Struktur Populasi Karang Pocillopora damicornis di Pulau Panjang, Jawa Tengah

Abstract

The scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis was abundant in both southern and northern of Panjang Island, Central Java. The aim of this study was to observe the colony distribution and population structure of coral P. damicornis at Panjang Island, Central Java. Quadrates transect (4 x 4 m) were applied in eight census lines perpendicular to the seaward edge of the coral zone. For the study of coral density and colony size-frequency distribution, the quadrates transects also placed parallel with shoreline in northern and southern sites of Panjang Island. The coral was occurred from 0.4 to 5 m water depth and most abundant in the front reef zone of the southern site. The maximum density was occurred in southern site (1.06 colony/m2), with aggregated at the 117-184 m on the census line. Coral size in terms of maximum diameter ranged from 1 to 35 cm with an average 12.76 ± 7.3 cm in southern site and 17.7 ± 10.76 cm in the northern site. The study showed that coral colony size-frequency distribution of P. damicornis was different between southern and northern site.