The spatiotemporal dynamics of reef benthic communities in local marine protected areas: A case study of Vamizi Island

Research on coral reef ecosystems highlights ongoing degradation driven by local and global factors, leading to biodiversity loss and a shift from hard coral to macroalgae communities. However, other reef components, such as soft corals, receive less attention. This study examines the temporal dynamics of benthic communities and the impact of fisheries closures on sessile reef organisms after a protected area was established. We aimed to assess benthic community changes, particularly a potential shift toward soft corals, before and after protection. Photo-quadrat transects were conducted at four sites, two inside and two outside the protected area, with surveys in 2006, 2012, 2014, and 2022 by SCUBA divers. Results showed no statistically significant differences between protected and unprotected areas but revealed site-specific fluctuations over time. Protection did not significantly alter the overall benthic composition, likely due to initial site heterogeneity and the limited timeframe for detecting changes. The lack of a shift from hard to soft corals outside of the protected area suggests nutrient availability may influence coral dynamics more than overfishing. Alternatively, unprotected sites may have avoided degradation due to increased public awareness and local conservation efforts. These findings emphasize the need for long-term monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing protected areas and inform conservation strategies for reef ecosystems.