Contrasting drivers of sponge and seagrass assemblage composition in an Indo-Pacific seagrass meadow

Abstract Sponges are major components of benthic marine ecosystems across the world. However, despite seagrasses being one key in tropical environments, their associated sponge assemblages have been poorly studied. In this study we investigated seagrass and assemblage composition an Indo-Pacific meadow located surrounding Hoga Island Wakatobi National Park, South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia. We examined a continuous meadow, spatially separated into two sites, categorized three zones based on distance to shore: high-shore, middle shore near-reef-flat zones. species richness, abundance both sites. found that was significantly different between sites zones, while not. This suggests ecological drivers. Based our observations, propose adaptation prevailing environmental conditions may be reflected by morphology. Furthermore, ecosystem management strategies should consider drivers distribution patterns as they might differentially affected specific anthropogenic stressors.