Population Dynamic of Dendronephthya sp.-Associated Bacteria in Natural and Artificial Habitats

Susan Soka,Rory Anthony Hutagalung,Yogiara Yogiara,Clara Assisi

doi:10.4308/hjb.18.2.57

Susan Soka, Rory Anthony Hutagalung + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.18.2.57

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Abstract

Dendronephthya sp. is a soft coral that has huge distribution starting from Indopacific, Tonga, Solomon Islands to Great Barrier Reef in Australia. However, this soft corals survive only in short period after cultivation in artificial habitat (aquarium). Recent study showed that the soft coral Dendronephtya sp. has an association or symbiotic relationship with several bacteria, commonly known as coral associated bacteria (CAB). In this study, we compared the population dynamic of Dendronephthya sp.-associated bacteria in natural and artificial habitat, resulting different bacterial community profiles using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of bacterial community DNA. There were 15 main classes of bacterial population identified along with uncultured microorganism, uncultured organism, uncultured bacteria and unidentified organism. Members of Actinobacteria, Arthrobacteria, Chlorobia, Caldilineae, Δ-proteobacteria and Proteobacteria were predicted to give contributions in the survival ability of both Dendronephthya sp. The cultivation of soft corals after 2 weeks in artificial habitat increases bacterial population similarity on 2 different samples by 10%. Bacterial population similarity in artificial habitat would increase along with the longer cultivation time of soft corals.

Highlights

Indonesia is a country with the largest corals ecosystem area in the world
The analysis of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) patterns showed that the patterns of bacterial communities on the replicate coral colonies were fluctuating
The numbers of each bacterial population on D1 were different with organisms on D2

Summary

Introduction

Indonesia is a country with the largest corals ecosystem area in the world These coral ecosystem area has a direct association with quota or amount of corals that allowed to be traded according to Convention International Treaty on Endangered Species (CITES). Among hundred corals that may be traded, one of the most potential species for hobbyist is Dendronephthya sp. This species is a famous Alcyonia among the diver in Red Ocean and has colorful colors such as red, orange, purple, yellow, pink, and white (Fabricus & Alderslade 2001). Is a flower shaped soft coral with various formations It has scratch, like thorn, along its body. Recent publication reported that Dendronephthya sp. has green fluorescent protein (Pakhomov et al 2004)

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