Hard Coral and Reef Fish Communities of Northern Langkawi: Diversity and Reef Health Assessment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65869/sar.v5.i1.129Keywords:
Coral cover, fish biomass, species diversity, Coral Health Index, Strait of MalaccaAbstract
The coral reefs located along the Strait of Malacca are under rising pressure as a result of coastal development, sediment accumulation, and ongoing anthropogenic activities. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive assessments of northern Langkawi reefs remain limited. This study evaluated coral reef health across 13 sites in northern Langkawi during August–September 2023 by examining benthic community composition and reef fish assemblages. Benthic cover was assessed using the point intercept transect method, and reef fish were surveyed via underwater visual census. Coral reef condition was evaluated through live coral cover (LCC), biodiversity indices, and the Two-Dimensional Coral Health Index (2D-CHI), integrating benthic and fish parameters. The LCC ranged from 23.48% to 43.20% (mean 30.27%), classifying most sites as “fair.” In total, 81 species of hard corals were observed during the study, among which Lobophyllia robustaand Oxypora laceraare newly reported for the Strait of Malacca. Reef fish surveys documented 2,482 individuals from 58 species, with communities dominated by damselfish and cardinalfish, while coral-dependent and herbivorous species, including parrotfish and butterflyfish,were scarce. Mean fish biomass across sites was 75.92 g m⁻². The 2D-CHI ranged from 0.12 to 0.43 (mean 0.21), indicating widespread reef degradation. These results suggest that coral reefs in northern Langkawi are under persistent environmental stress, with declines in live coral cover and fish diversity reducing ecosystem resilience. The findings offer valuable baseline data for long-term monitoring and contribute to informed conservation planning within the region.References
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