Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands in Viet Nam sea

417 Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology; Vol. 20, No. 4; 2020: 417–425 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/15307 Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands in Vietnam sea Do Cong Thung * , Nguyen Dang Ngai, Le Thi Thuy Institute of Marine Resources and Environment, VAST, Vietnam *E-mail: thungdc@imer.vast.vn Received: 16 July 2020; Accepted: 15 October 2020 ©2020 Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) Abstract In 2017, 2018 and 2020, sponge samples were collected at 41 points in the waters surrounding Vietnam’s coastal limestone islands (Bai Tu Long, Ha Long bay, Cat Ba and Ba Lua archipelago). Research results have identified 54 species belonging to 33 genera, 24 families of Demosponge class distributed in this area. Ha Long bay area has the highest number of species (53 species), followed by Cat Ba (46 species), Bai Tu Long 19 species; Ba Lua archipelago (Kien Giang) has the least number of species (3 species). Sponges are concentrated in coral reefs with the highest number of species (48 species) and the lowest in the mud and sand bottom (4 species). Biomass of sponges varies from 0.2–1.5 kg/m2. There are 11 sites with high biomass, which have the potential to become Vietnam’s medicinal drug area. Keywords: Sponges, limestone island, species, biomass. Citation: Do Cong Thung, Nguyen Dang Ngai, Le Thi Thuy, 2020. Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands in Vietnam sea. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 20(4), 417–425. Do Cong Thung et al. 418 INTRODUCTION Sponges are a group of primitive multicellular organisms with a fairly simple body structure that can be found in most marine waters, but mainly in the ocean [1]. There are currently an estimated 9,000 species in the world [2]. Sponges grow by filtering seawater, so it has the ability to purify seawater through its living activities [1]. In the process of that nutrition, sponges also acquire some toxic substances, excreted by some types of animals and plants (corals living on the reef,...). Through complex biological processes, these substances are absorbed and used as “chemical stores” for their different purposes (against predators, animals and inhibiting other organisms in competing for food sources and living spaces) [2]. Currently, sponges attract the attention in the field of searching for drug sources of natural origin, which has obtained good results in finding anti-cancer compounds and some other diseases [3, 4]. Some places, such as New Zealand, have cultivated several types of sponges that are valuable for commercial purposes as well as for the study of extracts of bioactive substances [5]. In Vietnam, research on sponge biodiversity is still very limited, especially only a few publications in Ha Long bay [6, 7,] Nha Trang [8, 9], Con Co [10], Phu Quy [11]. But scientists have also found many new substances that have anti-cancer properties in sponges of Vietnam sea [12, 13]. In order to contribute to the full understanding of the biodiversity of sponge, the search for substances containing anticancer, and bioactive substances, a detailed description of the biodiversity of the sponge species distributed in the limestone islands in Vietnam sea is presented below. RESEARCH METHOD Sampling time and place The research is conducted in 4 main areas with 41 sampling points (table 1) in 12/2017, 8/2018 and 1/2020. Table 1. Location and time of sponge sampling in 2017, 2018, 2020 No. Location Coordinate Time of sampling 2017 2018 1 Vung Ha 1 20o49’42”N - 107o10’63”E 7/12/2017 25/8/2018 2 Vung Ha 2 20o50’54”N - 107o09’27”E 7/12/2017 25/8/2018 3 Ho Ang Ca Hong* 20o52’46”N - 107o12’12”E 7/12/2017 21/8/2018 4 Cong Do 2 20o52’58”N - 107o12’31”E 7/12/2017 21/8/2018 5 Dau Be 1 20o45’8.13”N - 107o8’6.79”E 8/12/2017 22/8/2018 6 Dau Be 2* 20o44’49.01”N - 107o8’20.9”E 8/12/2017 22/8/2018 7 Hang Trai 20o47’59.66”N - 107o7’0.3”E 9/12/2017 23/8/2018 8 Dau Go1 20o54’33”N - 107o00’57”E 10/12/2017 24/8/2018 9 Dau Go 2 20o53’58”N - 107o01’21”E 10/12/2017 24/8/2018 10 Hon Bu Nau 1 20o50’58”N - 107o05’10”E 11/12/2017 25/8/2018 11 Hon Bu Nau 2 20o51’07”N - 107o05’14”E 11/12/2017 25/8/2018 12 Ang Me Cung 1 20o50’04” N - 107o05’07”E - 25/8/2018 13 Ang Me Cung 20o50’07”N - 107o05’09”E - 25/8/2018 14 Hon Da Den* 21o03’22”N - 107o27’32”E 12/12/2017 28/8/2018 15 Hon Da Den 21o03’22”N - 107o27’28”E 28/8/2018 16 Hon Cuon Buon 21o09’03”N - 107o28’31”E 13/12/2017 28/8/2018 17 Hon Cuon Buon 2 21o10’01”N - 107o38’38”E 28/8/2018 18 Hon Hang Te 1 21o58’49”N - 107o28’01”E 14/12/2017 27/8/2018 19 Hon Hang Te 2* 21o58’47”N - 107o28’E 27/8/2018 20 Hon Tong Hoi 21o00’47”N - 107o26’09”E 14/12/2017 28/8/2018 21 Hon Cat Chuong To 21o00’43”N - 107o24’15”E 14/12/2017 28/8/2018 22 Van Boi 1 20o46’12.11”N - 107o4’46.2”E 16/12/2017 30/8/2018 23 Van Boi 2 20o46’10.51”N - 107o4’33.43”E 16/12/2017 30/8/2018 24 Ang Trong Boi 20o46’18”N -107o04’43”E 31/8/2018 25 Cat Dua 1 20o44’0.71”N - 107o4’51.98”E 16/12/2017 2/9/2018 Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands 419 26 Cat Dua 2 20o44’11.37”N - 107o4’18.96”E 16/12/2017 2/9/2018 27 Hon Gio Cung 1* 20o47’44.23”N - 107o5’25.70”E 17/12/2017 1/9/2018 28 Hon Gio Cung 2 20o47’26.52”N - 107o5’43.37”E 17/12/2017 1/9/2018 29 Ang Sang 1 20o48’0.88”N - 107o8’48.37”E 18/12/2017 31/8/2018 30 Ang Sang 2 20o48’3.10”N - 107o5’57.22”E 19/12/2017 31/8/2018 31 Ang Tham 20o43’12”N - 107o03’36”E 2/9/2018 32 Ang Vem 20o45’02”N - 107o03’00”E 2/9/2018 33 Hon Tre 1 9o57’09”N - 104o50’31”E 13/1/2018 34 Hon Tre 2 9o56’55”N - 104o50’07”E 14/1/2018 35 Hon Tre 3 9o57’14”N - 104o49’05”E 14/1/2018 36 Hon Re Nho 10o09’02”N - 104o35’17”E 15/1/2018 1/8/2018 37 Hon Da Lua 10o10’05”N - 104o34’44”E 16/1/2018 29/7/2018 38 Hon Hang Tuyen 1 10o10’57”N - 104o35’27”E 17/1/2018 30/7/2018 39 Hon Hang Tuyen 2 10o10’47”N - 104o35’38”E 18/1/2018 31/7/2018 40 Hon Re Lon 1 10o09’21”N - 104o34’50”E 2/8/2018 41 Hon Re Lon 2 10o09’23”N - 104o34’48”E 2/8/2018 Note: *: Additional sample collection location in January 2020. Sampling methods and documents The sponge specimen was collected in the intertidal zone in a cross-section perpendicular to the shoreline from the high-tide zone through the mid-tide zone to the low-tide zone. Qualitative samples and quantitative samples were collected in standard plots 40  40 cm according to the method of Gunjanova, et al., (1972) [15]; Do Cong Thung (2014) [16]. In the sub-tidal zone, the sample was collected according to the method of English et al., (1997) [17], Do Cong Thung (2014) [16] applied to hard bottom areas and coral reefs. On the reef and adjacent areas, besides direct observation and sampling on the reef surface (thanks to SCUBA diving equipment), quantitative samples were also collected on the bottom using a specialized nylon mesh frame with the size of 1 m  1 m. The obtained sample is fixed in a cold chamber and then transferred to the laboratory for analysis. Sample analysis Morphological and structural methods were used to classify sponge according to the authors Boury-Esnault, N., and Rutzler, K., (1997) [14]; and Hooper (2002) [2]. The classification criteria include: (i) Morphology: Shape, color, surface structure and distribution of the opening of the aquiferous system; (ii) Structure of the skeleton and associated structures (spicules, fibers); (iii) Ecology: Such as depth, habitat, bottom matter, salinity, symbiotic species,... The classification system is based on the document Systema Porifera (editors Hooper & Van Soest, 2002) and is compared with WORMS. RESEARCH RESULTS Composition of sponges A total of 136 sponge samples were collected at 41 points around limestone islands in the Vietnamese waters. Sample analysis results have identified 54 species, 36 genera and 24 families (table 2). In which, there is 1 new species of sponges for science with freshwater origin (Spongilla sp.) distributed in Ca Hong lake (Bai Tu Long). Analysis of the composition structure of sponge showed an average of 1.5 species/order; 2.25 species/family. Clionaidae family has the highest number of species (10 species), followed by family Chalinidae (8 species); 5 families have 3 species/family, including families Mycalidae, Tethyidae, Halichondriidae, Suberitidae, Callyspongiidae. There are 4 families with 2 species/family, including Petrosiidae, Dysideidae, Irciniidae, Dictyonellidae. There are also 12 families (accounting for 50% of the number of sponge family) with only 1 species/family, including Phloeodictydae, Niphatidae, Spongiidae, Thoosidae, Spongillidae, Chondrosiidae, Thorectidae, Microcionidae, Biemnidae, Desmacididae, Axinellidae, Agelasidae. With the above poor species composition structure, only a small change of the environment can lose a genus or a family of the Sponge Calcite (Demospongiae) in limestone islands in our Do Cong Thung et al. 420 country. Therefore, it is necessary to have appropriate measures to develop and protect sponge species that contribute to the creation of marine drugs in Vietnam. Table 2. List of sponges in limestone islands (2017, 2018, 2020) No. Scientific names Location 1 2 3 4 5 6 Order Haplosclerida 1. Fam. Phloeodictydae 1 Siphonodictyon mucosum Bergquist, 1965 - + + - - + 2. Fam. Callyspongiidae 2 Callyspongia (Callyspongia) roosevelti van Soest, Kaiser & Van Syoc, 2011 - + + - - - 3 Callyspongia (Cladochalina) subarmigera (Ridley, 1884) + + + - - - 4 Callyspongia sp. - + + - - - 3. Fam. Spongillidae 5 Spongilla sp. + 4. Fam. Chalinidae 6 Haliclona (Haliclona) oculata (Linnaeus, 1759) + + + - - - 7 Haliclona (Gellius) varia (Bowerbank, 1875) + + + + + + 8 Haliclona (Reniera) clathrate (Dendy, 1895) - + + - - - 9 Haliclona (Soestella) xena De Weerdt, 1986 - + + - - - 10 Haliclona (Haliclona) simulans (Johnston, 1842) - + + - - - 11 Haliclona (Gellius) cymaeformis (Esper, 1806) - + - - - + 12 Cladocroce burapha Putchakarn, de Weerdt, Sonchaeng & van Soest, 2004 - + - + - + 13 Cladocroce sp. - + - - - + 5. Fam. Petrosiidae 14 Xestospongia testudinaria (Lamarck, 1815) + + + - - - 15 Petrosia (Petrosia) nigricans Lindgren, 1897 + + + - - 6. Fam. Niphatidae 16 Gelliodes fibulata (Carter, 1881) + + + + - - Order Clionaida 7. Fam. Clionaidae - - + 17 Spheciospongia tentorioides (Dendy, 1905) - + + + - + 18 S. decumbens Ridley, 1884 - + + - - + 19 S. solida Ridley and Dendy, 1886 - + + - - + 20 Cliona celata Grant, 1826 - + + - - + 21 Cliona orientalis Thiele, 1900 - + + - - + 22 Cliona aurivilli (Lindgren, 1897) - + + - - + 23 Cliona sp. - + + - - + 24 Cliothosa hancocki (Topsent, 1888) - + + - - + 25 C. aurivilli(Lindgren, 1897) - + + - - + 26 Pioneer carpenteri (Hancock, 1826) - + + - - + Order Chondrillida 8. Fam. Chondrillidae 27 Chondrilla australiensis Carter, 1873 + + + - - + Order Chondrosida 9. Fam. Chondrosiidae 28 Chondrosia reniformis Nardo, 1847 - + - - - - Order Dictyoceratida 10. Fam. Dysideidae 29 Dysidea fragilis (Montagu, 1814) + + + - - - 30 Dysidea cinerea Keller, 1889 + + + - - - 11. Fam. Irciniidae 31 Ircinia echinata (Keller, 1889) + + + - - - 32 Psammocinia sp. + + - - - 12. Fam. Spongiidae 33 Spongia (Spongia) officinalis Linnaeus, 1759 - + + - - - Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands 421 13. Fam. Thorectidae 34 Dactylospongia sp - + + + - + Order Suberitida 14. Fam. Suberitidae 35 Suberites carnosus(Johnston, 1842) - + + - - + 36 Suberites diversicolor Becking & Lim, 2009 - + + - - + 37 Protosuberites sp. - + + - - + 15. Fam. Halichondriidae 38 Amorphinopsis excavans Carter, 1887 - + + - - - 39 Hymeniacidon sp. - + - + - + 40 Topsentia dura (Lindgren, 1897) + + + - - + Order Poecilosclerida 16. Fam. Mycalidae 41 Mycale (Aegogropila) plumose sensu Hoshino, 1981 + + + - - + 42 Mycale (Zygomycale) parishii (Bowerbank, 1875) - + - - - + 43 Mycale sp. - + + + - + 17. Fam. Microcionidae 44 Clathria sp. + + - - - 18. Fam. Desmacididae 45 Desmacidon fruticosum (Montagu, 1814) - + - + - - Order Halichondrida 19. Fam. Axinellidae 46 Axinella dissimilis (Bowerbank, 1866) - + + - - - 20. Fam. Tethyidae 47 Tethya seychellensis Wright, 1881 + + + - - + 48 Tethya aurantium (Pallas, 1766) + + + - - + 49 Tethya sp. + + + - - - Order Tetractinellida 21. Fam. Thoosidae 50 Neamphius huxleyi (Sollas, 1888) + + + - - Order Bubarida 22. Fam. Dictyonellidae 51 Acanthella hispida Pulitzer-Finali, 1982 + + + + + - 52 Acanthella cavernosa Dendy, 1922 + + + - + - Order Biemnida 23. Fam. Biemnidae 53 Biemna megalosigma Hentschel, 1912 - + + - - - Order Agelasida 24. Fam. Agelasidae 54 Agelas axifera Hentschel, 1911 - + + - - - Total species 17 53 46 13 3 29 Notes: 1. Bai Tu Long; 2. Ha Long; 3. Cat Ba; 4. Long Chau; 5. Ba Lua islands (Kien Giang); 6. Saltwater lake; -: (No); +: (Yes). Distribution of sponge species Space distribution of species number In limestone islands, especially in the Northeast of Vietnam, sponges are distributed throughout the coral reefs and cliffs of the islands. However, there are dominant species and different concentration densities in different regions. Sample analysis results show that there are 53/54 sponge species in the Ha Long bay area, followed by Cat Ba 46/54 species, Bai Tu Long 17/54 species, Ba Lua archipelago (Kien Giang) with the least number of species (3/54 species) (table 3). In particular, we have identified 28 species of sponge living in saltwater lakes in Bai Tu Long, Ha Long, Cat Ba area. Among these, four species were not found in the waters outside the saltwater lake, including Suberites carnosus, Suberites diversicolor, Protosuberites sp., Spogilla sp. This is a testament to the fact that saltwater lakes form new species for water bodies. Do Cong Thung et al. 422 Previous research results of sponge in some coastal islands from the North to the South Central Coast show that 20 sponge species belonging to 19 families were collected in the North Central islands such as Hon Me (Thanh Hoa), Stone Reefs (Quang Binh), Vinh Moc and Con Co (Quang Tri) (2016). Research results in 2017 in the Central coast (Hue to Quang Nam) also identified only 20 species of 14 genera, 13 families of sponge, they are distributed mainly in the Hai Van - Son Cha (Thua Thien-Hue) and Cu Lao Cham (Quang Nam). In 2014, the study by PharmaMar (Spanish Pharmaceutical Group) and Institute of Marine Resources and Environment identified 100 species of sponge belonging to 40 families in Nha Trang bay islands [6]. Thus, it can be seen that the waters of Bai Tu Long, Ha Long, Cat Ba and Nha Trang bay are two areas with a high level of biodiversity in terms of the number of sponge species of Vietnam. Research results in 2018, 2019 and 2020 have also identified a number of points with high concentrations of sponge species. It is forecasted that if studying more closely, it is possible to build marine medicinal grounds from sponge in the Vietnam sea: Bai Tu Long area: from Da Den coordinates (21o03’22”N - 107o27’30”E) to Lach Xuoi Chanh (lotus village) coordinates (21o55’59”N - 107o26’24”E). This is a large medicinal field with distribution of species Ircinia echinata (family Ircinidae), Xestospongia testudinaria (Petrosiidae); Dysidea cinerea, D. fragilis (family Dyseidae,), Haliclona (Gellius) varia (family Chalinidae), Table 3. Distribution of sponges on different types of substrates No. Bottom type, substrate Sponge name 1 Sand bed: 9 species Cliona celata, Cliona orientalis, Cliona aurivilli, Ircinia echinata, Mycale (Aegogropila) plumosa, Mycale sp., Tethya seychellensis, Tethya aurantium, Tethya sp., Haliclona (Gellius) varia. 2 Sand + gravel + rock: 36 species Cliona celata, C. aurivilli, Cliothosa hancocki, Cliothosa aurivilli, Pioneer carpenteri, Dysidea fragilis, D. cinerea, Gelliodes fibulata, Ircinia echinata, Mycale (Aegogropila) plumosa, M. (Zygomycale) parishii, Axinella dissimilis, Spheciospongia tentorioides, Tethya seychellensis, T. aurantium, Xestospongia testudinaria, Petrosia (Petrosia) nigricans, Haliclona oculata, H. (Gellius) varia, H. (Reniera) clathrata, H. (Soestella) xena, H. (Haliclona) simulans, H. (Gellius) cymaeformis, Cladocroce burapha, Spongia (Spongia) officinalis, Neamphius huxleyi, Chondrosia reniformis, Clathria sp., Callyspongia roosevelti, C. (Cladochalina) subarmigera, Acanthella hispida, Acanthella cavernosa, Biemna megalosigma, Desmacidon fruticosum, Agelas axifera, Topsentia dura. 3 Coral reefs: 48 species Siphonodictyon mucosum, Amorphinopsis excavans, Hymeniacidon sp, Chondrilla australiensis, Cliona celata, C. Aurivilli, Cliona sp., Cliothosa hancocki, Cliothosa aurivilli, Pioneer carpenteri, Dysidea fragilis, D. cinerea, Gelliodes fibulata, Ircinia echinata, Psammocinia sp., Mycale (Aegogropila) plumosa, M. (Zygomycale) parishii, Mycale sp. Axinella dissimilis, Spheciospongia tentorioides, S. decumbens, S. solida, Tethya seychellensis, T. aurantium, Tethya sp., Xestospongia testudinaria, Petrosia (Petrosia) nigricans, Haliclona oculata, H. (Gellius) varia, H. (Reniera) clathrata, H. (Soestella) xena, H. (Haliclona) simulans, H. cymaeformis, Cladocroce sp., Spongia (Spongia) officinalis, Neamphius huxleyi, Chondrosia reniformis, Clathria sp., Callyspongia roosevelti, C. (Cladochalina) subarmigera, Callyspongia sp., Acanthella hispida, Acanthella cavernosa, Biemna megalosigma, Desmacidon fruticosum, Agelas axifera Dactylospongia sp., Topsentia dura 4 Mud + sand: 4 species Tethya seychellensis, Tethya aurantium, Tethya sp., Haliclona (Gellius) varia 5 Clinging on the crust: 5 species Cliona celata, Cliona orientalis, Cliona aurivilli, Cliona sp. Cliothosa hancocki 6 Aquaculture rafts, concrete: 10 species Cliona celata, Cliona orientalis, Cliona aurivilli, Cliothosa hancocki, Haliclona oculata, H. (Gellius) varia, H. (Reniera) clathrata, H. (Soestella) xena, H. (Haliclona) simulans, H.cymaeformis Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands 423 Ha Long bay: Most of the islands in Ha Long bay have sponge distribution. The two areas, Cong Do and Hang Trai - Dau Be, are the center of almost 20 species of sponge found in the Northeast island. The dominant species are Dysidea cinerea, D. fragilis, Mycale plumose, Biemma megalosigma, Ircinia echinata,... Cat Ba islands: Sponge species are mainly concentrated from Hon Van Boi - Van Ha to Ba Trai Dao. Typical species include Haliclona (Gellius) varia, Dysidea cinerea, D. fragilis, Tethya aurantium, Haliclona simulans,... Ba Lua archipelago (Kien Giang) have only 3 species: Acanthella hispida, Acanthella cavernosa, Haliclona (Gellius) varia. Distribution on different types of substrates Sponge is distributed over 6 types of bottom matter: Sand bottom, sand + gravel + rock, coral reef, mud + sand, clinging to organisms and other substrates. The analysis results showed that the highest number of sponge belongs to the coral reef bottom (48 species); the sand - gravel - rock bottom has 36 species, followed by the aquaculture raft, the concrete substrates (10 species), sand bed 9 species, the crust 5 species, mud and sand 4 species (table 3). Biomass Results of biomass sampling in some key areas showed that sponge is often distributed quite concentratedly in areas around limestone islands. The average volume of organisms is quite high, ranging from 0.2–1.5 kg/m2 (table 4). Based on the biological value, 11 points with high biomass were identified. The order from low to high is as follows: Ho Ang Ca Hong, Vung Ha, Hon Ri Nho (0.5 kg/m2); Da Lua (0.6 kg/m2); Hon Hang Te (0.7 kg/m2); Hon Gio Cung (0.8 kg/m2); Cat Chuong To (0.9 kg/m2); Hang Trai (1.0 kg/m2); Dau Be, Van Boi (1.1 kg/m2) and the highest in the water around Da Den island cluster (1.5 kg/m 2 ). These 11 points can be seen as potential areas to become marine drug areas of our country (figure 1). Note Location high biomass Figure 1. Diagram of areas with high biomass (> 1 kg fresh/m2) Do Cong Thung et al. 424 Table 4. Sponge biomass in some areas of Vietnam’s limestone islands No. Locations Bn (kg/m2) No. Locations Bn (kg/m2) 1 Hon Da Den 1.5 12 Cong Do 0.2 2 Hon Hang Te 0.7 13 Dau Go 0.2 3 Cat Chuong To 0.9 14 Hon Bu Nau 0.3 4 Ho Ang Cá Hong 0.5 15 Ang Me Cung 0.2 5 Vung Ha 0.5 16 Hon Cuon Buom 0.2 6 Hang Trai 1.0 17 Hon Tong Hoi 0.4 7 Dau Be 1.1 18 Long Chau 0.4 8 Van Boi 1.1 19 Ang Trong Boi 0.3 9 Hon Gio Cung 0.8 20 Cat Dua 0.2 10 Hon Re Nho 0.5 21 Anh Sang 0.2 11 Hon Da Lua 0.6 22 Ang Tham 0.3 Note: Bn - Biomass of average 10 samples studied. CONCLUSION The study has identified 54 species, 36 genera and 24 families distributed in the waters around the limestone islands of Vietnam. In which, there is 1 new species of sponge for science with freshwater origin (Spongilla sp.) distributed in Ca Hong lake (Bai Tu Long). Clionaidae family has the highest number of species (10 species), followed by Chalinidae (8 species). There are 12 families with only 1 species/family. 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