Sains Malaysiana 39(3)(2010): 395–403

Evaluation of Fish Behaviour and Aggregation by Underwater Videography in an Artificial Reef in Tioman Island, Malaysia

(Penilaian Tingkah Laku dan Pengagregatan Ikan Menggunakan Videografi dalam Air Pada Tukun Tiruan di Pulau Tioman, Malaysia)

T. Yoshida¹*, K. Akagi², T . Toda³, M.M.R. Kushairi⁴, A.A.A. Kee¹ & B.H.R. Othman¹

¹Marine Ecosystem Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 43600 Bangi, Selangor D. E., Malaysia

²Team Blue Earth Co. Ltd. 1-30-17, Kakinokizaka Meguro-ku Tokyo Japan

³Laboratory of Restoration Ecology, Department of Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis Faculty of Engineering, Soka University Tangi-cho, Hachioji Tokyo, Japan

⁴Faculty of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Universiti Industri Selangor

 4000 Shah Alam, Selangor D. E,. Malaysia

Received: 8 June 2009 / Accepted: 18 September 2009

ABSTRACT

The behaviour and aggregation of fish in an artificial reef area in Tioman Island, Malaysia, was observed using underwater videography under a combination of shooting conditions. The camera distance and direction relative to the neighboring artificial reef module was varied, and comparisons of images with a color filter were made. A distance of 260 cm at a diagonal shooting angle provided a suitable observation of the reef fish around the reef module, and a red color filter provided a truer color replication in morning observations while better images were obtained without the color filter in afternoon light environments. Four criteria were considered to assess the artificial reef effectiveness: total abundance, appearance rate, residence time and feeding frequency. A total of 824 individuals were observed during the study. Mean residence times were shorter for schooling fishes such as Caesio caerulaurea and Liza subviridis, and longer for solitary swimmers like Cephalopholis boenak and Scolopsis bilineatus. Feeding frequency was lower for schooling fishes. A significant correlation was obtained between the feeding frequency and residence time for the high feeding frequency fishes (r = 0.89; p<0.05). The effectiveness of the artificial reef was suggested to be significant in solitary swimmers but less so for schooling fishes.

Keywords: Artificial reef; fish aggregation; Tioman Island; underwater videography

ABSTRAK

Tingkah laku dan pengumpulan ikan dalam satu kawasan tukun tiruan dalam Pulau Tioman, Malaysia, telah cerap dengan menggunakan videografi dalam air dengan gabungan daripada berberapa keadaan penggambaran. Jarak dan arah kamera relatif kepada modul tukun tiruan berjiranan adalah berbeza, dan perbandingan antara imej video diperhatikan dengan menggunakan penuras warna. Jarak 260 cm pada sudut penggambaran diagonal memberikan pemerhatian yang sesuai untuk ikan di sekitar modul tukun tiruan, dan penuras berwarna merah memberikan replikasi warna yang lebih sesuai dalam pemerhatian pada waktu pagi manakala imej yang lebih baik diperolehi tanpa menggunakan penuras warna dalam persekitaran cahaya petang. Empat kriteria diambil kira bagi menilai keberkesanan tukun tiruan: jumlah kelimpahan, kadar kewujudan, masa mastautin dan frekuensi memakan. Sejumlah 824 individu ikan telah dicerap dalam kajian. Min masa mastautin adalah lebih pendek untuk ikan-ikan seperti Caesio caerulaurea dan Liza subviridis, dan lebih panjang untuk perenang secara sendirian seperti Cephalopholis boenak dan Scolopsis bilineatus. Frekuensi memakan adalah lebih rendah untuk ikan kawanan. Kolerasi bererti diperolehi antara frekuensi memakan dan masa mastautin untuk ikan-ikan berfrekuensi memakan tinggi (r = 0.89; p<0.05). Keberkesanan tukun tiruan dicadangkan penting untuk ikan perenang secara sendirian tetapi kurang penting untuk ikan kawanan.

Kata kunci: Kumpulan ikan; Pulau Tioman; tukun tiruan; videografi dalam air

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*Corresponding author; email: teruaki.yoshida@gmail.com