Conducted by PIT
, Started on 2022 -
Completed on 2023
Completed
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The coral reefs surrounding the Calanggaman Island offer various ecological and economic importance to the communities in the nearby areas. The island has been declared as a marine ecological reserve to properly protect, conserve, and manage the coral reefs and its associated organisms. Although it was created as a marine reserve many years ago, no baseline and comprehensive information has been collected to track the condition of its coral reefs. This research used the modified Reef Check Methodology supplemented with the Taxonomic Agglomeration Units (TAUs) to establish baseline data on the status and biodiversity of hard corals and associated benthos in the island. Data revealed that Calanggaman Island has a mean Hard Coral Cover (HCC) of 50.26% which belongs to HCC Category A while its generic diversity falls under Diversity Category A. Six endangered hard coral species listed in the Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) List of the Zoological Society of London were observed. These scientific findings demonstrate the efficacy of long-term implementation of coral reef-based management strategies in protecting and conserving hard corals and their associated benthic communities, particularly in light of the growing tourist industry on the island.