Abstract:
Bacteria associated with sponges are well known relationship. However, the significant of
relationship and diversity of the bacteria are still under investigation. In order to
understand more about the bacteria associated with sponges, the aims of this study are to
isolate and to identify bacteria that associated with marine sponges. The sponges sample
ware collected at Karah Island near to Bidong Island Terengganu, Malaysia. The method
used in this study were Gram-staining and micromorphology to determine the physical
characteristic of isolates and biochemical tests such as Catalase test, Oxidase test, Starch
hydrolysis, Sugar fermentation test, Indole production and Voges-Proskauer test to
determined its physiological characteristics. Results shows of 83 isolates were identified
up to genus levels and 21 isolates were identified at species levels. Four genuses have
been identified which were Pseudomonas sp., Aeromonas sp., Neisseria sp. and Serratia
sp. Pseudomonas sp. indicated as dominant genus followed by Aeromonas sp., Neisseria
sp. and Serratia sp. All isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and in agreement with
prev10us finding for the dominant of Gram-negative bacteria associated with marine
sponges.