BIODIVERSITY OF CORAL REEF S ALONG THE GULF COAST OF SAUDI ARABIA) 1 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 Institute King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.

2 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) 3

CORAL REEF MONITORING STUDIES BY KFUPM MEPA/ROPME Pilot Research and Monitoring Program, Vol. III - Coral Reef Studies For the Australian Trade Commission. Sustaining Research Project- Marine Environmental Studies (1984)- Saudi Aramco 1. Phase –I Phase –II Phase –III Phase –IV Phase –V Coral Reef Survey in Support of the Marine and Coastal Damage Assessment (OSDA) for the Presidency for Meteorology and Environment. 4

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 5 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 6

7 NATURAL CONSTRAINTS TO CORAL REEF DEVELOPMENT –ARABIAN GULF 7 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

8 CORAL REEF DISTRIBUTION ALONG GULF COAST Porites sp. Acropora sp.

9 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 Acroporidae (11) Poritidae (6) Siderastreidae (8) Faviidae (21) Dendrophyllidae(4) Pocilloporidae(1) Mussidae (1)

11 GULF REGION- CORAL SPECIES COUNTRYCORAL SPECIES SOURCE Saudi Arabia41Buchard 1979 Kuwait35Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 Bahrain40Sheppard, 1988 Dubai, UAE34Reigl, 1999 Gulf of Oman68Sheppard & Salm (1988); Coles, 1996

12 ACROPORA SPECIES from Karan Island

13 CORAL REEF BIODIVERSITY OF OFFSHORE ISLANDS

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CORAL REEF FISHES- REGIONAL DIVERSITY 15 Region/ Country Location/ReefNumber of Fish Species Reference Saudi Arabia Safaniya71 KFUPM/RI, 2008 Manifa85 Abu Ali83 Tarut Bay69 Kuwait85Downing, 1985 Bahrain71Smith et al UAEDubai64-95Riegl, 2002 Indian OceanSeychelles238Pittman, 1996 IndonesiaJawa Islands196Suharti, 2006

16 SOME OF THE REEF ASSOCIATED FISHES Lutjanus sp. Chaetodon melapterus Pomacanthus maculosus Abudefduf vaigiensis Amphiprion clarkii Chaetodon nigropunctatus

17 FISH ABUNDANCE & BIODIVERSITY Total Species (S)Abundance (N) Richness (d) Shannon Index

18 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 19

20 NATURAL STRESSES- ALONG GULF COAST Coral bleaching events of 1996: In the summer, near shore SST was 33.5 o - 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

21 LONG TERM CHANGES IN % LIVE CORAL COVER Coral Bleaching Events

22 LONG TERM CHANGES IN NUMBER OF FISH SPECIES

23 LONG TERM CHANGES IN FISH BIODIVERSITY

24 COASTAL POLLUTION Oil Spill Sewage Discharge

TARUT BAY 25 DREDGING AND LANDFILLING- EXAMPLE

26 TARUT BAY REEF- TRENDS IN CORAL REEF STATUS

27 IMPACT OF FISHING Anchor damage to corals Ghost Fishing Damage to Corals from Fishing Practices. Anchor and Boat Grounding Damage to Reefs.

28 DOCUMENTATION OF DAMAGES- NET & ANCHOR

29 CONSERVATION THEMES Legislation Applicable to the Conservation of Coral Reefs, Research, Monitoring and Documentation, Education and Public awareness, Practical Conservation of Coral Reefs.

30 ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF ANCHOR BUOYS They minimize anchor damage to coral reefs, Stop drifting fishing nets from reaching the reef.

31 MOORING BUOYS AROUND OFFSHORE ISLANDS JANA ISLAND KARAN ISLANDKURAYN ISLAND Buoys were deployed by KFUPM during , funded by Saudi Aramco around coral islands.

CONCLUSION 32 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 A total of coral fish species belonging to families were observed from reefs, compared to 102 species reported in 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.

33 Thank You