The growth of Turf alga on hard corals in Barrang Lompo Island, Makassar

Abstract

Abstract Changes in the environment disrupt the balance of coral reef ecosystems and able to change the structure of communities from coral reefs to macroalgae communities. This study analyzed the growth of alga turf in Acropora branched corals. Experiments carried out in nature, specifically in the waters around Barranglompo Island, with a growth monitoring method for 70 days (approximately ten weeks). The observation of herbivorous fish was carried out by the videography method. The relation of growth with oceanographic conditions was analyzed by principal component analysis. The results showed that alga turf growth on branched hard corals decreased, on A. cervicornis corals by 0.393 mm / day while on A.formosa corals by 0.126 mm/day. The main influencing factor of the growth of alga turf on branched hard corals in Barranglompo Island is herbivorous fish, while oceanographic conditions are not the main factor.

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