Status of sea turtle resources and coral reefs of Maliangin Island Sanctuary, Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia

• Main Author: Liew, Clement Ket Hin
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: QL640-669.3 Reptiles and amphibians
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41472/1/24%20PAGES.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41472/2/FULLTEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41472/

Maliangin Island Sactuary (MIS), Kudat, Sabah was chosen as a model site for the future management of the Proposed Tun Mustapha Park. Research was conducted to collect baseline data on beach characteristics where green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles nest sporadically. Potential food resources for the sea turtles and the status of coral reefs at Maliangin Island Sanctuary were also assessed. The nesting beaches were divided into "frequent nesting" and "seldom nesting" stations where beach profile, ambient parameters, grain sizes of the beach and turtle egg chambers were determined. Three indicator fish families and bottom substrate coverage were used to assess the status of coral reefs. Results showed that beach profile, sand grain size and environmental conditions did not influence the selection of sea turtle nesting sites. Seagrass (main diet of greens) coverage and density of sponges (main diet of hawksbills) were calculated. The study area may not have high potential as feeding grounds for the turtles due to the lack of actual cropping sightings during underwater surveys. There were six seagrass species present but coverage was low (7%) whereas only 4 of the 25 genera of sponges had bite marks. Average values of live coral cover (46.8%), morphological diversity index (2.5), mortality index (0.13), condition index (0.37), development index (0.32) and succession index (-0.62) showed that the reefs of MIS were categorised as good condition and good development but with very poor succession. The 49 species of damselfishes (Pomacentridae), 8 species of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) and 11 species of groupers (Serranidae) indicate , that the hard corals in the study area were complex, healthy (live corals> dead corals) and that the reefs are rugose, respectively. Maliangin Island Sanctuary is rich with marine resources and with proper management, it can be utilised in multiple ways (livelihood of locals, ecotourism and aquaculture).