sisters' island off the coast of singapore: at the bottom of the sea in this part of south east asia, lie two juvenile specimen of one of the most iconic marine creatures known to man: the neptune's cup sponge. the neptune’s cup was named for its shape, resembling that of a wine glass,
Sisters' Island Marine Park, and after neptune, the roman god of the sea, in light of its grand appearance. within phylum porifera, it belongs in class demospongiae, which consist approximately 80% of all sponge species. through further classification, it is placed in family clionaidae
characterized by their ability to bore holes in calcareous materials through mechanical or chemical means. its scientific name is cliona patera. this magnificent creature resides on the sea-floor and may grow up to one and a half meters in diameter and more than a meter in height. historically, its habitat used to range from the strait of malacca to the gulf of thailand and the java sea – all which are tropical oceans
before being harvested to seeming extinction in 1908. however, 2 known members of the species were rediscovered in 2011, and currently reside near st. john’s island. we now send a diver into the depths to take a close look at sponges and observe their feeding mechanisms...we now send a diver into the depths to take a close look at sponges and observe their feeding mechanisms... giant tropical sponges may seem like harmless creatures. however, their feeding mechanism is silent but deadly. we inject harmless ink at the sides of the sponge and watch as it is drawn within.
microscopic organic particles are sucked into the void that is the sponge. even plankton aren't immune from an ambush. the giant sponge is a predator. neptune's cup baaahhhhhhhhhhhhbahhhhhhhhhh tutututututuututututututututuuttututututu wuuuuuubbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb weeeweweeewewewewewwwwweww wuuubbbbbwwwwuuuubbbbbb
pewpewpewpewpewpeeeeewwwwpewwwwpeeww duuuuuuuuuuuuduuuuuuuuuuu du↑du↑du↑du↑du↑duuuuuu↓duuuuuu↓ du↑du↑du↑du↑du↑duuuuuu↓duuuuuuuuuuuu↓ vrrrrrrrrrrvrrrrrrrrrrrrvrrrrrrrrrrrrvrrrrrrrrrr neptune's cup the current state of the neptune's cup is one of high risk. we spoke to an expert on sponge conservation
to get a glimpse of the sponge’s past and future. previously, they were harvested to near-extinction, as their majestic appearance caught the eye of collectors and they started to use the neptune's sponge as bathtubs. last time i have seen a picture in which a mother is bathing the baby in a neptune's sponge which is about 1.5 meters in diameter. and, when you think that they can just take these things from the environment without thinking about how many are left, instead of simply buying a bathtub, it is quite upsetting.
and now we can only confirm that there are 2 remaining members left in this species and their existence is highly threatened. we also believe that the usual arguments about the importance of nature and protecting it for the future generations to see would not give enough reason for people to protect this species. therefore, we think that some economic incentives are necessary like maybe, we can make a drinking glass from the shape of a neptune's cup or a pencil holder, or something for storage that looks like a neptune's cup.
only then people would really appreciate this beautiful species. these sponges also are a treasure trove of natural macromolecules, which are studied and used to make novel drugs. today, we talked to an expert on nature inspired drug design to learn more. hello. today, i tell you about the physiology of the sponge. we know that, to compensate for their lack of protective outer coverings or immune systems sponges have acquired the skill to synthesize various chemical compounds for self-defence. some of these compounds are effective anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-viral agents. for example, aciculitin is an antifungal cyclic peptide
extracted from aciculites ciliate, while neamphamide a and mirabamides act as hiv inhibitors, extracted from neamphius huxleyi and siliquariaspongia mirabilis respectively due to their complicated molecular structure with numerous functional groups, cyclic rings and enantioselective chiral centers, it would be near impossible to synthesize these compounds ourselves. though this is just another sponge out of so many species, i think that it may offer us more hope in these fields of research, if it can be successfully protected.
ðÿ‘very goodðÿ‘ because this sponge was thought to be extinct, the threats faced by it are unknown at the moment. global warming may change water flow patterns, affecting the sponges behaviour and also that of its food sources. potential attacks by marine parasites, or predators like sponge flies also pose a threat to sponges last but not least, the threat of marine pollution, from industry and tourists, is also high. since singapore only has 2 neptune's cup sponges off the coast of sisters' island
the threat faced by this animal cannot be ignored. the current state of the neptune's cup is one of high risk. we spoke to an expert on sponge conservation to get a glimpse of the sponge’s past and future. conservation strategies ah? ok ah, umm... because the neptune's cup is a new species, like, i mean... it's not new, it's recently rediscovered so therefore right, because, like, we do not know much of its threats and we do not know how to protect it. so what we are doing now is basically
we will be monitoring it regularly and once in a while we will take the sample from the sponge to study the... spongin and the silica protein within its spicules, to see, like, if there are any abnormal changes in its environment that might endanger it. so, as for its habitat now, although it is like, quite, human beings do not usually go there and disturb the sponge but once in a while, there are irresponsible beach-goers who throw their litter all over the place when they have a picnic.
i do not understand this. now, when they pollute the environment, the cup would be poisoned as a result, and it would be unable to proliferate. therefore, this is a sick and therefore deviant practice. now, for it to proliferate, we want to ensure that such activities do not take place so that the environment is healthy,
and then the sponge can continue to grow at a reasonable rate. which we will monitor, of course. you must trust us. i think that's all you have to say (hear) from me. now, i will go back to my research. [researching] the inclusion of the sponge in ecology lessons taught in schools is also a hot topic, with many prominent ministers advocating on the topic of conservation awareness. [epic news music]
there has been little work done to increase the awareness of the rediscovery of neptune's cup in local schools. even a majority of schoolchildren don't even know the existence of these sponges. this might be partially due to its seclusion and location deep underwater.
perhaps, greater emphasis can be placed on the sponge in schools, to educate these schoolchildren about the sponge. and, we can then make known about the sponge's pitiful conditions. and so, education means awareness. awareness means action. vote me in parliament and we can save these sponges!
sisters' island off the coast of singapore: at the bottom of the sea in this part of south east asia, lie two juvenile specimen of one of the most iconic marine creatures known to man: the neptune's cup sponge. the neptune’s cup was named for its shape, resembling that of a wine glass,
Sisters' Island Marine Park, and after neptune, the roman god of the sea, in light of its grand appearance. within phylum porifera, it belongs in class demospongiae, which consist approximately 80% of all sponge species. through further classification, it is placed in family clionaidae
characterized by their ability to bore holes in calcareous materials through mechanical or chemical means. its scientific name is cliona patera. this magnificent creature resides on the sea-floor and may grow up to one and a half meters in diameter and more than a meter in height. historically, its habitat used to range from the strait of malacca to the gulf of thailand and the java sea – all which are tropical oceans
before being harvested to seeming extinction in 1908. however, 2 known members of the species were rediscovered in 2011, and currently reside near st. john’s island. we now send a diver into the depths to take a close look at sponges and observe their feeding mechanisms...we now send a diver into the depths to take a close look at sponges and observe their feeding mechanisms... giant tropical sponges may seem like harmless creatures. however, their feeding mechanism is silent but deadly. we inject harmless ink at the sides of the sponge and watch as it is drawn within.
microscopic organic particles are sucked into the void that is the sponge. even plankton aren't immune from an ambush. the giant sponge is a predator. neptune's cup baaahhhhhhhhhhhhbahhhhhhhhhh tutututututuututututututututuuttututututu wuuuuuubbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb weeeweweeewewewewewwwwweww wuuubbbbbwwwwuuuubbbbbb
pewpewpewpewpewpeeeeewwwwpewwwwpeeww duuuuuuuuuuuuduuuuuuuuuuu du↑du↑du↑du↑du↑duuuuuu↓duuuuuu↓ du↑du↑du↑du↑du↑duuuuuu↓duuuuuuuuuuuu↓ vrrrrrrrrrrvrrrrrrrrrrrrvrrrrrrrrrrrrvrrrrrrrrrr neptune's cup the current state of the neptune's cup is one of high risk. we spoke to an expert on sponge conservation
to get a glimpse of the sponge’s past and future. previously, they were harvested to near-extinction, as their majestic appearance caught the eye of collectors and they started to use the neptune's sponge as bathtubs. last time i have seen a picture in which a mother is bathing the baby in a neptune's sponge which is about 1.5 meters in diameter. and, when you think that they can just take these things from the environment without thinking about how many are left, instead of simply buying a bathtub, it is quite upsetting.
and now we can only confirm that there are 2 remaining members left in this species and their existence is highly threatened. we also believe that the usual arguments about the importance of nature and protecting it for the future generations to see would not give enough reason for people to protect this species. therefore, we think that some economic incentives are necessary like maybe, we can make a drinking glass from the shape of a neptune's cup or a pencil holder, or something for storage that looks like a neptune's cup.
only then people would really appreciate this beautiful species. these sponges also are a treasure trove of natural macromolecules, which are studied and used to make novel drugs. today, we talked to an expert on nature inspired drug design to learn more. hello. today, i tell you about the physiology of the sponge. we know that, to compensate for their lack of protective outer coverings or immune systems sponges have acquired the skill to synthesize various chemical compounds for self-defence. some of these compounds are effective anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-viral agents. for example, aciculitin is an antifungal cyclic peptide
extracted from aciculites ciliate, while neamphamide a and mirabamides act as hiv inhibitors, extracted from neamphius huxleyi and siliquariaspongia mirabilis respectively due to their complicated molecular structure with numerous functional groups, cyclic rings and enantioselective chiral centers, it would be near impossible to synthesize these compounds ourselves. though this is just another sponge out of so many species, i think that it may offer us more hope in these fields of research, if it can be successfully protected.
ðÿ‘very goodðÿ‘ because this sponge was thought to be extinct, the threats faced by it are unknown at the moment. global warming may change water flow patterns, affecting the sponges behaviour and also that of its food sources. potential attacks by marine parasites, or predators like sponge flies also pose a threat to sponges last but not least, the threat of marine pollution, from industry and tourists, is also high. since singapore only has 2 neptune's cup sponges off the coast of sisters' island
the threat faced by this animal cannot be ignored. the current state of the neptune's cup is one of high risk. we spoke to an expert on sponge conservation to get a glimpse of the sponge’s past and future. conservation strategies ah? ok ah, umm... because the neptune's cup is a new species, like, i mean... it's not new, it's recently rediscovered so therefore right, because, like, we do not know much of its threats and we do not know how to protect it. so what we are doing now is basically
we will be monitoring it regularly and once in a while we will take the sample from the sponge to study the... spongin and the silica protein within its spicules, to see, like, if there are any abnormal changes in its environment that might endanger it. so, as for its habitat now, although it is like, quite, human beings do not usually go there and disturb the sponge but once in a while, there are irresponsible beach-goers who throw their litter all over the place when they have a picnic.
i do not understand this. now, when they pollute the environment, the cup would be poisoned as a result, and it would be unable to proliferate. therefore, this is a sick and therefore deviant practice. now, for it to proliferate, we want to ensure that such activities do not take place so that the environment is healthy,
and then the sponge can continue to grow at a reasonable rate. which we will monitor, of course. you must trust us. i think that's all you have to say (hear) from me. now, i will go back to my research. [researching] the inclusion of the sponge in ecology lessons taught in schools is also a hot topic, with many prominent ministers advocating on the topic of conservation awareness. [epic news music]
there has been little work done to increase the awareness of the rediscovery of neptune's cup in local schools. even a majority of schoolchildren don't even know the existence of these sponges. this might be partially due to its seclusion and location deep underwater.
perhaps, greater emphasis can be placed on the sponge in schools, to educate these schoolchildren about the sponge. and, we can then make known about the sponge's pitiful conditions. and so, education means awareness. awareness means action. vote me in parliament and we can save these sponges!