Abstract:
This study attempts to describe the diversity of fluorescing corals and to determine its
attraction to zooplankton as a possible ecological function. Distribution of fluorescing
corals at two sampling sites in Redang Island was determined by line transect for its
area cover. Description study of fluorescing corals conducted through photographs
and categorized based on fluorescing morphs. Coral fluorescence and its attraction to
zooplankton was determined by exposing Artemia sp. to a fluorescing and a non
fluorescing coral within a 3 chambered Perspex box and its distribution enumerated.
The efficiency of capturing zooplankton between fluorescing and a non- fluorescing
coral was conducted by placing the corals into separate beakers with a known amount
of Artemia sp. and the remaining individuals were determined after exposure. There
were 28 fluorescence coral species. Varied fluorescence morphs were observed within
species, between the colonies and between different families and species, hence there
was heterogeneity in fluorescence morph unrelated or specifically associated with
coral taxonomy. No significant difference was detected in the distribution between the
two sampling sites (Chi
2
0_05, 4 = 4.7627, p
=
0.31 > a. =0.05, n
=
l02), suggesting that it
is not affected by its water quality.
