The Influence of Coral Reef Benthic Conditions on Associated Fish Assemblages Around Puruf Island Water, Cenderawasih Bay, Papua, Indonesia

Abstract

Coral substrate in lifeforms is an environmental aspect significantly affecting fish in the ecosystem. The conditions of these coral lifeforms greatly determine fish associations and distribution. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of coral reef benthic conditions on associated with fish assemblages. This research used monitoring data in 2018. Coral data was taken using transect intercept points for corals, visual census data for coral fish, which were classified into functional fish (herbivores) and key fish species for coral fisheries (carnivores). The data had been analyzed by using principal component analysis and hierarchical classification. The results showed that there was a strong interaction between fish and coral lifeforms. The interactions occurring were more varied in space and time, which affected the composition of fish community, and the spatial pattern in coral reef ecosystem. Changes in coral lifeforms and live cover had the potential to limit reef fish populations. Furthermore, the presence of herbivore and carnivore fish was proportional in coral reef ecosystem. The future research challenge is to formulate the policies needed to maintain the condition of coral reefs as a whole.