Coral community structure of reef flat-building corals in the intertidal zone of Sicogon Island, Philippines
Authors: Lhyra Amante, Christian S. Apolinario, Miles B. Chin, Ariette A. De Asis, Jomar Von R. Laforteza
Abstract
This study assessed genus-level coral community structure of reef flat-building corals in the intertidal zone of Brgy. Alipata, Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo, a coastal area within the Coral Triangle with limited published data on coral assemblages. Three 50-m transects were surveyed using 1 × 1 m photo-quadrats at 5-m intervals to characterize coral composition and relative abundance across the study site. A total of 15 genera were presumptively identified, including Porites, Acropora, Dipsastrea, Platygyra, Goniastrea, Alveopora, Oculina, Psammocora, Stylophora, Pocillopora, Palythoa, Pavona, Seriatopora, Turbinaria, and Oulophyillia. Community structure indices (Simpson, Shannon-Weiner, and Pielou’s Evenness) indicated low to moderate genus-level diversity with strong dominance by Porites, a pattern characteristic of intertidal reef-flat environments. This study provides crucial initial characterization of coral community structure that can serve as ecological reference data for future monitoring and conservation planning in Sicogon Island.
Keywords
coral community, intertidal zone, Sicogon Island, reef flat, marine biology