Sains Malaysiana 42(9)(2013): 1201–1205

 

Sedimentation Impacts on the Growth Rates of the Scleractinian Coral

Acropora formosafrom Fringing Reefs of Tioman Island, Malaysia

(Kesan Pemendapan Terhadap Kadar Tumbesaran Karang Skleraktinia Acropora formosa

dari Terumbu Pinggir Pulau Tioman, Malaysia)

 

 

R. Nakajima1*, T. Yoshida2,Y. Fuchinoue3, T. Okashita3, T. Maekawa3, M.R.M. Kushairi4, B.H.R. Othman2 & T. Toda3

 

1Marine Biodiversity Research Program, Institute of Biogiosciences, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, 237-0061 Kanagawa, Japan

 

2Marine Ecosystem Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E. Malaysia

 

3Department of Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis, Faculty of Engineering

Soka University, Hachioji, 192-8577 Tokyo, Japan

 

4Faculty of Science & Environmental Technology, Universiti Industri Selangor, Batang Berjuntai

45000 Kuala Selangor, Malaysia

 

Received: 14 January 2013 / Accepted: 16 April 2013

 

ABSTRACT

The rates of sedimentation and growth of the branching coral Acropora formosa at Marine Park, Tulai and Renggis reefs in Tioman Island, Malaysia were surveyed between November 2000 and October 2001. The sedimentation rates were measured using sediment traps and the coral growth rates were measured using digital photography and computer image analysis. The rates of sedimentation at Marine Park (17.3 ± 18.7 mg dry weight cm-2 d-1) were 5.0 times higher than the Tulai site and 11.4 times higher than the Renggis site. In contrast, both the linear extension (3.9 ± 0.9 mm month-1) and areal growth rates (3.9 ± 1.7 cm2 month-1) of A. formosa at Marine Park were significantly less than at Tulai and Renggis. The higher sedimentation and consequent lowered light levels at Marine Park may have resulted in the lower growth of the Acropora corals.

 

Keywords: Branching coral; linear extension growth; sedimentation; Tioman Island

ABSTRAK

Kadar pemendapan dan tumbesaran karang rerantingAcropora formosa di sekitar terumbu karang kawasan Taman Laut, Pulau Tulai dan Pulau Renggis di persekitaran Pulau Tioman, Malaysia, telah diselidik antara bulan November 2000 dan Oktober 2001. Kadar pemendapan diukur dengan menggunakan perangkap mendapan dan tumbesaran karang dinilai dengan menggunakan imej digital dan perisian komputer. Kadar pemendapan di tapak Taman Laut (17.3 ± 18.7 mg berat kering cm-2 h-1) adalah 5.0 kali ganda lebih tinggi berbanding tapak di Pulau Tulai dan 11.4 kali ganda lebih tinggi dari tapak di Pulau Renggis. Sebaliknya, pertumbuhan linear (3.9 ± 0.9 mm bulan-1) dan kadar pertumbuhan permukaan (3.9 ± 1.7 cm2 bulan-1)  A. farmosa adalah lebih rendah secara bererti di Taman Laut berbanding Pulau Tulai dan Renggis. Kadar pemendapan dan seterusnya pengurangan penembusan cahaya di Taman Laut mungkin menyebabkan kemunduran kadar pertumbuhan karangAcropora di tapak kajian.

 

Kata kunci: Kadar pertumbuhan linear; karang reranting; pemendapan; Pulau Tioman

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*Corresponding author, e-mail: nakajimar@jamstec.go.jp