Community structure of underwater pinnacles in Mu Ko Si Chang, the Upper Gulf of Thailand
Keywords:
Coral community, conservation, invertebrate, reef fish, underwater pinnacleAbstract
Underwater pinnacles serve as critical habitats, support coastal protection, and contribute to human livelihoods through tourism and fishing. Coral communities on underwater pinnacles in the Upper Gulf of Thailand are important marine ecosystems that provide similar ecosystem services as coral reefs. This study aimed to examine community structure of underwater pinnacles in the vicinity of Mu Ko Si Chang, Chonburi Province in the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Four coral communities on underwater pinnacles, namely Hin Sampayu, Hin Kong Nok, Hin Kong Nai and Hin Ta Sin were studied in 2023-2024. The highest percentage of live coral cover was found at Hin Tasin (28.2%) while the lowest one was found at Hin Kong Nai (12.1%). The most dominant coral species were Porites lutea and followed by Plattygyra sinensis. The highest species diversity index was observed at Hin Kong Nai. The most dominant macrobenthic invertebrates were Diadema setosum and followed by Bequina semiorbiculata. The most abundant reef fish were Neopomacentrus cyanomos and followed by Chromis cinerascens. The two-dimensional non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) plots of study sites based on the species compositions of corals, macrobenthic invertebrates, and reef fish exhibited two different groups. The present study underscores the ecological importance of the underwater pinnacles in the Mu Ko Si Chang, and emphasizes the necessity of conservation efforts to safeguard and maintain these valuable ecosystems, which face threats from climate change and other factors.
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