Distribusi Dan Kelimpahan Pterapogon Kauderni Koumans, 1933 (Apogonidae) Di Selat Lembeh Bagian Timur, Kota Bitung

Abstract

This study was aimed at knowing the distribution of Banggai cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni, using haphazard survey method. Data collection was done in Lembeh Strait, Mawali, Batu Lubang, and Kareko. The fish found in 3 locations inhabited several habitats, such as anemone, corals, can, garbage, and sea urchin, in which sea urchin Diadema sp., is the habitat outnumbering the other habitats and the most used. The interesting point of this study is the fish were recorded in branching corals, and even there was one site where sufficient number of branching coral colonies was used as the habitat of Pterapogon kauderni. Thus, this study suggested that the distribution of Pterapogon kauderni will follow the natural habitat condition and not be always dependent upon the sea urchin colony