Species Diversity and Abundance of Corals and Fishes in A Marine Protected Area

Abstract

This quantitative-descriptive study’s purpose was to gather information about the current state of fish and coral distribution in the Barangay Tamisan Marine Protected Area. Specifically, it aimed to determine the level of physicochemical parameters, reef health status, coral composition and abundance, reef fish abundance, and biomass in the study site. The study used line transect and fish visual methods. Results of the study revealed that the physicochemical parameters in the said area fall within the normal range which is favorable for the survival of fishes and corals in the study site. The Tamisan Marine Protected Area’s average cover of hard coral is 38.5% which falls under the category of “fair”. Corals with the greatest abundance are from the massive porites genera which compromises 70% of the hard coral cover. Nineteen species from different families of fishes in the study area and 1 class was identified, Actinopterygii. Among the species, it is Pomacentridae that has the greatest number of counts, that is 34. Other species identified were the Labridae, Siganidae, Ephinephilenae, Acanthurida, Balistidae. Apogonida, Scarida, Chaetodontidae, Caesionidae. Monacantidae, Tetraodontidae, Fistularidae, Synodontidae, Synanciinae and, Pomacantidae. The fishes in the study area have a diversity index of 0,820, representing a high index of diversity, but have very low fish biomass. The results implied that although the coral cover is fair and fishes are diverse, it still needs further studies on human activities to find the reason behind very low fish biomass. Keywords: fishes, reef health status, quantitative-descriptive study, Marine Protected Area, Mati City