Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PINK LINE SYNDROME ASSOCIATED BACTERIA IN THE PORITES LUTEA CORAL OF THE SEMPU STRAIT, SOUTH JAVA SEA

Muhammad Arif Asadi, Bambang Semedi, Muliawati Handayani, Umi Zakiyah, FeniIranawati, Maike Arifianti and Dzikrillah Akbar

Abstract

Scleractinian corals are highly vulnerable to climate change and coral diseases in which approximately 30% of the corals have been affected with the diseases globally. The diseases generally occur in response to pollution, increased sea surface temperatures, fungi, virus, and bacteria. In the strait of Sempu, South Java Sea, more than 50% of Porites corals were impacted with Pink Line Syndrome (PLS). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the PLS associated bacteria that infected Porites lutea corals in the area. The sampling was performed at the Sempu strait in June 2018 by scuba diving. ZoBell marine agar was used as media to isolate and purify the bacteria colony that associated with PLS syndrome using quadrants streak plate technique. 16S rRNA sequencing method was used to identify and compare bacteria of the samples with the bacteria present. Sequence similarity searches were used NCBI BLAST. Result showed that the PLS associated bacteria were identified as Bacillus subtilis and Rhodococcus indicium. Both bacteria might enter to the marine environment from polluted water which later attached to the P. lutea coral and might be responsible for the PLS in the coral.