THE DIVERSITY OF SPONGE ASSOCIATED FAUNA (SAF) IN FOUR SELECTED MARINE SPONGES (CLASS: DEMOSPONGIAE) AT CORAL REEFS OF PULAU BATU RUSA, MALAYSIA

Marine sponges are known to host a range of marine organisms, especially reef-associated sponges. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the diversity of Sponge Associated Fauna (SAF) in the South China Sea. This study aims to document the SAF diversity of four common reef-associated sponges (Theonella swinhoei, Theonella cupola, Neopetrosia cf. chaliniformis, and Stylissa carteri) from the Pulau Batu Rusa coral reef, Terengganu. Sponges were collected and washed with 70% alcohol to extract the SAF they hosted. Echinodermata Ophiactis Sevigny (brittle star) and Synaptula sp. (sea cucumber) are the most common SAF in all host sponges. A clustering analysis showed differences between SAF composition hosted and the phylogenetic distance of the host sponges, particularly with the position of S. carteri to the two Theonella species. In contrast, the assemblages of SAF are consistent with the prevailing environmental conditions, substrate characteristics of the host habitat, and the host’s morphological structure. As a result, it can be inferred that the composition and abundance of SAF are not dictated by the phylogenetic lineage of the host species, but rather by the interplay of environmental factors and host morphology.