ABSTRACT
Coral reefs are biologically diverse ecosystems built by the accumulation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) produced by reef-building Scleractinian corals and calcareous algae (Nybakken 1988). Corals consist of two different groups, hermatypic (or reef building) with special symbiotic relationship between polyps and zooxanthellae dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) (Veron 2000; Castro and Michael 2003). Coral reefs serve as the venue for the cycle of biological, chemical, and physical as well as for wave-surge protection (Winarso et al. 1999).
