A total of 16 species of sponges representing 12 genera, 10 families and 8 orders were identified. Of these, 13 species belongs to class Demospongiae, 2 to Calcarea and 1 to Hexactinellida. Maximum species diversity of sponges is recorded at Peerwadi coast than Sheva creek and Dharamtar creek. Fewer species diversity at Sheva creek and Dharamtar creek is attributed to the close proximity of these sites to human population, non-availability of suitable rocky stretches for settlement and colonization and to maritime activities of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Sponges from Uran coast are under stress due to discharge of domestic wastes and sewage, effluents from industries, oil tanking depots, maritime activities of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and hectic activities of Container Freight Stations (CFS). This study reveals that marine sponges from Uran coast are facing the threat due to industrial pollution and anthropogenic stress.

1. Marine sponges as bioindicator
species of environmental stress at
Uran (Navi Mumbai)
Dr. Prabhakar R. Pawar
Associate Professor in Zoology,
Veer Wajekar A. S. C. College,
Phunde, Tal. – Uran, Dist. – Raigad,
Navi Mumbai – 400702
Mobile No.: 9869616135, 9082013785
E–mail : prpawar1962@gmail.com

2. Marine sponges as bioindicator species
Leucosolenida
Axinellida
Halichondrida
Haplosclerida
Hadromerida
Poecilosclerida
Homoscleroph
orida
Hexactinosida
Percentage distribution of sponge species in different orders at
Uran, Navi Mumbai

3. Marine sponges as bioindicator species
Class Order Family Scientific Name
Calcarea Leucosolenida Leucosoleniidae Leucosolenia complicate (Montagu,1818)
Leucosolenia variabilis (Haeckel, 1870)
Demospongiae Axinellida Axinellidae Axinella damicornis (Esper, 1794)
Axinella verrucosa (Esper, 1794)
Halichondrida Halichondriidae Axinyssa ambrosia (de Laubenfels, 1936)
Halichondria bowerbanki (Burton, 1930)
Halichondria panacea (Pallas, 1766)
Hymeniacidon heliophila (Parker, 1910)
Hymeniacidon perleve (Montagu, 1814)
Haplosclerida Haliclonidae Haliclona permollis (Bowerbank,1866)
Hadromerida Hemiasterellidae Paratimea constellate (Topsent, 1893)
Suberitidae Protosuberitis epiphytum (Lamarck, 1815)
Kirkaptrickia borealis (Koltun, 1970)
Clathria parthena (de Laubenfels,1930)
Plakina monolopha (Schulze,1880)
Aphrocallistes Beatrix (Gray, 1858)

4. Marine sponges as bioindicator species
Leucosolenia complicata Leucosolenia variabilis Axinella damicornis
Axinella verrucosa Axinyssa ambrosia Halichondria bowerbanki

5. Marine sponges as bioindicator species
Halichondria panicea Hymeniacidon heliophila Hymeniacidon perleve
Aphrocallistes beatrix Paratimea constellata Prosuberites epiphytum

6. Marine sponges as bioindicator species
Kirkpatrickia borealis Clathria (Microciona) parthena
Plakina monolopha Haliclona permollis

7. Acknowledgement
▪ University Grants Commission,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi – 110 002
▪ Prin. Dr. Gorakh T. Sangale,
Principal,
Veer Wajekar Arts, Science & Commerce College,
Mahalan Vibhag, Phunde,
Tal. - Uran, Dist.- Raigad, Navi Mumbai – 400 702,
Maharashtra
▪ Prof. Dr. B. G. Kulkarni,
Former Director, The Institute of Science,
15, Madam Cama Road, Mumbai – 400032
▪ Dr. Rahul B. Patil
▪ Dr. Atul G. Babar
▪ Mr. Sanket S. Shirgaonkar

8. Thank You!!