in the upper 100 m, a midwater peak between 200 and 400 m, coinciding with an oxygen minimum zone, and a deeper peak between 400 and 500 m. V. lucetia was dominant in the upper and midwater peaks while myctophids, other planctivorous and piscivorous fishes were distributed in the midwater. Acoustic back-scattered energy (S _a) was ubiquitous in the region. Maximum S _a was mainly located between 11° and 18°S during day and night. V. lucetia is a significant component of the sound-scattering layers in the Humboldt Current Region off Peru.     

Magellanic Bryozoa: Some ecological and zoogeographical aspects

This study summarizes observations made on more than 140 species obtained in Southern Chile and on many others collected from the Juan Fernández Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula from 1962 to 1980. The total number of the Magellanic Bryozoa including the author's records and those of the literature reaches 195. These species are: 15 Ctenostomata (7.69%), 46 Cyclostomata (23.59%) and 134 Cheilostomata (68.72%). Seven species are described as new: Arachnopusia admiranda sp. nov., Celleporella chiloensis sp. nov., Electra pilosissima sp. nov., Hippoporina chilota sp. nov., Parasmittina pluriavicularis sp. nov., Smittina ectoproctolitica sp. nov. and Smittina molarifera sp. nov. Typical characteristics of the Magellanic bryozoan fauna are: the Cyclostomata amount to 50% of all the subantarctic and antarctic species, with two endemic families Calvetiidae and Pseudidmoneidae; the Cheilostomata show a low endemism at the generic level compared to the antarctic group; the hippothoan fauna is very diversified with four species having tatiform ancestrulae. The zoarial diversity and the polymorphism of the Magellanic Bryozoa are qualitatively and quantitatively different from that of the Antarctic. Thus the encrusting species make up the main bulk of this bryozoan fauna with at least 110 spp. From a bryozoogeographical point of view the Magellanic Region comprises the following parts that could be considered as provinces: (a) Magellanic: including the southern tip of South America south to Lat. 40°S, plus the Patagonian Shelf and the Falkland Islands. (b) Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island. (c) Kerguelen and the nearby archipelagos in the Indian Sector of the Austral Ocean.     

The utilisation of alkylated amines by marine bacteria

Six species of bacteria and a marine yeast which are able to use alkylated amines as a sole source of nitrogen have been isolated from marine mud and tentatively assigned to genera. One isolate (Micrococcus sp.) has been studied in greater detail. This organism has a constitutive ability to utilise trimethylamine and the lesser methylated amines as a sole source of nitrogen. Growth and metabolic studies suggest that the methylated amines are metabolized by a pathway involving a stepwise demethylation process. The implications of the results obtained on the route of regeneration and recycling of amine nitrogen in the marine environment is discussed.     

Growth,dispersal, and identification of planktonic labrid and pomacentrid reef-fish larvae in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Planktonic larvae of six genera of labrid and pomacentrid reef fishes were captured in march 1985 in the eastern Pacific Ocean several hundred kilometers from the nearest reefs. The larvae were identified to genus by fin-ray counts as well as by comparison of their larval otolith morphology with that of known species. The larval otolith morphologies of known species were derived from measurements of the larval otolith embedded within the otoliths of settled juveniles (as delineated by the daily otolith-increment marks corresponding to the late larval period). The body morphology and melanophore patterns of the eastern Pacific labird and pomacentrid larvae closely matched those of congeneric larvae described from other oceans. Growth rates of larvae less than about 70 d old were similar between taxa (from 0.13 to 0.19 mm d^-1). After about 70 d in the plankton, labrid larvae grew much more slowly (0.06 mm d^-1 in Xyrichtys sp.). Labrid larvae had long larval durations (up to 131 d in Xyrichtys sp.), while the larval lives of the pomacentrids appeared to be shorter and much less variable. Larvae of many different ages occurred within the same water mass, and young cohorts of larvae appeared continuously over the sampling period. Some larvae were as young as 21 d, indicating that reef-fish larvae are capable of rapid long-distance dispersal (at least 18 km d^-1).     

Endofauna differences between two temperate marine sponges (Demospongiae; Haplosclerida; Chalinidae) from southwest Australia

The endofaunal assemblages associated with two species of sponge from the family Chalinidae (Haliclona sp. 1 and Haliclona sp. 2) were studied at four locations along the south west coast of Australia. The species have distinct morphologies and inhabit similar microhabitats; there is also considerable scientific interest in Haliclona sp. 1 (green Haliclona) due to the unique bioactive compound it produces. A total of 948 and 287 endofaunal individuals were found associated with 16 specimens of both the green Haliclona and Haliclona sp. 2 (brown Haliclona), respectively. Twenty-four endofaunal taxa were found (from mysid shrimps to teleost fish), with the brown Haliclona having a greater density of endofaunal species and individuals than the green Haliclona. The endofaunal assemblages of both species of sponge were significantly different, but only the endofaunal assemblage within the green Haliclona differed significantly among locations. Differences in the abundance and biomass of associated endofauna of each species of sponge can be related to differences in their morphologies, size and internal structure. In the green Haliclona, differences in endofaunal assemblages among locations are unlikely to be due to environmental influences as taxa discriminating each locations assemblage were common to both species of sponge. Numerous endofaunal individuals were found to be reproductively active, and it is clear that the species of sponge provide important habitats for their associated endofauna. This provision of habitat needs to be taken into account when harvesting green Haliclona biomass for supply of its target bioactive compound for further pharmaceutical development.