Outbreaks of the coral-killing sponge Terpios hoshinota Rützler and Muzik, 1993 have become a threat to corals and result in coral reef deterioration. This species has an increasing distribution in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and thrives in patches on some reefs in Okinawa, Japan. However, the dispersal process and mechanisms involved remain unknown. We observed the self and non-self recognition capabilities of T. hoshinota by performing contact assays in aquarium and in the field. In the contact assays (indirect and direct contact), allogeneic sets did not fuse and showed a rejection reaction as they formed boundaries (approx. 0.2 mm width) between their tissues. Although the initial reaction between individuals involved adhesion in allogeneic sets, the two individuals remained distant from each other. Histological observations showed that soft tissues (such as collagen) were not present in the boundary zones. These boundaries were maintained for more than 2 weeks. Boundary formations were also confirmed at three field sites in Okinawa, Japan. Our results suggest that T. hoshinota can distinguish self and non-self individuals. Contact assays are a useful method for evaluating the spatial distribution and local population structures of T. hoshinota in coral reefs.
Keywords: Coral reef; Histoincompatibility; Rejection; Self recognition; Tissue reaction.