Scleractinian Coral Health Status of Padang Shelf Reef System, West Sumatera, Indonesia

The prevalence of coral disease was previously unreported on the reefs of the Padang Shelf Reef System, West Sumatra and is relatively uncommon. The objective of this study was to get coral disease prevalence of each site which located at inshore, mid-shelf reef and off-shore reefs. The research was carried out by using belt transect method with 1 m left and right of tape as long 30 m with 3 replications. Two kinds of coral disease and two indicators of stressed coral were observed. While relatively infrequent, Black Band Disease was most common (1.3%) occurring on Pandan Island at 5m. White Syndrome occurred at Air patch reef (0.3%). A few bleached colonies of Montipora sp. and Pocillopora verrucosa were observed on Pieh Island reef (2.1%). Focal bleaching was observed on Galaxea sp. and Goniastrea sp. at Gabuo patch reefs (2.5%) and on Pocillopora verrucosa at Sipakal patch reef (3.9%). BBD infected both Montipora sp. and Porites sp. WS only infected on Montipora sp. Montipora, Pocillopora and Porites were the most common genera observed on the reefs. It suggests that coral disease infection was classified as a minor and it will not hamper coral recovery processes and coral health status in Padang Waters, West Sumatera.