Assessment of reef fish biomass and density in the Dar es Salaam marine reserves, Tanzania
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Date
2016
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves systems (DMRs) comprise of the North Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves systems (NDMRs) with General Management Plan (GMP) and the South Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves systems (NDMRs) without a GMP. This study was aimed at determining the effectiveness of the GMP in the conservation of coral reef ecosystem by assessing reef fish biomass, density and coral cover. Sampling was conducted from August, 2014 to April, 2015. Line Intercept Transect (LIT) was used to characterize benthic cover and Underwater Visual Census (UVC) was used to assess reef fish abundance and biomass. The findings showed that both fish density and fish biomass in NDMRs was significantly higher than SDMRs (Mann-Whitney P=0.0004). Population size structure for Juvenile fish had no significant difference between the sites (Wilcoxon matched-pairs test, P = 0.4721). Recruit fish in NDMRs has significantly higher density than SDMRs (Wilcoxon matched-pairs test, P < 0.0001). Regarding adult fish, NDMRs has significantly higher mean size than SDMRs (Wilcoxon matched-pairs test, P < 0.0001). Species diversity index was significantly higher in the NDMR (Shanon Diversity Index (H´) = 4.323) than SDMRs (H´ = 3.227). Fish-biomass varied significantly for the three seasons in the NDMR (Hc, P < 0.0001) and for SDMRs fish biomass was significantly difference for the three seasons (Hc, P < 0.0020). Fish density was highly correlated with coral cover for both NDMRs and SDMRs (r = 0.96). This study has revealed the effectiveness of GMP in conserving coral reef ecosystem in the NDMRs and call for the urgent preparation of GMP for the SDMRs.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF SH315.T34.J84)
Keywords
Coral reef fisheries, Coral reef fishes, Fisheries management, Dar es Salaam marine reserves, Tanzania
Citation
Julius, P. (2016) Assessment of reef fish biomass and density in the Dar es Salaam marine reserves, Tanzania, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.