Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2003

A study was conducted to determine the species composition of butterfly fishes around Talicud Island and to correlate them with the live coral cover of the seven sampling sites. Using underwear visual census, a total of 15 species of butterfly fishes were seen, namely, Chaetodon Auriga, C. kleinli, C. lunula, C. mertensii, C. octofasciatus, C. ornatissimus, C. punctatofasciatus, C. trifasciatus, C. ulientensis, C. unimaculatus, C. vagabundus, C. xanthurus, corodion chrysozonus, forcipiger flavissimus, and F. lingirostris. The Spearman Rank computed correlation coefficient (r) of 0.704 revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the butterflyfishes? species composition or richness and the live coral cover. This would imply that a marked rise in the density of the live coral cover of an area could increase the species composition of chaetodontids. Butterflyfishes are sensitive even to low levels of disturbance. Their presence in the study area may indicate that the reefs in Talicud Island are relatively in good condition