Reef corals of the Togean and Banggai Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia (Marine RAP survey)

Reef corals were surveyed at 47 sites in the Togean and Banggai Islands of Sulawesi, Indonesia, using rapid assessment methods, in 1998. These surveys included 24 sites in the Togean Islands, 4 mainland shoals, 18 sites in the Banggai Islands and one site between the two island groups.Sites surveyed included a diverse range of habitats encompassing reefs and sediments within and around reefs. Habitats included sandy areas, walls, overhangs, slopes and shallow reef areas. Areas where few or no corals were expected to be found, such as sea grass beds and mangroves were not surveyed. Surveys were conducted using SCUBA to a maximum depth of 44m. The survey method consisted of direct underwater observation of corals, usually during a single 60-90 minute dive at each site. Corals were recorded on a slow ascent from the base of the reef, along a zigzag path to the shallowest part of the reef. The primary group of corals surveyed were the zooxanthellate scleractinian corals. In addition, a small number of other coral taxa, which also contribute to the reef matrix were recorded. These include zooxanthellate non-scleractinian corals (blue coral, organ-pipe coral and fire coral), azooxanthellate scleractinian corals (Tubastrea and others) and azooxanthellate non-scleractinian corals (Distichopora and Stylaster).Corals that could not be identified in the field were photographed in situ and representative samples were collected and labelled for later identification. The aims of this survey were:1. to compile an inventory of corals on the reefs of the Togean and Banggai Islands of Sulawesi, Indonesia.2. to use this information to compare the faunal richness of these islands with other parts of Southeast Asia and adjoining regions. The Marine Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) ia an initiative of Conservation International (CI). This survey was a component of the project "A marine rapid assessment of the Togean and Banggai Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia".

1998年，研究团队采用快速评估方法，对印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛托吉安群岛与邦盖群岛的47个点位开展造礁珊瑚调查。本次调查覆盖点位包括：托吉安群岛24个点位、4处大陆浅滩、邦盖群岛18个点位，以及两群岛之间的1个点位。

调查涵盖的生境类型多样，涵盖礁体内部、周边及其沉积物分布区域，包括沙质海域、礁壁、悬垂区、斜坡与浅礁区域。而海草床、红树林等预期珊瑚分布稀少或无分布的区域未纳入调查范围。

本次调查采用水肺潜水(SCUBA)开展，最大作业深度达44米。调查方法为直接水下观测珊瑚，通常在每个点位完成单次60至90分钟的潜水。观测时沿锯齿形路径从礁体底部缓慢上浮至最浅区域，完成珊瑚记录。

本次调查的核心类群为虫黄藻共生造礁珊瑚(zooxanthellate scleractinian corals)，此外还记录了少量参与礁体基质构建的其他珊瑚类群：包括非造礁的虫黄藻共生珊瑚（如蓝珊瑚、笙珊瑚、火珊瑚）、无虫黄藻的造礁珊瑚（如杯形珊瑚属*Tubastrea*及其他类群），以及无虫黄藻的非造礁珊瑚（如*Distichopora*与*Stylaster*属）。

对于野外无法识别的珊瑚个体，研究人员会原位拍摄照片并采集代表性样本、标注相关信息用于后续鉴定。

本次调查的目标为：
1. 编制印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛托吉安群岛与邦盖群岛礁体珊瑚名录；
2. 利用该调查数据对比两群岛与东南亚其他区域及邻近海域的物种丰富度。

海洋快速评估计划(Marine Rapid Assessment Program, RAP)是保护国际(Conservation International, CI)发起的一项倡议。本次调查为“印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛托吉安与邦盖群岛海洋快速评估”项目的组成部分。