Abstract:
A study on diversity of butterfly fishes and its relationship to coral cover was conducted
at Bidong Island. A total of 110 individuals of Chaetodontids were recorded and from
these individuals, three species were identified. The species were Chaetodon
octofasciatus ( I 00), Chelmon rostratum (9) and Coradion chrysozonus (1 ). C.
octofasciatus was the dominant species observed in the transects, followed by C.
rostratum and C. chrysozonus. From this finding, there were two groups of corallivores
butterfly fishes recorded, which were obligate corallivore (C. octofasciatus) and
facultative corallivores (C. rostratum and C. chrysozonus). It has been suggested that due
to the close association between butterfly fishes and corals, these coral reef fishes could
serve as indicator organisms. Even thought there were some hypothesis indicated that
butterfly fishes and coral cover were related however, based on this study which was
done at Bidong Island, there were no correlation between numbers of butterfly fishes and
coral cover observed (P > 0.05). The presence of Chaetodontids correlated to the health
and condition of reefs areas. However, the result obtained from this study showed that
butterfly fishes were not suitable to serve as indicator for reef health at Bidong Island.