Fig 1.
In situ experimental setup of temporary shading on coral colony, Favites abdita affected with Terpios sponge.
Diagrammatic representation of the set up made is given on the right hand side.
Fig 2.
Linear progression of Terpios over live corals.
Images a, b and c show Terpios progression over live coral Platygyra colony. Note the progression of Terpios over the tag. Images d and e show Terpios covered Acropora and coralline algae, respectively.
Fig 3.
Identification of coral encrusting sponge collected from Palk Bay.
a. Spicules of T. hoshinota showing lobed head of tylostyle spicules, b. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Terpios sp. with related sponge species.
Fig 4.
Average coverage of Terpios on coral colonies such as Acropora, Non-Acropora and Terpios hoshinota at the reef of Palk Bay during study period from August 2013 to August 2015.
The * represents increase in abundance of Terpios within 2 years, and # represents the abundance of Acropora over the study site. Inset figure represents the Terpios overgrowth exclusively on Acropora colonies.
Fig 5.
Linear regression between coral cover decline and Terpios abundance during the study period.
Fig 6.
In situ shading experiment in Palk Bay.
(A) Experimental colony after one year (Terpios progression was not observed). (B) Completely dead coral colony (fully invaded by Terpios within one year).
Fig 7.
(a) Mean chlorophyll a content, (b) Progression rate difference between control and experimentally shaded coral colonies.