Sponges of the family Esperiopsidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from Northwest Africa, with the descriptions of four new species

Sponges belonging to the genera Amphilectus Vosmaer, Esperiopsis Carter and Ulosa de Laubenfels of the family Esperiopsidae were collected during 1986 and 1988 expeditions of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis (at that time the National Museum of Natural History at Leiden and the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam) in waters off the coasts of Mauritania and the Cape Verde Islands. Four new species, Amphilectus utriculus sp. nov., Amphilectus strepsichelifer sp. nov., Esperiopsis cimensis sp. nov., Ulosa capblancensis sp. nov., and two already known species, Amphilectus cf. fucorum (Esper) and Ulosa stuposa (Esper) are described and discussed

THE USE AS BIO-INDICATORS SPONGE Callispongia sp. HEAVY METALS CD METAL CONTAMINATION IN THE WATERS OF THE AMBON BAY

The deposition of heavy metals in Ambon Bay was investigated by using sponge species (Callispongia sp.) as bioindicator. Two different sampling schemes are discussed in this paper: a random sampling scheme with 8 sampling sites distributed over the whole territory of Ambon Bay. Unwashed, dried samples were totally the concentrations of metal elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Heavy metal Cd. The median concentrations and statistical parameters of elements were discussed by comparing two sampling schemes. The results of both sampling schemes are compared with the results of other the location of the net. Different levels of the contamination valuated by the respective contamination factor (CF) of each element are obtained for both sampling schemes, while the local contamination  identified like cadmium metallurgy and cement industry, oil refinery, mining industry, and transport have been the same for both sampling schemes. In addition, the natural sources, from the accumulation of these metals in sponge caused by metal-enriched soil, associated with activity in the land were pointed as another possibility of local factors

An Acetylenic Alkaloid from the Calcareous Sponge Leucetta sp.

A new acetylenic alkaloid was isolated from the sponge Leucetta sp. The structure was established by analyzing spectroscopic data. The alkaloid showed cytotoxicity IC50 2.5 μg/mL against NBT-T2 cells

THE POTENTIAL OF Clathria reinwardtii as BIOACCUMULATOR OF HEAVY METAL Cu

Heavy metal Cu is an essential metal required by living organisms but a pollutant in water environment when existed in a level above the treshold level. The capability of sponge Clathria reinwardtii in accumulating heavy metals was analyzed according to modified Müller et al. (1998) method, and the sediment was analyzed according to Loring and Rantala in Rochyatun et al., (2006). Cu concentrations were measured by ICP-OES. The results indicate that Clathria reinwardtii was capable of accumulating the highest Cu level compared to other sponges. The highest Cu level analyzed in Clathria reinwardtii was 161.3 mg/kg

THE POTENTIAL OF Clathria reinwardtii as BIOACCUMULATOR OF HEAVY METAL Cu

Heavy metal Cu is an essential metal required by living organisms but a pollutant in water environment when existed in a level above the treshold level. The capability of sponge Clathria reinwardtii in accumulating heavy metals was analyzed according to modified Müller et al. (1998) method, and the sediment was analyzed according to Loring and Rantala in Rochyatun et al., (2006). Cu concentrations were measured by ICP-OES. The results indicate that Clathria reinwardtii was capable of accumulating the highest Cu level compared to other sponges. The highest Cu level analyzed in Clathria reinwardtii was 161.3 mg/kg

The Use of callispongia sp from Halong waters (Ambon Bay) as Biomonitor for Trace Metals Pb,Cd,Cr and Zn

The aim of this investigation is to estimate metal concentration distribution, Pb,Cd, Cr, and Zn,in Callispongia sp, sediment and water column in Halong waters of Ambon bay. After sampling, analytical processes were carried out according to Warsidah (2001) and measure it by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy). The Results showed that callispongia sp, contain highest metal concentration compared to water and sediment that is 9.56 mg/kg dry weight (ppm) of Zn while sediment was of 0.5 ppm and in waters 0,750 ppm. It can be concluded that the role of spongest in absorbing trace metals must not be underestimated. In the future more research in this area need to be conducted so that an alternative local solution for trace metal pollution can be constructed

The lysidyl aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase intron, a new marker for demosponge phylogeographics - case study on Neopetrosia

Suitable genetic markers for population studies in sponges are necessary to further our understanding of biodiversity and dispersal patterns, and contribute to conservation efforts. Due to the slow mitochondrial substitution rates in demosponges, nuclear introns are among the preferable markers for phylogeographic studies, but so far only the second intron of the ATP synthetase beta subunit-gene (ATPS beta) has been successfully established. In the present study, we analyse the intron of the Lysidyl Aminoacyl Transfer RNA Synthetase (LTRS), another potential marker to study demosponge intraspecific relationships, on samples of Neopetrosia chaliniformis from various locations in the Indo-Pacific and compare its variation with a mitochondrial marker (CO2). LTRS recovers several reciprocal monophyletic groups among the Indo-Pacific N. chaliniformis and provides a potential alternative to ATPS beta

DISTRIBUSI LOGAM ESSENSIAL Cu DALAM SPONGE (PORIFERA) DI KEPULAUAN SPERMONDE

A research on essential metal distribution of copper in Spermonde waters has been carried out. Sponge species of Melophlus sarassinorum, Callyspongia aerizusa, dan Clathria reinwardtii were identified and analyzed accordingly. Copper level were measured using Inductrively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and the results showed that highest concentration was found in Clathria reinwartii  48.3 ppm. Copper distribution in sponge skeleton is higher than in its tissue and seemingly in terms of species the highest concentration is Clathria reinwartii taken from Barrang Lompo waters. In the meantime, Samalona waters contain highest concentration in its sedimen (3.96 ppm). Apparently Spermonde waters is beginning being interferred by metal pollution

MtDNA diversity of the Indonesian giant barrel sponge Xestospongia testudinaria (Porifera: Haplosclerida) - implications from partial cytochrome oxidase 1 sequences

The Indonesian archipelago is a 'hotspot' for invertebrate biodiversity ('Coral Triangle'). In this area of 'peak' biodiversity, the origins of this high species diversity have often been debated. Xestospongia testudinaria is one of the sponge species that dominates coral reef sponge communities in this region. The role of the so-called 'giant barrel sponge' for the reef ecosystem has been studied repeatedly, as have its various bioactive compounds. However, the genetic variation of this iconic sponge in the region remains unknown. We investigate over 200 barrel sponge samples from Indonesia, and neighbouring as well as more distant localities (Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Thailand, Taiwan, Java, Sulawesi and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia) using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1. We compare our results with those from the studies on the congeneric barrel sponges Xestospongia muta from the Caribbean, and Xestospongia bergquistia from the Indo-Pacific, and observe a high degree of overlapping haplotypes between the three barrel sponge species, likely indicating the presence of ancestral polymorphisms. We discuss the implications of these findings to better interpret the phylogeography of barrel sponge taxa in the Indo-Pacific

Nothing in (sponge) biology makes sense - except when based on holotypes

Sponge species are infamously difficult to identify for non-experts due to their high morphological plasticity and the paucity of informative morphological characters. The use of molecular techniques certainly helps with species identification, but unfortunately it requires prior reference sequences. Holotypes constitute the best reference material for species identification, however their usage in molecular systematics and taxonomy is scarce and frequently not even attempted, mostly due to their antiquity and preservation history. Here we provide case studies in which we demonstrate the importance of using holo-type material to answer phylogenetic and taxonomic questions. We also demonstrate the possibility of sequencing DNA fragments out of century-old holotypes. Furthermore we propose the deposition of DNA sequences in conjunction with new species descriptions