Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 13, Number 2, February 2010 : 119-125 Accredited : 83/Dikti/Kep/2009 119 CORAL RECRUITMENT ON REEF BALL TM MODULES AT THE BENETE BAY, SUMBAWA ISLAND, INDONESIA Imam Bachtiar 1,2 , Windy. Prayogo 3 1Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, Universitas Mataram, Jl. Pendidikan 37, Mataram 83125, Indonesia. 2Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Mataram, Jl. Majapahit 62, Mataram 83125, Indonesia. 3Environmental Department, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Jl. Sriwijaya 258, Mataram 83120, Indonesia. Received :January, 5 th 2010 ; Accepted: January, 29 th 2010 ABSTRACT Reef Ball TM structure is a popular artificial reef module that has been invested in many countries. Publication on its efficacy in promoting coral recruitment however remains lack of study or publication. This present study was aimed to examine the pattern of coral recruitment on reef ball structure at the Benete Bay of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. Thirty reef-balls (dome shape; 0.90 cm height, 1.20 cm diameter) were monitored after three years of deployment. The results of this study showed that nearly all coral colonies grew on the outer vertical surface and upper side of the reef balls. The recruit number varied a lot between 1-76 colonies per module. Most recruits were belonged to the Family Acroporidae, which contributed approximately 76 percent to the whole recruitment (640 colonies). Branching acroporiid was the most abundant colonies (55%). Pocilloporidae and Faviidae both contributed approximately nine percent to the total recruitment, while Poritidae contributed about three percent. Other coral families only had <1% contribution. The diameter of coral colonies which were growing on the reef balls varied between 5-290 mm. The number of recruit on the ball was very low at 10 meter depth (1-5 colonies per ball) that was likely to be affected by sedimentation. This study showed that reef ball module can be effectively used as a method in rehabilitating damaged coral reefs, and developing a proto-reef. Key words: proto reef, reef ball, coral, recruitment, restoration Correspondence : Phone/Fax: +62 370 627603. Email: bachtiar.coral@gmail.com . INTRODUCTION Coral reef restoration and rehabilitation are increasingly important as global climate change might increase frequency of mass coral mortality due to bleaching (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999) and diseases (Harvell et al., 2002; Jones et al., 2004). Reef Ball TM has long been known as an intervention option in coral reef restoration or rehabilitation. In many situations owing to substrate instability or increasing sedimentation, damaged coral reefs are unable to naturally recover and restoration intervention is required. Introduction of reef ball or similar hard structures will provide additional substrate for coral larval settlement. Original Paper