Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Coral-Killing Sponge Terpios hoshinota Invades the Corals of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India


Affiliations
1 Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin 628 003, India
2 University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
 

Terpios hoshinota is an encrusting cyanobacteriosponge which grows aggressively over live coral colonies and has been reported to undergo outbreaks which kill corals. In an underwater survey conducted on the reefs of Gulf of Mannar, an outbreak of this coral-invading sponge was witnessed for the first time. It was found invading approximately 5% of the Montipora divaricata colonies (n = 383) at 1 m depth in Vaan Island. The affected site had a high coral cover (85.13%) dominated by montiporids (79.97%). T. hoshinota was confirmed via underwater morphology and microscopic observation of distinctive lobed tylostylespicules. This sponge is reported to have caused significant damage to many reefs around the world and hence immediate steps are needed to protect the reefs of Gulf of Mannar. Further studies are needed to assess the extent of T. hoshinota invasion in Gulf of Mannar and progression rate over live coral colonies.

Keywords

Coral Reefs, Invasion, Montipora divaricata, Sponge, Terpios hoshinota.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Pandolfi, J. M. et al., Global trajectories of the long-term decline of coral reef ecosystems. Science, 2003, 301, 955–958.

  • Balaji, S., Edward, J. K. P. and Samuel, V. D., Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India – A comprehensive updated species list. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, Publication no. 22, Ramanadhapuram, 1978.

  • Edward, J. K. P., Mathews, G., Raj, K. D., Thinesh, T., Patterson, J., Tamelander, J. and Wilhelmsson, D., Coral reefs of Gulf of Mannar, India – signs of resilience. In Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia, 2012.

  • Thinesh,T., Raj, K. D., Mathews, G. and Edward, J. K. P., Coral diseases are major contributors to coral mortality in Shingle Island, Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India. Dis. Aquat. Org., 2013, 106, 69–77.

  • Thinesh, T., Mathews, G., Raj, K. D. and Edward, J. K. P., Coral diseases are major contributors to coral mortality in Shingle Island, Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India. Dis. Aquat. Org., 2014, 110, 227–234.

  • Diaz, M. C. and Rutzler, K., Sponges: an essential component of Caribbean coral reefs. Bull. Mar. Sci., 2001, 69, 535–546.

  • Rossi, G., Montori, S., Cerrano, C. and Calcinai, B., Marine sponges are an integral part of coral reef ecosystems and are considered strong space-competitors with corals. Ital. J. Zool., 2015, 82(1), 143–148.

  • Calcinai, B., Azzini, F., Bavestrello, G., Gaggero, L. and Cerrano, C., Excavating rates and boring pattern of Cliona albimarginata (Porifera: Clionaidae) in different substrata. In Proceeding of 7th International Sponge Symposium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007.

  • Coles, S. and Bolick, H., Invasive introduced sponge Mycale grandis overgrows reef corals in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Coral Reefs, 2007, 26(4), 911.

  • Benzoni, F., Calcinai, B., Eisinger, M. and Klaus, R., Coral disease mimic: sponge attacks Porites lutea in Yemen. Coral Reefs, 2008, 27(3), 695.

  • Wang, J. T., Hirose, E., Hsu, C. H., Chen, Y. Y., Meng, P. J. and Chaolun, A. C., A coralkilling sponge, Terpios hoshinota, releases larvae harboring cyanobacterial symbionts: an implication of dispersal. Zool. Stud., 2012, 51, 314–320.

  • Scott, P. J. B., Associations between corals and macro-infaunal invertebrates in Jamaica, with a list of Caribbean and Atlantic coral associates. Bull. Mar. Sci., 1987, 40(2), 271–286.

  • Capa, M. and Lopez, E., Sabellidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) living in blocks of dead coral in the Coiba National Park, Panama. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK, 2004, 84, 63–72.

  • Rutzler, K. and Muzik, K., Terpios hoshinota, a new cyanobacteriosponge threatening Pacific reefs. Sci. Mar., 1993, 57, 395–403.

  • Avila, E. and Carballo, J. L., A preliminary assessment of the invasiveness of the Indo-Pacific sponge Chalinula nematifera on coral communities from the tropical Eastern Pacific. Biol. Invasions, 2009, 11, 257–264.

  • Bryan, P. G., Growth rate, toxicity and distribution of the encrusting sponge Terpios sp. (Hadromerida: Suberitidae) in Guam, Mariana Islands. Micronesica, 1973, 9, 237–242.

  • Reimer, J. D., Nozawa, Y. and Hirose, E., Domination and disappearance of the black sponge: a quarter century after the initial Terpios outbreak in southern Japan. Zool. Stud., 2011, 50, 395.

  • Liao, M. H., Tang, S. L., Hsu, G. M., Wen, K. C., Wu, H. and Chen, W. M., The ‘black disease’ of reef-building corals at Green Island, Taiwan – outbreak of a cyanobacteriosponge, Terpios hoshinota (Suberitidae: Hadromerida). Zool. Stud., 2007, 46, 520.

  • Chen, S. L., Kuo, C. Y. and Chen, C. A., Spatial distribution and temporal variation of an outbreak of the cyanobacteriosponge, Terpios hoshinota, and benthos composition on the coral reefs of Green Island. Natl. Park Bull., 2009, 19, 32–45.

  • Plucer-Rosario, G., The effect of substratum on the growth of Terpios, an encrusting sponge which kills corals. Coral Reefs, 1987, 5, 197–200.

  • Fujii, T., Keshavmurthy, S., Zhou, W., Hirose, E., Chen, C. A. and Reimer, J. D., Coralkilling cyanobacteriosponge (Terpios hoshinota) on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 2011, 30(2), 483.

  • De Voogd, N. J., Cleary, D. F. R. and Dekker, F., The coral-killing sponge Terpios hoshinota invade Indonesia. Coral Reefs, 2013, 32(3), 755.

  • Montano, S., Chou, W., Chen, C. A., Galli, P. and Reimer, J. D., First record of the coralkilling sponge Terpios hoshinota in the Maldives and Indian Ocean. Bull. Mar. Sci., 2015, 91(1).

  • Thinesh, T., Jose, P. A., Hassan, S., Selvan, K. M. and Selvin, J., Intrusion of coral-killing sponge (Terpios hoshinota) on the reef of Palk Bay. Curr. Sci., 2015, 109(6), 1030–1032.

  • Wang, J. T., Hsu, C. M., Kuo, C. Y., Meng, P. J., Kao, S. J. and Chen, C. A., Physiological outperformance at the morphologicallytransformed edge of the cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota (Suberitidae: Hadromerida) when confronting opponent corals. PLoS ONE, 2015, 10(6), e0131509.

  • English, S., Wilkinson, C. and Baker, V., Survey manual for tropical marine resources. ASEAN Australian Marine Science Project: Living Coastal Resources, Townsville, 1997, p. 368.


Abstract Views: 472

PDF Views: 129




  • Coral-Killing Sponge Terpios hoshinota Invades the Corals of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India

Abstract Views: 472  |  PDF Views: 129

Authors

K. Diraviya Raj
Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin 628 003, India
M. Selva Bharath
Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin 628 003, India
G. Mathews
Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin 628 003, India
Greta S. Aeby
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
J. K. Patterson Edward
Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin 628 003, India

Abstract


Terpios hoshinota is an encrusting cyanobacteriosponge which grows aggressively over live coral colonies and has been reported to undergo outbreaks which kill corals. In an underwater survey conducted on the reefs of Gulf of Mannar, an outbreak of this coral-invading sponge was witnessed for the first time. It was found invading approximately 5% of the Montipora divaricata colonies (n = 383) at 1 m depth in Vaan Island. The affected site had a high coral cover (85.13%) dominated by montiporids (79.97%). T. hoshinota was confirmed via underwater morphology and microscopic observation of distinctive lobed tylostylespicules. This sponge is reported to have caused significant damage to many reefs around the world and hence immediate steps are needed to protect the reefs of Gulf of Mannar. Further studies are needed to assess the extent of T. hoshinota invasion in Gulf of Mannar and progression rate over live coral colonies.

Keywords


Coral Reefs, Invasion, Montipora divaricata, Sponge, Terpios hoshinota.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv114%2Fi05%2F1117-1119