Coral Reef Resilience in 17 Islands Marine Recreation Park, Riung – An Assessment of Functional Groups of Herbivorous Fish and Benthic Substrate

Abstract

Coral reefs in Indonesia are threatened by destructive fishing including the use of bombs and cyanide. Reefs in eastern Indonesia are particularly affected including reefs within 17 Islands Marine Recreation Park (MRP), Riung, Flores. Coral reef ecosystems that have been damaged can recover when the threat is stopped but the ability to recover will depend on several factors including status of herbivorous fish stocks, availability of suitable substrate for coral larval settlement, larval source, water quality and local oceanography. This research focuses on assessing the recovery potential of coral reefs 17 Islands MRP by assessing these factors at 12 sites including [i.e coral emergence, herbivore fish biomass and abundance, oceanographic factors]. This research showed that South Tiga Island has the highest recovery potential, due to the high population of herbivorous fish that will assist in opening a new substrate for the settlement coral larvae and limit the growth of algae. This site also has good conditions for coral growth indicated by the highest cover of live hard coral, high available substrate and sheltered position. Furthermore this research really important to know site potential for reef recover. Also improve management prioritization of reef sites based on reef resilience factors.