Spatio-temporal variation of scleractinian coral recruitment patern on terra-cotta tiles and artificial reef plates in Tioman Island, Malaysia

Abstract

Understanding coral recruitment is important in the wake of regional decline of coral reef. This study was aimed to demonstrate three important aspects in recruitment processes: adult coral community structure; spatio-temporal coral recruitment pattern and the impact of sessile benthic organisms on post-settlement processes in Tioman Island, Malaysia. A total of six reef sites were surveyed using coral video transect method namely Genting Village, Renggis Island, Teduh Bay, Dalam Bay, Juara Bay and Benuang Bay. Tioman Island has ‘good’ coral reef condition with an average of 53% total live coral cover. Twenty eight genera from thirteen families were recorded during adult coral community structure survey with Benuang Bay demonstrated the highest H’ and EH’ indexes (2.35 and 0.78). Recruitment and post-settlement survival studies were conducted at four reef sites namely Genting Village, Renggis Island, Teduh Bay and Juara Bay. Recruitment densities were determined by quantifying number of coral recruits settled on terra-cotta tiles and artificial reef settlement plates. Coral recruits were categorized as Acroporidae, Pocilloporidae, Faviidae, Poritidae and Fungiidae. A total of 2087 coral recruits were counted in this study with mean recruitment densities 8.76 ± 0.75 recruits per plate. Recruitment dominated by Acroporidae followed by Pocilloporidae, Faviidae, Poritidae and Fungiidae. Recruitment densities varied significantly within spatio-temporal scales, but not between depth, types of settlement plates and plate’s orientation. Spawning event was predicted in Tioman Island with major spawning event might begin in August while minor spawning event began in April. Colonization of sessile benthic organism may influence recruitment success during initial settlement period. Bryozoan showed negative correlation with recruitment densities at all reef sites. This research has provided important information in assessing reef resilience towards various disturbances inside marine protected area in Malaysia.