The composition of coral reefs in Ulee Lheue breakwater, Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

The present study was aimed to catalog the coral reefs that are found in Ulee Lheue breakwater, and providing a baseline data that will be valuable in Aceh marine conservation plan in the future. The research was conducted from February to October 2015. The station of observations was designed by systematic sampling. The sampling stations were located on the outer side and inner side the breakwater with a station spacing of 250 m. Furthermore, 50 m roll meter was used in each station as the reference to laying squares transects (size 100 - 100 cm) for coral reefs observation. Then, the square transects placed on 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 m. The results showed the reef at the outer breakwater consists of 11 coral genus of 244 colonies. While on the inner side of the breakwater, eightgenera of 46 colonies were observed. Acropora and Pocillopora were the most common genus on the outer side of the breakwater, while Chypastrea and Porites were the most common on the inner side. 0-5 cm coral colony size was the most common size found on both sides of the breakwater. This result showed that the construction of artificial structures on the coast is not only important in the development of a city but also important for marine biology and ecology study.