THE DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF CHAETODONTIDAE FAMILY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH LIVE CORAL COVER IN SPERMONDE ISLANDS, MAKASSAR

Abstract

Coral fish are one of the marine biotas that are highly sensitive to changes in coral reef ecosystems. Therefore, the presence or absence of specific reef fish species can describe the condition of coral reefs. The objective of the current study is to investigate the relationship between the biodiversity and abundance of Chaetodontidae fish and the live coral cover at 13 locations in the Spermonde area, Makassar City. Reef fish were counted using the Underwater Visual Census method. Coral cover percentages were determined using the Underwater Photo transects method. The results found 348 individuals of the Chaetodontidae family, comprising 21 species from four genera. The mean live coral cover categories in Spermonde were in pretty good condition (27.83%). Chaetodontidae in Spermonde Island was not diverse (mean H = 1.74) and not abundant (mean abundant = 721 ind./ha). There was a weak correlation between the diversity of Chaetodontidae and live coral cover, and also weak correlation between the abundance of Chaetodontidae and live coral cover in Spermonde Island, with R2 determination coefficient linear regression were 0.1697 and 0.0471, respectively.