Sains Malaysiana 48(11)(2019): 2335–2342

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4811-05

 

Community Structure of Coral Reefs in Pulau Mertang, Johor, Malaysia

(Struktur Komuniti Terumbu Karang di Pulau Mertang, Johor, Malaysia)

 

MOHAMAD SAUPI ISMAIL1 & MEI LING KHOO2*

 

1Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman, Fisheries Research Institute, 11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

 

2Centre of Ecosystem Management and Natural Resources (PPESS), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Received: 1 April 2019/Accepted: 15 August 2019

 

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted at nine sites around Pulau Mertang using point intercept transect method to determine the coral community of the islands. The results showed the reefs around Pulau Mertang were in good condition with an average live coral cover of 51.0 + 2.35%, which is higher than the average live coral cover for Malaysia (42.5%). Hard corals were found monopolizing the benthic fauna along all transects. A total of 25 different genera from 12 families of scleractinian coral were observed during this survey. The dominant genera found at Pulau Mertang are Acropora (41.26 + 20.88%) and Montipora (14.24 + 21.57%), while other sessile life form was dominated by zoanthids (7.59 + 11.92%). The percentage cover of the abiotic component of transect was dominated by dead corals (15.19 + 2.26%). Coral genus diversity was highest at Pulau Mertang Barat (H’ = 2.24), followed by Pulau Mertang Timur (H’ =1.71) and Pulau Mertang Tengah (H’=1.56). Most reefs in Pulau Mertang are classified as C4 categories and all islands show low values of mortality index (MI = 0.23). High coral live cover, diversity (H’), conservation class (C4) and low mortality index and domination by branching and tabular Acropora are attributes of a healthy reef. Therefore, it is concluded that the reefs around Pulau Mertang were still in good condition and healthy. From an ecological point of view, it is the closest representation of an undisturbed reef of a non-marine park island in Johor. Thus, this study forms an initial step in understanding the reef community and provides a basis for future observations on the marine ecosystem of Pulau Mertang.

 

Keywords: Coral community; coral cover; coral diversity; genera richness; Pulau Mertang

 

ABSTRAK

Suatu kajian di sembilan kawasan sekitar Pulau Mertang telah dijalankan dengan menggunakan kaedah transek silangan titik untuk menentukan komuniti karang pulau tersebut. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa terumbu di sekitar Pulau Mertang adalah di dalam keadaan baik dengan purata litupan karang hidup sebanyak 51.0 + 2.35%, lebih tinggi berbanding purata litupan karang untuk Malaysia (42.5%). Karang keras didapati memonopoli hidupan bentik di kesemua transek. Sejumlah 25 genus daripada 12 famili karang skleraktin ditemui semasa kajian ini. Secara amnya, genus dominan yang ditemui di Pulau Mertang ialah genus Acropora (41.26 + 20.88%) dan Montipora (14.24 + 21.57%), manakala hidupan sesil lain didominasikan oleh zoantid (7.59 + 11.92%). Peratus litupan komponen abiotik didominasikan oleh karang mati (15.19 + 2.26%). Kepelbagaian genus karang didapati paling tinggi di Pulau Mertang Barat (H’ = 2.24), diikuti oleh Pulau Mertang Timur (H’ =1.71) dan Pulau Mertang Tengah (H’=1.56). Kebanyakan terumbu karang Pulau Mertang dikelaskan dalam kategori C4 dan kesemua pulau memberi bacaan nilai indeks kematian yang rendah (MI = 0.23). Liputan karang, kepelbagaian (H’) dan status kelas pemuliharaan yang tinggi (C4), serta indeks kematian yang rendah dan dominasi karang Acropora merupakan ciri terumbu yang sihat. Oleh itu, disimpulkan bahawa terumbu karang di sekitar Pulau Mertang berada dalam keadaan baik dan sihat. Terumbu Pulau Mertang adalah penting daripada sudut ekologi memandangkan ia mewakili terumbu yang tidak diganggu di luar kawasan taman laut Johor. Justeru, kajian ini merupakan langkah awal di dalam memahami komuniti terumbu di samping menyediakan maklumat asas berkenaan ekosistem marin di Pulau Mertang.

Kata kunci: Kekayaan genus; kepelbagaian karang; komuniti karang; liputan karang; Pulau Mertang

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*Corresponding author; email: meilingkhoo@ukm.edu.my

 

 

 

 

 

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