Interactions between hard corals and reef fish communities in the Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara Timur

A significant correlation between branching coral cover and herbivorous fish communities has been identified in Komodo National Park, highlighting the ecological importance of structurally complex corals. Branching corals, despite their vulnerability to destruction and bleaching, provide critical shelters that enhance the sustainability of herbivorous fish populations, contributing to reef resilience. The study, conducted at 12 stations in 2019, found 211 species of hard corals with an average cover of 30.84%, but no significant correlation was observed between coral species diversity and overall fish communities. This research underscores the role of branching corals in supporting biodiversity and maintaining reef health.

Hadi, T. A., Sujono, P. A. W., Clarita, C., Budiyanto, A., Edrus, N. I., Sulha, S., Kefi, A., & Giyanto. (2023). Interactions between hard corals and reef fish communities in the Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara Timur. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1137(1), 12004. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1137/1/012004