Spatial and Temporal Variation of Scleractinian Coral Recruitment in Balok Coastal Waters and Bidong Island, Malaysia

Abstract

Understanding coral recruitment is important as increasing of regional decline of coral reef worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the spatial and temporal coral recruitment patterns around reef sites in Balok coastal waters and Bidong Island, Malaysia. Recruitment density was determined by quantifying number of coral recruits settled on the terra-cotta tiles and artificial reef settlement plates. In Balok coastal waters, a total of 159 coral recruits were counted with 0.09 ± 0.03 n/m2 mean recruitment density per plate, while in Bidong Island, a total of 319 coral recruits were counted with 0.19 ± 0.02 n/m2 mean recruitment density per plate. Coral recruits were dominated by genus Pocillopora followed by Stylopora and Seriatopora in Bidong. Meanwhile in Balok, genus Platygyra was dominant coral recruits followed by Porites and Fungia. Additionally, minor spawning event was predicted in Balok coastal waters in September due to increase number of Platygyra coral. Recruitment density varied significantly between locations, types of settlement plates and plate’s orientation at both study areas. Current findings highlighted the significant use of artificial reef plates to increase the chances of larval settlement. This research also provides important information in assessing coral resilience towards different environmental conditions between coastal and sheltered reef areas.