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Krishna Kumar, P.K., Joydas, T.V., Lindo, R.T., Magallanes, R., Cali, N.A., Saji, P.A., Manikandan, K. P

and Qurban, M.B.

Centre for Environment & Water, Research InstituteKing Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals,

Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.

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WHY ARE CORAL REEFS SO IMPORTANT?WHY ARE CORAL REEFS SO IMPORTANT?

Coral reefs are some of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet.

Living museums and reflect thousands of years of history.

Breeding & feeding ground for several marine organisms including fishes.

Provide resources and services worth many billions of dollars each year to human societies.

Buffers shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.

Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines - “medicine cabinets” of the 21st century.

UNIQUE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

Shallow-water and Hermatypic (corals that produce reefs) OR

Deep-water and Ahermatypic (corals that cannot produce reefs)

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CORAL REEF MONITORING STUDIES BY KFUPM

MEPA/ROPME Pilot Research and Monitoring Program, Vol. III - Coral Reef Studies. 1988. For the Australian Trade Commission.

Sustaining Research Project- Marine Environmental Studies (1984)- Saudi Aramco

1. Phase –I- 1984-1990 2. Phase –II- 1990-1994 3. Phase –III- 1995-2001 4. Phase –IV- 2001- 2006 5. Phase –V- 2007-2012

Coral Reef Survey in Support of the Marine and Coastal Damage Assessment (OSDA) 2003. for the Presidency for Meteorology and Environment .

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• Introduction

• Review and assess the biodiversity of coral reefs along the Gulf coast.

• Review and assess the biodiversity of coral reef fishes.

• Document the present status of coral reefs along the Gulf coast.

• Assess the long term impact of natural and anthropogenic stresses on coral reefs.

• Threats and management issues.

• Conclusion

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TOPICS OF PRESENTATION

INTRODUCTION

Coral reefs of widely differing sizes and structures occur in near shore areas along the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia.

Selected coral reefs along the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia were regularly surveyed by KFUPM/RI since 1985 (McCain et al. 1984; Coles, 1988; Coles and Tarr, 1990; Coles & Fadllallah 1991).

Arabian Gulf coral communities exist in a harsh environment with respect to salinities, SST and extreme low tide (Coles & Fadllallah 1991; Sheppard et al. 1992).

A variety of natural and anthropogenic disturbances threaten the survival of coral reefs along the Gulf coast.

There is an urgent need to conserve coral reefs

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NATURAL CONSTRAINTS TO CORAL REEF DEVELOPMENT –ARABIAN GULF

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Extreme temperature range & anomalies (10-15 yrs).

Extreme salinity range.

Extensive areas of unconsolidated carbonate sediments.

Scouring action by mobile sediments on limestone substrates.

Competition with macro-algae.

SALINITY

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CORAL REEF DISTRIBUTION ALONG GULF COAST

Porites sp.

Acropora sp.

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REEFS ASSOCIATED WITH OFFSHORE ISLANDS

Rich coral reefs thrive around Karan, Jana, Jurayd, Al Arabiyah and Kurayn Islands

SPECIES DIVERSITY (HERMATYPIC CORALS)

Acropora

valida

Porites

lobata

Pseudosiderastrea tayami

Favites pentagona

Turbinaria pelata

Stylophora pistillata

Acanthastraea echinata

Total = 52 species

(Arabian Gulf waters)

Family Family

Acroporidae (11)

Poritidae (6)

Siderastreidae (8)

Faviidae (21)

Dendrophyllidae(4)

Pocilloporidae(1)

Mussidae (1)

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GULF REGION- CORAL SPECIES

COUNTRY CORAL SPECIES

SOURCE

Saudi Arabia 41 Buchard 1979

Kuwait 35 Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995

Bahrain 40 Sheppard, 1988Dubai, UAE 34 Reigl, 1999Gulf of Oman 68 Sheppard & Salm (1988);

Coles, 1996

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ACROPORA SPECIES

from Karan Island

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CORAL REEF BIODIVERSITY OF OFFSHORE ISLANDS

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CORAL REEF FISHES- REGIONAL DIVERSITY

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Region/Country

Location/Reef Number of Fish Species

Reference

Saudi ArabiaSafaniya 71

KFUPM/RI, 2008Manifa 85Abu Ali 83Tarut Bay 69

Kuwait 85 Downing, 1985Bahrain 71 Smith et al. 1987UAE Dubai 64-95 Riegl, 2002

Indian Ocean Seychelles 238 Pittman, 1996Indonesia Jawa Islands 196 Suharti, 2006

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SOME OF THE REEF ASSOCIATED FISHES

Lutjanus sp.

Chaetodon melapterus

Pomacanthus maculosus

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Amphiprion clarkii

Chaetodon nigropunctatus  

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FISH ABUNDANCE & BIODIVERSITYTotal Species (S) Abundance (N)

Richness (d) Shannon Index

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FISH FEEDING GUILDS AT DIFFERENT REEFS

THREATS & MANAGEMENT ISSUES

NATURAL : Coral Bleaching: Coral mortality (up to 98%) following

bleaching events associated with increases in the frequency and prolongation of positive seawater temperature anomalies.

Diseases: Yellow-band, Black-band and white band diseases present and prevalence maybe increased by anthropogenic stressors.

Crown of Thorns: Periodically abundant on East Coast reefs where they have caused extensive damage.

ANTHROPOGENIC: Dredging & landfilling Coastal Pollution Fishing Impacts

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NATURAL STRESSES- ALONG GULF COAST

Coral bleaching events of 1996: In the summer, near shore SST was 33.5o - 37°C for no less than 90 days.

Black Band Disease (BBD) for Acropora clathrata coral was documented at Abu Ali reef during Aug-Sep1996.

Another bleaching event recorded in 1998, which was detrimental to reefs barely recovering from the 1996 bleaching.

BLEACHED CORALS

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LONG TERM CHANGES IN % LIVE CORAL COVER

Coral Bleaching Events

1996 1998

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LONG TERM CHANGES IN NUMBER OF FISH SPECIES

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LONG TERM CHANGES IN FISH BIODIVERSITY

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COASTAL POLLUTION

1991- Oil Spill

Sewage Discharge

TARUT TARUT BAYBAY

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DREDGING AND LANDFILLING- EXAMPLE

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TARUT BAY REEF-TARUT BAY REEF- TRENDS IN CORAL REEF STATUS TRENDS IN CORAL REEF STATUS

Live Coral Cover

Coral (%) = 0.6149x2 - 2463Year + 2E+06

R2 = 0.72

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

YEARS

Liv

e C

ora

l Co

ve

r (%

)

Live Coral Cover

Coral (%) = 0.6149x2 - 2463Year + 2E+06

R2 = 0.72

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

YEARS

Liv

e C

ora

l Co

ve

r (%

)

Toatl Fish Species

Fish Species = 1E+48e-0.05 Years

R2 = 0.36

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

YEARS

To

tal F

ish

Sp

ec

ies

(S

)

Toatl Fish Species

Fish Species = 1E+48e-0.05 Years

R2 = 0.36

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

YEARS

To

tal F

ish

Sp

ec

ies

(S

)

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IMPACT OF FISHING

Anchor damage to corals

Ghost Fishing

•Damage to Corals from Fishing Practices.

•Anchor and Boat Grounding Damage to Reefs.

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DOCUMENTATION OF DAMAGES- NET & ANCHOR

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CONSERVATION THEMES

Legislation Applicable to the Conservation of Coral Reefs, Research, Monitoring and Documentation,

Education and Public awareness,

Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs.

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ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ANCHOR BUOYS

They minimize anchor damage to coral reefs,Stop drifting fishing nets from reaching the reef.

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MOORING BUOYS AROUND OFFSHORE ISLANDS

JANA ISLAND KARAN ISLAND KURAYN ISLAND

Buoys were deployed by KFUPM during 2006-2008, funded by Saudi Aramco around coral islands.

CONCLUSION

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The coral reefs of the Saudi Arabia have cultural, economic and scientific value.

Coral reef monitoring activities in Saudi Arabia started in 1984 by KFUPM.

A total of 41 coral species were reported in 1979 and their number has reduced to nearly 20 in 2006.

A total of 69 -85 coral fish species belonging to 24-34 families were observed from reefs, compared to 102 species reported in 1982.

Threats to coral are primarily derived from positive seawater temperature anomalies, coastal pollution, dredging and landfill and the effects of fishing.

The coral bleaching events in 1996 and 1998 affected the live coral cover and reef associated fishes.

A declining trends in live coral coverage, fish species number and biodiversity was observed at Tarut Bay and Abu Ali reefs.

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Thank YouThank You