Abstract:
A study on the abundance and diversity of fish larvae at Pulau Redang Marine Park,
Terengganu was conducted from 10
th
nd
June to 2
October 2002. A total of 4824 fish
larvae were identified, representing 43 families that were captured using larval net. Mean
density for day catch was 18.61±9.81 per 100m
3
, 41.27±53.36 per 100m
3
and 14.93±5.03
3
per 100m
for June, August and October, respectively. Mean density for night catch was
40.99±28.21 per 100m
3
, 46.24±43.72 per IOOm
3
and 40.53±10.05 per 100m
3
for June,
August and October, respectively. There was no clear pattern between sampling dates at
any months and stations for abundance of fish larvae during sampling period. There was
clear pattern of overall fish larval density between day and night obtained from this study
except for station 4. The abundance of fish larvae indicates that it probably has a
complex migration behavior and research should be done to understand more about fish
larvae behavior. Three dominant families were observed throughout the sampling period
namely Terapontidae, Gobiidae and Engraulidae. There were 21 commercially important
families of fish larvae identified such as Serranidae, Bothidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae,
Engraulidae, Cynoglossidae, Hemiramphidae, Scrombridae, Labridae, and Nemipteridae.
The presence of fish larvae especially the commercially important families in Pulau
Redang Marine Park indicates that the role of this island as a marine park is essential in
protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystem as a breeding ground for fish.
