Between March 15th and April 26th 40 points were surveyed at the Corral study area. This mapping study was conducted using a modified version of the circular transect methodology that allowed for more precise sampling and a greater completion rate of surveys. A total of 47 seahorses were found at 21 of the study sites. The greatest number of seahorses was found along the southern edge of the study area, suggesting that the greatest population density may occur outside of the sampled zone. The study area has therefore been increased with the addition of 10 new points in order to include this area in the study parameters. These new points will be surveyed during the month of June, and will increase the Corral study area to 50 total points with an area of 1.8km2.

The data collected from the study suggests a general picture of the population structure, distribution and habitat preferences for the seahorses in the Corral study area. A strong preference was found for pencil urchins as habitat, with 72% of seahorses being found attached to urchins. This association was significantly more common than attachment to any other substrate, particularly for juveniles, indicating the importance of pencil urchins as habitat for seahorse populations in the area. Bottom-scraping activities such as trawling, which often remove seahorses as by-catch, may therefore have significant secondary negative effects on seahorses by removing important habitat that may play an important role in the settlement of juveniles.

The population structure of seahorses in the Corral area was found to be fairly even, with a total of 19 adult females and 14 adult males found. 11 juvenile seahorses were found, suggesting that the population has been actively breeding throughout the spring season. The presence of two pregnant males indicates that the population remains reproductively active and that breeding occurred within 2 weeks of the sampling period during which they were found.

In addition to the extension of the Corral study area with the 10 new study sites, the area has been divided into a GPS grid in preparation for the next phase of study of the seahorse population of Koh Rong Samloem. 476 new points were created to allow for random sampling during a population assessment, which will be conducted during the month of June. 35 randomly located transects will allow for accurate estimates of the population size and structure, and the inclusion of species identification in the methodology will allow for greater understanding of seahorse diversity in the area. With 5 species positively identified from the area and a total of 8 species having ranges that include Cambodian waters, this assessment could provide important insight into one of the most diverse seahorse habitats currently under study. Over time, repetitions of this study will allow the population to be tracked, and will reveal shifts in abundance, structure and diversity. These results can also be shared with other seahorse monitoring organizations to increase the global understanding of the condition of seahorse populations, and allow for more targeted conservation efforts.