Recovery of Coral Reefs: Changes in Hard Coral Cover at Pulau Bidong After a Tropical Storm

Tropical storms are a natural disturbance that cause physical damage to coral reef ecosystems. In 2019, a tropical storm named Pabuk was recorded near Malaysia and caused significant damage to the coral reefs in Pulau Bidong. This study investigated the post-disturbance recovery of coral reefs at Pantai Pasir Cina, Pulau Bidong, following the impact of the Pabuk storm. Data collected from 2016 to 2023 using video sampling method were analyzed to evaluate changes in the coral reef area. No significant changes were observed after a year of post-disturbance in 2020 but a substantial increase in live coral cover was observed in 2023 where shallow water area (3 m) showed significant increase of live coral cover (from 18.21%± 10.45% SD to 79.10%± 12.12% SD) and a reduction in dead coral cover (from 76.21%± 8.45% SD to 18.19%± 12.65% SD) as compared to 2019. By 2023, the hard coral community along the transect was dominated by Acropora–Montipora, with many Fungia colonies overgrown by the faster-growing Acropora and Montipora corals. The observed recovery and maintenance of dominant coral taxa primarily reflect the success of the active restoration efforts in the study area. The findings underscore the resilience of coral reefs in the face of natural disturbances and emphasize the necessity for ongoing monitoring and conservation strategies to sustain reef health.