Composition of Juvenile Corals on Different Morphotypes of Substrate at Karimunjawa Archipelago, Indonesia
Abstract: Patterns of coral
recruitment are partially explained by fitness consequences of substrate
selection, and may be affected by substrate morphology. This study examined
juvenile coral assemblages on morphologically different dead coral substrate in
shallow water reefs (4-5 m) at Karimunjawa Island, Java Sea (Indonesia).
Surveys on juvenile corals were performed using 0.5×0.5 m transects on two
different morphotypes of natural substrate; tabular dead corals (stable) and
branching dead corals (unstable). Results showed that the morphological
characteristics of dead coral substrate had a significant influence on the
generic composition of juvenile corals. Coral recruits on tabular dead coral
substrate (stable) which composed micro-cervices was more diverse than on
branching dead coral substrate (unstable). Juvenile corals of the genus
Acropora were dominant on (exposed microhabitats of) tabular dead coral
substrate, while those of the genus Fungia and Montipora were dominant on
(cryptic microhabitats of) branching dead coral substrate. These results
suggest that Acroporid juveniles can be settled to the various morphotypes of
the substrate, thus the distribution pattern of juvenile corals in shallow reef
Karimunjawa may correlate with the distribution pattern of natural substrates.
Keywords: juvenile,
microhabitat, dead coral, substrate Karimunjawa Archipelago
Author: Munasik, Diah Permata
Wijayanti, Retno Hartati, Rudi Pribadi, Yoko Nozawa
Journal Code: jpperikanangg160069
