The species richness of amphiprion spp. (clownfish) at Pulau Bidong, Malaysia

Gunaratne, Tulani Umaya (2020) The species richness of amphiprion spp. (clownfish) at Pulau Bidong, Malaysia. [Project Paper] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Amphiprioninae (clownfish) are one of the most widely recognized species found in coral reefs. The species richness of Amphiprion spp. in a region depends largely on ocean factors and a special type of coral reef creature, the sea anemone. There is variation in the regional availability of Amphiprion spp. species that can be found widely distributed in the coral reefs of shallow tropical and subtropical waters. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the species availability of Amphiprion spp. (clownfish) at Pulau Bidong, Terengganu, Malaysia. The study areas included seven dive sites around the Bidong island, located off the north-east coast of Terengganu, in the South China Sea. An underwater camera was used to capture images of clownfish species encountered during the SCUBA diving visual survey. The images of the species were identified by their external morphology and habitat. The study identified and recorded five distinct species of clownfish from the genus Amphiprion: A. frenatus, A. perideraion, A. ocellaris, A. clarkii and A. polymnus. Our findings also demonstrate the strong symbiotic relationship between the sea anemone and clownfish, which contributes to the population structure and Amphiprion species diversity at Pulau Bidong. In addition, this study provides a baseline for future research into Amphiprion spp. and other habitat factors such as the quality of anemone and the quality of the ocean environment around Bidong Island; which may ultimately aid in the development of successful conservation strategies for everyone’s beloved “Nemo” and their marine habitat.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms. Nordeena Abdul Aziz
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2023 08:30
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2023 08:30
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1500

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