<p> Increasing human activity and population pressure on coastal marine resources, especially coral reefs, in Ambon have caused significant stresses on coral communities requiring careful management. A suitable environmental management strategy for this complex ecosystem, however, must be based on an accurate assessment of the state of these resources, natural variability, and the impact of human activities. Consequently, baseline research is needed to describe reef areas and to provide data about environmental changes.</p> <p> One control site (Tanjung Setan) and three affected sites (Hila, Wayame and Wailiha) on Ambon were observed to assess the condition of the reefs. Coral cover, coral growth rate, species richness and environmental parameters such as suspended particulate matter (SPM), resuspended sediment, salinity, temperature, dissolved nutrients (NO3 and PO4), δ15N, and water clarity were measured to assess reef condition and to determine the possible causes of reef degradation.</p> <p> Average coral cover in the control site (Tanjung Setan) is higher (64%) than that in affected sites: Hila (27%), Wayame (36%) and Wailiha (11%). Also, the greatest number of species was found in Tanjung Setan (101 spp.) followed by Hila (66 spp.), Wayame (62 spp.) and Wailiha (43 spp.).</p> <p> Coral growth rates show different trends from coral cover and number of species. Corals in Tanjung Setan have higher growth rate (1.61 cm/year) than those in Hila (1.45 cm/year) and Wayame (1.31 cm/year), but corals in Wailiha show almost the same growth rate (1.57 cm/year) with that in Tanjung Setan. The surprisingly rapid growth rates at Wailiha are probably caused by high nutrient availability and rapid growth of corals to keep pace with high sedimentation rates.</p> <p> The δ15N content of coral tissue was analyzed at each site to trace the sewage (nutrients) loading from the land. Relatively high ratio of δ15N found in Wailiha and Wayame indicated sewage (nutrients) inputs to the reefs in these areas. In addition, limited lignin testing on corals from Wailiha showed positive results, indicating that the plywood factory adjacent to the reef influences the corals there.</p> <p> High SPM and resuspended sediment values, high dissolved nutrients and δ15N content, and turbid water in Wayame and Wailiha indicated that these reefs are under siltation and sewage (eutrophication) stress. Hila mainly suffered from physical disturbance such as fish blasting and coral collecting, suggested by bomb craters and coral fragments. Conversely, no significant evidence of human impact was found in the control site (Tanjung Setan), where SPM, resuspended sediment, dissolved nutrients, and δ15N values are all low, and water clarity is very high.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/19472 |
| Date | 06 1900 |
| Creators | Limmon, Gino Valentino |
| Contributors | Risk, Michael J., Geology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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