Comparison of natural and artificial reef fish communities in Lutoban, Negros Oriental, Philippines
1998
Schirun, B. | Waltemath, M. (Fisheries Community Development and Resources Management Project, 249 Matara Road, Tangile City, Hambantota District (Sri Lanka))
The fish communities of a small-scale tire reef and an adjacent fringing reef in Lutoban, Negros Oriental, Philippines were assessed using visual fish counts. Spatial differences in community structure were analyzed. A total of 231 species from 41 families were observed, 196 at the natural reef site and 109 at the artificial tire-reef site, with 73 being common to both. Although the total number of individuals between artificial reef and three depth zones within the natural coral reef seemed to be on a similar level, relative abundance of target fishes tends to be higher in the artificial reef (38.1%) than in the adjacent natural fringing reef (14.5%). Total biomass was higher in artificial reefs (398 kg/1500 sq m) than biomass in nearby natural reef areas (186-324 kg/1500 sq m). Target fishes tend to have a relative higher biomass in the artificial reef (88%) supporting the idea that artificial reefs act as a fish aggregating device for target fish species. Small sized fishes seemed to prefer the natural reef structure, while a higher proportion of medium sized fishes were found in the tire structure. Habitat preferences are discussed with emphasis on the results about hiding space definition prepared by Vogt (1998)
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