Journal of Coastal Zone Management

Abstract

Diversity of Culturable Bacterial Community Associated with the Coral Galaxea fascicularis from Ujung Kulon, Indonesia

Agus Sabdono, Ocky Karna Radjasa, Rudiger St?hr, and Elena Zocchi

Coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystems; however, little is known about their microbial
diversity in these ecosystems. The present study is aimed at investigating the general insights into the
diversity of the bacterial community associated with the coral Galaxea fascicularis. A culture collection
of 45 bacteria associated with coral G. fascicularis from Ujung Kulon, Indonesia was established by
plating on Zobell’s 2214E. Isolates were screened by means of RLFP and sequencing of representative
16S rDNAs. Using the restriction enzyme HaeIII, isolates were classified into 8 pattern group. The
sequence results indicated that a high diversity of bacterial phylotypes was present within the coral
Galaxea fascicularis. In general, there are three major groups of bacteria: (i) members of the division
Firmicutes , (ii) Actinobacteria, and (iii) γ-proteobacteria. Phylogenetic data on microbial community
composition in coral G. fascicularis will help in the rational selection of culture conditions to improve
the diversity of bacteria and the knowledge on the physiological, biochemical, genetic, and molecular
properties of coral bacteria.