Abstract:
Bacterial bionts from nine sponges from intertidal reaches of Mandapam (9 degrees 17'0" N and 7 degrees 7'0"E), namely: Petrosia testudinaria, Cinachyra cavernosa, Haliclona sp., Callyspongia fibrosa, Heteronema erecta, Fasciospongia cavernosa, Callyspongia reticutis var solomonensis unidentified sponges (MAM 5), and unidentified sponge (NIO3) were enumerated by the acridine orange and viable count in Tryptone Yeast Extract medium (TYE) with 3-25 percent NaCl. Forty two pure bionts were characterized to generic level according to Bergey's Systematic Bacteriology and sarted into groups using SYSTAT-v.12.01. Diversity, richness and evenness of genera were determined using PRIMER v.5. Direct bacterial counts for sponges, averaged at 5.2 plus or minus 2.20x10 sup(9) cells/g. Viable counts averaged at 3.31 plus or minus 2.60x10 sup(8) cfu/g, 3.83 plus or minus 2.86x10 sup(8) cfu/g and 2.89 plus or minus 2.3x10 sup(8) cfu/g on TYE, 3 percent TYE and NTYE, respectively. Predominant Genera were in the order of Bacillus greater than Corynebacterium greater than Chromohalobacter. Bionts of Genera Loktanella sp., Pontibacillus sp., Planococcus sp., Enterococcus sp. are retrieved for the first time from sponges of Mandapam. Retrieval of bionts of Genera Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas known for pathogenicity to humans, reflects pollution of Mandapam waters by sewage and Heralds Caution for safeguarding the waters to ensure sustainability of biota.
