Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands in Vietnam sea

A comprehensive survey of sponge biodiversity in Vietnam's limestone islands, including Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago, identified 54 species across 33 genera and 24 families. Ha Long Bay exhibited the highest diversity (53 species), while the Ba Lua archipelago had the least (3 species). Sponges were most abundant in coral reefs (48 species) compared to mud or sand bottoms (4 species). Biomass varied significantly, with 11 sites showing high potential for medicinal drug development. The study, conducted between 2017 and 2020 across 41 sampling points, provides critical insights into the ecological richness of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Thung, D. C., Ngai, N. D., & Thuy, L. T. (2020). Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands in Vietnam sea. Tạp Chí Khoa Học Và Công Nghệ Biển, 20(4), 417–425. https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/15307