@article {McManus:1981-07-01T00:00:00:0007-4977:574, author = "McManus, John W. and Wenno, Jacobus J.", title = "Coral Communities of Outer Ambon Bay: A General Assessment Survey", journal = "Bulletin of Marine Science", volume = "31", number = "3", year = "1981-07-01T00:00:00", abstract = "The deep waters of outer Ambon Bay are bounded by a narrow shallow-water shelf. Artisanal fishing villages and a rapidly growing city line the 51 km coastline.

A visual and photographic survey of the shelf revealed patchy coral communities separated by stretches of silt, sand and loose rock. Regions of coastline characterized by soft or hard coral dominated communities were delineated and hard coral regions were subjectively ranked according to coral community development. This method efficiently provides crude baseline data for coastal management when time and resources are limited.

Greatest fish abundances were in regions of highest coral community development. Coral damage, resulting in part from traditional fishing activities, was evident along some portions of the coastline. Future problems from increased siltation and pollution related to urbanization are anticipated. The deterioration of the coral communities may adversely affect the availability of food for the increasing human population.", pages = "574-580", url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/1981/00000031/00000003/art00009" }