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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
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Platax 12: 29-37. *Corresponding author; email: meilingkhoo@ukm.edu.my
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