EFFECTS OF CORAL RUGOSITY ON FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN THREE SELECTED REEF AREAS OF SARANGANI BAY

A study on effects of Coral Rugosity on Fish Assemblages was conducted in Brgy. Bula, General Santos City, Brgy. Tinoto, Maasim and Tuka Marine Park, Kiamba from March to May 2017. Chain transect method was used to measure rugosity index and was laid horizontally within shallow area and deep arca by means of underwater SCUBA diving. For fish assemblages, fish visual census was used while phot transects was used for the assessment of coral cover. The result of rugosity index between shallow and deep area was found to be statistically insignificant showing that Tinoto, Maasim station has the highest rugosity index both for shallow area and deep area while in Tuka, Kiamba station has the least rugosity index for deep area and Bula station has the lowest value for shallow area. Highest percentage cover of live corals is found in deep area of Tinoto, Maasim having 61% cover while hard corals in shallow area was found highest in deep area (59%). In general, most of the variables were found positively correlated with each relationship such as rugosity with coral diversity. live coral cover, fish biomass, fish diversity and evenness as well as coral covers with fish evenness. Only variables of rugosity and fish species richness have moderately negative correlation (=0.4258, p<0.05). Reef rugosity and percentage of live coral cover are variables significantly affecting the reef fish community, and therefore, are useful predictors of reef community health. Results found in this study should be considered in the development of remote sensing appropriate models for evaluation and monitor of coastal marine resources in a synoptic scale.