Open AccessPatterns of Association between Marine Sponges and the Associated Organisms: Case Study, Losin Island, Pattani, Thailand
Author(s) -
Udomsak Darumas,
Supaporn Phasombun,
Ratchanee Puttapreecha
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
walailak journal of science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.146
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2228-835X
pISSN - 1686-3933
DOI - 10.48048/wjst.2020.5151
Subject(s) - hermatypic coral , sponge , biology , coral reef , reef , coral , anthozoa , ecology , porites , botany
Ko Losin, the southernmost offshore islet in the Gulf of Thailand is one of the most naturally, less anthropogenic disturbed coral reefs in Thailand and the home of the major sessile organisms: corals and sponges. This study aims to investigate the natural patterns of association (interactions) between marine sponges and the associated organisms. The types of interaction were classified into 4 categories: Gap, Overgrown, Tissue contact, and Overgrow. The investigation focused on four genera of sponges: Chondrilla, Hyrtios, Cinachyrella, and Xestospongia. Chondrillid sponge showed the high frequency of inhabiting associated organisms. Some hermatypic corals such as Montiporian corals and Porites corals were highly proportioned to the associated organisms. The gap and overgrown interactions were recorded in this study.