Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure

The Darvel Bay is a large semi-enclosed bay with spectacular natural land and seascape. The inward side of the Bay has only been recently known to be an important foraging ground for the endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) elasmobranch species, such as the Whale Shark and mobulid rays. Follow...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nur Farhana-Azmi, B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto, Nasrulhakim Maidin, Jonathan John, Elvin Bavoh, Ejria Saleh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2022-08-01
Series:Biodiversity Data Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/79201/download/pdf/
_version_ 1828183393155678208
author Nur Farhana-Azmi
B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto
Nasrulhakim Maidin
Jonathan John
Elvin Bavoh
Ejria Saleh
author_facet Nur Farhana-Azmi
B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto
Nasrulhakim Maidin
Jonathan John
Elvin Bavoh
Ejria Saleh
author_sort Nur Farhana-Azmi
collection DOAJ
description The Darvel Bay is a large semi-enclosed bay with spectacular natural land and seascape. The inward side of the Bay has only been recently known to be an important foraging ground for the endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) elasmobranch species, such as the Whale Shark and mobulid rays. Following a recent scientific expedition, we present a checklist of the coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay. A note on the biodiversity and community structure is presented, based on our analysis using diversity indices, univariate and multivariate approaches. Seven natural coral reefs comprising two fringing reefs and five patch reefs, were surveyed at 10 m depth using underwater visual census (UVC) and baited remote underwater video station (BRUVS) methods. A diverse list of 66 species of reef fishes from 17 families is recorded. However, this is overwhelmingly dominated by the small-sized omnivorous damselfish, family Pomacentridae (62%; N = 1485 individuals). Species richness and abundance were observed to increase at sites surveyed furthest from the coast within the Bay. Significantly distinct reef fish assemblages were observed between three priori groups, based on proximity to shore (ANOSIM, R = 0.65, p < 0.05). SIMPER analysis further revealed that 22 species of the total reef fish species recorded drive 76% dissimilarities between the groups. The pattern of the reef fish communities observed, reflected as a logseries distribution model, is that commonly found in disturbed habitats or habitats characterised by restricted resources in a community, where the dominant species takes up a high proportion of available resources. The ecological indices (Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, 2.05; Simpson Index of Diversity, 0.79; Simpson Dominance Index, 0.20; and Pielou’s Evenness Index, 0.43), all reflect the relatively low diversity and uneven species distribution of the reef fish community. We conclude that the present status of the coral reef fish community dominating Darvel Bay as having undergone a rapid shift in structure following intense and rampant fishing pressure, as reported by the media.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T06:31:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d5001d8e9ef24a7688bc266c78d3a4e1
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1314-2828
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T06:31:55Z
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher Pensoft Publishers
record_format Article
series Biodiversity Data Journal
spelling doaj.art-d5001d8e9ef24a7688bc266c78d3a4e12022-12-22T03:43:59ZengPensoft PublishersBiodiversity Data Journal1314-28282022-08-011012410.3897/BDJ.10.e7920179201Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structureNur Farhana-Azmi0B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto1Nasrulhakim Maidin2Jonathan John3Elvin Bavoh4Ejria Saleh5Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia SabahBorneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia SabahSabah Parks, P.O. Box 10626Sabah Parks, P.O. Box 10626Sabah Parks, P.O. Box 10626Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia SabahThe Darvel Bay is a large semi-enclosed bay with spectacular natural land and seascape. The inward side of the Bay has only been recently known to be an important foraging ground for the endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) elasmobranch species, such as the Whale Shark and mobulid rays. Following a recent scientific expedition, we present a checklist of the coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay. A note on the biodiversity and community structure is presented, based on our analysis using diversity indices, univariate and multivariate approaches. Seven natural coral reefs comprising two fringing reefs and five patch reefs, were surveyed at 10 m depth using underwater visual census (UVC) and baited remote underwater video station (BRUVS) methods. A diverse list of 66 species of reef fishes from 17 families is recorded. However, this is overwhelmingly dominated by the small-sized omnivorous damselfish, family Pomacentridae (62%; N = 1485 individuals). Species richness and abundance were observed to increase at sites surveyed furthest from the coast within the Bay. Significantly distinct reef fish assemblages were observed between three priori groups, based on proximity to shore (ANOSIM, R = 0.65, p < 0.05). SIMPER analysis further revealed that 22 species of the total reef fish species recorded drive 76% dissimilarities between the groups. The pattern of the reef fish communities observed, reflected as a logseries distribution model, is that commonly found in disturbed habitats or habitats characterised by restricted resources in a community, where the dominant species takes up a high proportion of available resources. The ecological indices (Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, 2.05; Simpson Index of Diversity, 0.79; Simpson Dominance Index, 0.20; and Pielou’s Evenness Index, 0.43), all reflect the relatively low diversity and uneven species distribution of the reef fish community. We conclude that the present status of the coral reef fish community dominating Darvel Bay as having undergone a rapid shift in structure following intense and rampant fishing pressure, as reported by the media.https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/79201/download/pdf/anthropogenic impactsichthyologyland-use chang
spellingShingle Nur Farhana-Azmi
B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto
Nasrulhakim Maidin
Jonathan John
Elvin Bavoh
Ejria Saleh
Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
Biodiversity Data Journal
anthropogenic impacts
ichthyology
land-use chang
title Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
title_full Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
title_fullStr Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
title_full_unstemmed Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
title_short Checklist of coral reef fishes of Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysian Coral Triangle, with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
title_sort checklist of coral reef fishes of darvel bay sabah malaysian coral triangle with a note on the biodiversity and community structure
topic anthropogenic impacts
ichthyology
land-use chang
url https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/79201/download/pdf/
work_keys_str_mv AT nurfarhanaazmi checklistofcoralreeffishesofdarvelbaysabahmalaysiancoraltrianglewithanoteonthebiodiversityandcommunitystructure
AT bmabelmanjajimatsumoto checklistofcoralreeffishesofdarvelbaysabahmalaysiancoraltrianglewithanoteonthebiodiversityandcommunitystructure
AT nasrulhakimmaidin checklistofcoralreeffishesofdarvelbaysabahmalaysiancoraltrianglewithanoteonthebiodiversityandcommunitystructure
AT jonathanjohn checklistofcoralreeffishesofdarvelbaysabahmalaysiancoraltrianglewithanoteonthebiodiversityandcommunitystructure
AT elvinbavoh checklistofcoralreeffishesofdarvelbaysabahmalaysiancoraltrianglewithanoteonthebiodiversityandcommunitystructure
AT ejriasaleh checklistofcoralreeffishesofdarvelbaysabahmalaysiancoraltrianglewithanoteonthebiodiversityandcommunitystructure