Marine sponges of the rocky reefs of Punta Amapala, El Salvador, eastern Tropical Pacific

Abstract

Sponges represent one of the groups with the greatest abundance and diversity among invertebrates. They tolerate a wide range of environmental factors allowing them to surpass the survival of other organisms. Punta Amapala is located between the eastern coastal plain and the Gulf of Fonseca, El Salvador, characterized by the presence of rocky reefs surrounded by sand. Sponge richness, frequency and distribution of rocky reefs at Punta Amapala was recorded following the transect and quadrat methodology. The study resulted in the recording of ten taxa: Aplysina gerardogreeni, Haliclona spp., Axinella nayaritensis, Endectyon (Endectyon) hyle, Mycale (Carmia) cecilia, M. (Zygomycale) ramulosa, Tedania (Tedania) tropicalis, Cliona californiana, C. euryphylle and a sponge of the subclass Calcinea (Calcarea). It is necessary to increase the studies directed to this group in order to know with greater accuracy their richness in the reefs of El Salvador and thus to understand the ecological role they play in ecosystem.

Keywords

• shallow rocky reef
• biodiversity
• Calcarea
• Demospongiae
• spatial distribution