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

Abstract

Temporal variation of macrofauna associated with a marine sponge, <i>Ircinia fusca </i>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<i>. </i>The community was dominated (<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">≥80%) by the juvenile ophiuroid, <i>Ophiactis savignyi. Syllis </i>sp., Sipuncula and Bivalvia were the other dominant taxa. Presence of <i>O. savignyi </i>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 <i>O. savignyi </i>utilize the surface area of sponge as a perfect settling and recruiting ground. It infers that the sponge <i>Ircinia fusca </i>is used as a breeding ground by the brittle star, <i>Ophiactis savignyi</i>.

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