DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF CORAL REEF FISHES, GIVING EMPHASIS ON THE LARGE PREDATORS AT CHAGAR HUTANG BAY, REDANG ISLAND

DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF CORAL REEF FISHES

Abstract

The Chagar Hutang Bay, located on Pulau Redang, Terengganu, serves as a critical nesting site for green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Despite its ecological significance, there remains a paucity of information regarding the diversity and abundance of coral reef fishes, particularly large predatory species, within the sanctuary site. To address this knowledge gap, the present study employed baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys to assess the fish assemblages across different reef zones, namely the shoreline, mid-reef, and fore-reef areas. A comprehensive analysis of nine one-hour BRUV surveys revealed a remarkable diversity of coral reef fishes, identifying 55 distinct species from 43 genera and 18 families. The fore-reef zone exhibited significantly higher fish density compared to other surveyed areas, underscoring its importance as a key habitat within the bay. Notably, large predatory fish species comprised 4.7% of the total fish abundance, with four predatory groups, including trevallies, groupers, blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and barracudas, documented in Chagar Hutang Bay. Among these predators, the blacktip reef shark and the groupers emerged as the dominant species. This study provides valuable insights into the coral reef fish diversity and abundance in Chagar Hutang Bay, highlighting the presence of key predatory species and emphasizing the need for targeted conservation efforts to protect this ecologically significant marine habitat.