Abundance and diversity of fish larvae around Pulau Redang, Malaysia

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.