bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.22.427756; this version posted January 22, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. Coral Reefs of the Perhentian Islands: Abundance Levels and Distribution Patterns of Hosting Sea Anemones, and Implications for Citizen-Science Monitoring. Melissa Versteeg*, Alanah Campbell & Hidayah Halid Perhentian Marine Research Station, Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu, Malaysia *Corresponding Author Email:
[email protected] Abstract Around the Perhentian Islands, coral reefs have been undergoing significant degradation, as is reported annually through citizen- science coral reef monitoring programmes. Typical methodologies included in citizen-science surveys overlook the hosting sea anemones’ contribution to lowered live coral cover (LCC) on reef sites. As sea anemones compete with corals for suitable substrate, nutrients, and light availability, the current study was designed to investigate hosting sea anemone abundance and distribution patterns independently. In addition to identifying and assessing sites of localised sea anemone dominance, sea anemones were examined to identify factors that positively influence reproductive success and growth rate, including formations, hosting status, and resident Amphiprion species. In total, 379 sea anemone samples were analysed over 1600 m2 of Perhentian reef, making this study the first known independent investigation into sea anemone abundance patterns around the Perhentian Islands. Statistical analysis revealed that at site Village Reef, sea anemone abundance was higher than would be expected in healthy reef settings, and sea anemone cover was negatively impacting LCC.