Cross shelf gradients of scleractinian corals in the Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Yusuf S, Beger M, Tassakka ACMAR, Brauwer MD, Pricella A, Rahmi, Umar W, Limmon GV, Moore AM, Jompa J. 2021. Cross shelf gradients of scleractinian corals in the Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 1415-1423. Coral reef ecosystems around the world have suffered extensive degradation, including the reefs of the Wallacea region within the Coral Triangle global biodiversity hotspot. Anthropogenic and natural threats can reduce the level of coral reef biodiversity differentially across environmental or impact gradients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in hard coral (Scleractinia) diversity and community structure across an inshore-offshore zonation gradient in the Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data on coral colony species and abundance as well as live coral cover were collected from 10 m2 belt transects at a depth of 6 to 8 m. A total of 72 transects were placed around the 12 island stations in three zones: the inner mid-shelf zone, outer mid-shelf zone and outer shelf zone. Data were analyzed to determine the species richness, and three ecological indices for the hard coral communities were calculated: the Shannon Diversity Index (H'), Similarity Index (E), and Dominance Index (C). A total of 310 hard coral species belonging to 62 genera were recorded. The coral communities were dominated by the genera Fungia, Montipora and Porites, and coral cover was in the 'moderate' category. The number of species was directly proportional to the number of colonies within each zone. Live coral cover was higher in the inner mid-shelf zone and outer shelf zone than the outer mid-shelf zone; conversely, the species richness and coral colony abundance were higher in the outer mid-shelf zone. However, the differences were not statistically significant. The indices H’, C, and E did not differ significantly between the zones. However, Tambakulu Island in Zone 4 had the lowest values of E and H’ and the highest value of C. Findings suggest that most-hard coral communities in the cross-shelf zones of the Spermonde Islands are stable communities characterized by relatively high diversity and low dominance indices.

Potential of marine sponge-derived fungi in the aquaculture system

“…The Spermonde archipelago of Makassar water was chosen as the sampling site because of the biodiversity of the marine invertebrate especially the marine sponge (De Voogd et al 2006). Samalona Island is the middle inner zone of the Spermonde archipelago which is dominated by a healthy coral reef ecosystem (Muller et al 2014;Yusuf et al 2021). The sample of SL.3-SP3 is an encrusting sponge that covers a dead gorgonian.…”

Biodiversity of hard coral (Scleractinia) and relation to environmental factors turbid waters in Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…(Travaglione et al 2023) and boulder type (Mcleod et al 2019). Yusuf et al (2021) found that coral cover on Spermonde Island ranged from 32.1-33.5%. Meanwhile, research by Parenden et al (2021) found coral cover on Kayangan Island at 4.95%, Samalona Island at 14.08%, and Lae-Lae Island at 9.53% obtained from the coral reef health monitoring report in Makassar City (Sari et al 2017).…”

“…The coral area in the Spermonde Islands is 1,556.97 Ha, which consists of 64 genera from 16 families (Sari et al 2021). Research by Yusuf et al (2021) states that there are as many as 310 species from 62 genera in the Spermonde Islands. Based on monitoring conducted by the Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency in 2021, coral cover increased in the 2018-2021 time frame by 0.59% and coral diversity in waters near the city of Makassar was lower than in areas far from the mainland of Makassar City.…”