Community structure of target reef fish at four tiny islands coral reefs in inner Kotania bay, Maluku Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Study on community structure of target reef fish at four tiny islands coral reefs in inner Kotania bay was conducted from September 2017 to February 2018. Underwater Visual Census method was used to collect and examine data concerning several parameters of target reef fish community structure. At least 18 families of target reef fish which consist of 37 genera and 105 species were found during the study. Good and excellent categories of coral reefs condition had higher species richness and individual abundance of target reef fish, while lower in fair category. Seven target reef fish species have a wide distribution, while other 15 species were limited. In general, target reef fish community at four tiny islands coral reefs had high species diversity and evenness indexes with low species dominance value. It can be concluded that target reef fish community in the area in stable or in steady state condition.