Abstract:
Marine sponges are one of the better known groups of invertebrates. They play important roles, not only for marine ecological communities but also for economically biological resources from
the ancient time. Although there are many studies on sponges as natural product sources in Thailand,
but there has not been many studies conducted on their biodiversity, particularly in the Southern part
of the Gulf of Thailand. Hence, the research project on species diversity of marine sponges
(Demospongiae, Porifera) dwelling in the coral reefs in Had Khanom – Mo Ko Thale Tai National
Park, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is proposed. The main objectives of this study are inventory
surveys and collecting sponge specimens in the study area. The results of this study will be advantage
for the basic knowledge on marine biodiversity and local wisdom, the conservation and the sustainable
uses and marine biological resources database development in the local area through the national level.
The procedure of the study is starting from assigning site collection, reference articles and technical
collections, survey planning and area approach, field surveys, sponge identification, registration and
database development and submitted the final report.