Microbial symbionts of the Australian Great Barrier Reef sponge, Candidaspongia flabellata

Microbial symbionts of the newly described rare, biochemically active Dictyoceratid sponge, Candidaspongia flabellata (Very White Fan) found in the Australian Great Barrier Reef, are being studied in detail. The chemistry of this sponge species is distinctive, and includes a previously undescribed c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2001-10, Vol.461 (1-3), p.41-47
Main Authors: BURJA, Adam M, HILL, Russell T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Bacteria
Biological and medical sciences
Candidaspongia flabellata
Cyanophyta
Dictyoceratida
Eubacteria
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Microbial ecology
Microbiology
Phyllospongiidae
Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water)
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Summary:Microbial symbionts of the newly described rare, biochemically active Dictyoceratid sponge, Candidaspongia flabellata (Very White Fan) found in the Australian Great Barrier Reef, are being studied in detail. The chemistry of this sponge species is distinctive, and includes a previously undescribed compound, fanolide as well as homosesterterpene and bishomoscalarane secondary metabolites (Bergquist et al., 1999). Current research is focused on assessing the diversity of the microbial community associated with this sponge. The entire culturable community of this sponge has been studied in detail. A total of 228 bacteria, 25 fungi, 3 actinomycetes and 9 cyanobacteria were isolated from 10 individuals of this sponge. Eight eubacteria (designated AB001-AB008), along with seven cyanobacteria were consistently found associated with C. flabellata and absent from the surrounding water column, suggesting that these bacteria have a specific association with the sponge. Partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of these isolates was done for phylogenetic characterisation. Electron microscopy was also used to confirm the presence of many morphotypes of bacteria and indicated spatial arrangements of particular morphotypes.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1023/A:1012713130404