Its really common (qualitatively) in the center of Indonesian archipelago. As far as I found (e.g. Wakatobi National Park, and Selayar Islands/Takabonerate National Park) within roving diving technique on shallow water (+/- 10 m), I found mostly colonial Ascidians. The further research about this biological aspects and the impact on the ecosystems will be interesting.
Tunicata, included Ascidiacea, no many scientist in Indonesia who interested to this biotas. In global aspect, incase Ascidian soliter and colinial have been largest used for seafood and medical material by their bio-active compounds. In South Corean, the Ascidian have been culture and farming in large scale. In ecological aspect, Ascidian could be fasting growth and really invansive which they were no good for sea farming constructian. The picture above, Lishoclinum patella is very common in Indonesia and some time founded large area particularly at reef flate and shallow coral reef, there is not local name for this species and also unused, but many research have interested to their bioactive compounds.
Abrar,
Its also interesting about chemical ecology. Many thanks for your comment, very completed information about their (i.e. Ascidians) utilization. as you mention, thats whay its really hard to find local research about this biota, even for Indonesian areas...
regards,,,
Dear Singgih,
Now in France, all our Ascidian taxonomists (among them Pierre VASSEUR, Françoise LAFARGUE, Claude & Françoise MONNIOT), are out of research or retired and dead . Perhaps the alone I know that could help you is Mme François MONNIOT (retired but sometimes looking upon ascidians) at the Paris National Museum of Natural History, 55 rue de Buffon, F-75005 Paris. mail : [email protected]
But are you sure that the sessile invertebrate that you shoot is a colonial ascidians ? look like never I saw in the Indopacific.
Check in the book of "Invertebrates of the New Caledonian reefs ans lagoon". IRD Nouméa collection.
Best wishes.
Bernard
Bernard A. Thomassin, [email protected]
Dear Bernard,
Many thanks for your suggestions. I am quite sure this is a colonial ascidian. For surely, is hard to find references about ascidians compared with fishes or hard corals. I saw this colonial so often on every dive this year. First time when I joint research expedition with operation wallacea on wakatobi few months ago (i.e. july-august). I don't know if this already outbreak to the west or even eastern of indo-pacific.
Best wishes.
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