Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

CORAL RECRUITMENT ON REEF BALL STRUCTURES AT THE BENETE BAY, SUMBAWA ISLAND, INDONESIA Imam BACHTIAR*1, Windy PRAYOGO2 1Biology Education, Universitas Mataram, Mataram, Indonesia, 2Environment, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Mataram, Indonesia Reef ball structure is a popular artificial reef that has been invested in many countries. Publication on its efficacy in promoting coral recruitment however remains lack of study or publication. This present study is aimed to examine the pattern of coral recruitment on reef ball structure at the Benete Bay of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. Thirty big size reef-balls were censuses after three years of deployment. All of these structures were deployed on a sandy bottom location in a sheltered bay. The results show that nearly all coral colonies grow on the vertical surface and upper side of the reef balls. Recruit number varies among depths, between 1-69 colonies per unit reef balls. Most recruits are belonging to the Family Acroporidae, which contribute about 76% to the whole recruitment. Branching acroporid is the most abundant colonies (55%). Pocilloporidae and Faviidae both contribute about 9% to the total recruitment, while Poritidae contributes about 3%. Other coral families only has