Temporal variation in macroinvertebrates associated with intertidal sponge Ircinia fusca (Carter 1880) from Ratnagiri, West coast, India.

Abstract

Temporal variation of macrofauna associated with a marine sponge, Ircinia fusca was studied from a tropical rocky shore along the West coast of India. Triplicate sponge samples (~100 g) were collected from January to December 2010 from Bhagwati Bandar area, Ratnagiri. A total of 22 macrofaunal taxa were found to be associated with the sponge. The community was dominated (> than 80%) by the juvenile ophiuroid, Ophiactis savignyi. Syllis sp., Sipuncula and Bivalvia were the other dominant taxa. Presence of O. savignyi juveniles during most of the time in the year indicates a major recruitment in March and minor recruitment during rest of the year. Present study suggest that the O. savignyi utilize the surface area of sponge as a perfect settling and recruiting ground. It infers that the sponge Ircinia fusca is used as a breeding ground by the brittle star, Ophiactis savignyi.