marine ecology

ASSESSMENT ON THE DIFFERENT MARINE COASTAL COMMUNITIES OF THE SELECTED AREAS IN NORTHERN MINDANAO*

*Arri Adajar*Galilea Balili*Yoradyl Benitez*Ronnel Brobo* Gerald Jhon Castaňeto*Phoebe Kate Decena*Mary Rose Esperanza* Debbie Ann Manlanat*Catherene Naval*Anne Xyza Pilayre* Marnelli Rubia*Khyteleene Santos

A report submitted in partial fulfillment for theMarine Ecology Laboratory Class – Bio 172.1Ms. Phoebe Jean Gayanelo, Instructor2nd Term, A.Y. 2009-2010

1 General Introduction

Bestowed with rich coastal resources among the 7, 107 islands, the Philippine archipelago have been long dependent on these resources. The richness of the coastal community entitled the country as the 2nd seagrass species richness in the world. The Philippine seagrass flora consists of 16 species, second only to Australia with 17 species out of the 50 total seagrass found throughout the world (Dizon, 2009). Among the eighty species of mangrove distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the planet, 50 species comprise the Philippine mangrove forests. The most common species includes that from genera Rhizopora, Avicenna, Bruguiera, Sonneratia and the Nypa (PCARRD, 1987). On the benthic profile, there are 3,967 coral species all over the Earth. Associated with the 381 coral species are the 1,030 recorded coral reef fishes species that ranked the country 2nd to the Great Barrier reef of Australia (Jimenez, 2009).

However, these coastal communities are threatened to human exploitation and to the brink of destruction. Aside from the raw materials such as for aesthetics, medicine, livestock, et cetera extracted from these communities, the fact that was regarded by most stakeholders is that of nature’s services the community can provide. Nature’s services include the cycle of nutrients such as hydrolic cycle (usually taken advantage for generating electricity) and most importantly the cleaning up of the geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Henceforth, this study was designed primarily to assess the diversity, species composition and species richness of the mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef (benthic) as well as the coral reel fishes and plankton community of the selected coastal areas in Northern Mindanao. This study greatly enhanced the students’ skills in performing the different task and analyzing the gathered data to made this paper possible.

2 PAPER 1

MANGROVE1 AND SEAGRASS2 COMMUNITY OF BRGY. TUBAJON, LAGUINDINGAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL

1 Galilea Balili*Yoradyl Benitez* Phoebe Kate Decena2 Arri Adajar*Khyteleene Santos

2.1 Introduction

The interdependence of one ecological community to the other has long been established (Molles, 2004). Generally in a coastal area, mangrove forest protects the seagrass beds and the coral reefs from direct strong water flow from the river system. Seagrass beds, on the other hand, increased the nutrient cycle to be readily available on the species of the adjacent coral reef.

Independently, mangrove forests are ecologically, economically and aesthetically important. They provide products needed for livelihood and survival of individual and communities such as food, firewoods, charcoal, timber, wood, chips for paper production, medical resources. They serve as nursery and spawning grounds for many economically and commercially important species of fishes and crustaceans, provide shelter and rest for wildlife, protect and stabilize coastal zone by reducing storm wind damage and by prevent erosion ().

As cited from Dizon (2009), the major functions of seagrasses were enumerated by Hemminga and Duarte (2000); stabilize and hold bottom sediments, retard water currents and waves promoting sedimentation of particulate matter and inhibiting resuspension of organic and inorganic matter; services as shelter and refuge for resident and transient adult and juvenile animals, many of which are commercial and recreational importance; feeding pathways for direct grazers; produce and trap detritus and secrete dissolved organic matter that tends to internalized nutrient cycling within the ecosystem. In addition, seagrass meadows account for 15% of the ocean’s total carbon storage.

The anticipated industrial progress of the Laguindingan Municipality of Misamis Oriental that starts from the establishment of an international airport might elicit ecological destruction in the near future. Assessment on the different ecological communities of the Municipality particularly on the coastal areas will provide baseline research for future used.

The main objective of this study was to determine the composition and abundance of mangroves and seagrasses in Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan Misamis Oriental. The determination of the different environmental parameters such as water temperature, DO, pH and salinity were also conducted.

2.2 Materials and Methods

2.2.1 Description of the Study Area

The study area is a shallow mangrove forest and mixed seagrass bed located in Punta Sulawan, Tubajon, Laguindingan (80 32.5’N, 1240 27.6’E), on the coast of Misamis Oriental. It is bounded by Bohol Sea on the north, Gitagum on the west and Alubijid on the south and east. It is a 29 kilometers west of Cagayan de Oro City and about 59 kilometers away from Iligan City. The site is about seven (7) kilometers from the national highway and has a white-sandy beach leading to a shallow seagrass beds.

The mangrove forest extends for about 4 km of the coast. The seagrass meadow has a very rich vegetative area that extends 800 m seaward. Its substratum is characterized as sandy, sandy-muddy, sandy-rubble and sandy-rocky. The area is relatively protected from waves and has prevailing quiet waters.

2.2.2 Mangrove Assessment

In the mangrove forest, three (3) transects of 20 m interval were established. Within a transect, a 10 x 10 m plot was laid. From the zero mark of the plot, which preferably starts from the coastal margin, mangrove species were counted and identified. Leaves and type of roots orientation were noted for identification of an unknown species.

2.2.3 Assessment of Seagrass

The assessment of seagrass was conducted using the transect-quadrat method. A marked-point was randomly selected and was set as Station A (coordinates). From Station A, a 15 m transect going seaward was laid, Station B (coordinates). Another 15 m transect from Station B going further to the sea was established, Station C (coordinates). For every station, a quadrat of 0.25m2 with 25 equally-spaced small squares was plotted.

The number of small squares within the quadrat where particular species had occurred was counted. A sample of each species was collected, sprinkled with 10% formalin and press-preserved for proper identification.

2.2.4 Species Identification

Mangrove species were identified following the taxonomic classification of Trono and Gravino (1998).Morphological characteristics of the seagrasses specimen were studied using a compound microscope and the species were identified through the taxonomic keys of Phillips and Meňez (1983) and Calumpong and Meňez (1997).

2.2.5 Environmental Parameters

The environmental parameters considered in this study, namely: surface water temperature, soil temperature, salinity, pH, dissolve oxygen (DO) and type of substratum were determined. The last two parameters were taken only from the later community.

Temperature, salinity and pH were measure using a thermometer, refractometer and pH paper strips, respectively. Mercury thermometer and the strips of pH paper were immersed in the water column for 1 minute. For soil temperature, the respective instrument was submerged to the soil for 2 minutes. A drop of surface seawater was placed on the lens of the Atago hand refractometer. A mean of 3 reading was collected

The DO was determined using the Winkler’s chemical titration following the methods suggested by Grasshoff et al (1999).

The type of substratum was determined in situ as sandy-muddy, sandy, sandy rubble, muddy, and sandy-rocky.

2.2.6 Data Interpretation

Several methods were employed to analyze the data obtained in this study. The following were:

1. Index of relative abundance (RA)2. Frequency (F) Computation3. Distribution of Seagrasses (Morisita’s Index, Ir)4. Index of Species Diversity (Shannon-Wiener Index, H’)5. Index of Dominance (D)6. Evenness Index (E)

See Appendix A.

2.3 Results and Discussion

2.3.1 Mangrove Community

Along the laid transect, only one genus was observed throughout the area; Rhizophora (Appendix B). Table 1 shows the relative abundance and distribution value of mangrove species in Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Table 2.1. Diversity Indices of the Mangrove Species in Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Genus Diversity Index Index Value

RhizophoraRelative Abundance, RA 100%

Morisita's Index, Ir 1.072*

*uniform distribution

The evidence that only the Rhizophora species was observed is its relative abundance value of 100%. Among the three quadrats laid, the occurrence of this species is 100% (Table 2). In addition, uniform distribution of the Rhizophora species was observed in the sampling areas. The possible reason of this event is that mangrove forest in Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental was a product of reforestation. Hence, the uniform distribution as well as 100% relative abundance of only one species from genus Rhizophora was observed.

The Evenness Index (E) show how the species abundances are distributed among the species. With regards to the mangrove community in Laguindingan, the evenness index shows that there is no dominant species since there was only one species of mangrove, the Rhizopora.

Table 2.2. Relatuve Abundance Observed in Each Quadrat.

Quadrat Number

Number of Individual Organism Belonging to the Genus Total Number

of OrganismsRhizophora Others

Quadrat 1 44 0 44Quadrat 2 29 0 29Quadrat 3 21 0 22

2.3.2 Seagrass Bed Community

2.3.2.1 Species Composition and Relative Abundance

From the laid transect in the coast of Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, there were four (4) seagrass species identified namely: Thalassia hemprichii, Enhalus acoriodes, Cymodocea serrulata, and Syringodium isoetifolium. The first two mentioned species belong to Family Hydrocharitaceae and the last were representative from Family Potamogetonaceae (Appendix C).

Odum (1971) emphasized the importance of relative abundance (RA) of a population which indicates how a population is changing. Among the species identified, Thalassia hemprichii had the highest relative abundance of 55.55% followed by Enhalus acoroides and Cymodocea serrulata with 29.63% and 11.11%, respectively (Table 1). Syringidium isoetifulium was the species with the lowest relative abundance of 3.20%. This trend was accounted to the fact that species grow on a certain substratum (Padla, 2001). The highest abundance of T. hemprichii could be explained by the occurrence of this species in all types of substrate observed in the different quadrats. E. acoroides was observed in areas with sandy-muddy and sandy substrate types. This idea was supported by Apao et al (1994) who reported that the presence and growth of Enhalus acoroides occur in areas adjacent to mangrove where silt are thick and waters are murky (as cited by Calarpa, 2001). Cymodocea serrulata were determined in areas with sandy and sandy-rubble substratum. The lowest abundance of Syringodium isoetifolium was due to its presence in only one substrate type, the sandy-rubble.

2.3.2.2 Species Richness, Diversity, Dominance, Evenness and Distribution of Seagrasses

Table 2 shows the values of the different measures of diversity for the seagrass community of Barangay Tubajon. The area had a moderate diversity of seagrasses having a species richness of four (4). However, it had high dominance index with high degree of evenness. Although the high dominance value of the area was mainly cause by the seagrass species, Thalassia hemprichii, this species doesn’t hinder the propagation of other seagrasses around the area. However, the type of distribution of seagrasses in Barangay Tubajon was random which was accounted to the type of substratum in the area (Table 1).

Table 2.3. Four species of seagrasses found in the intertidal zone of Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and their relative abundance in each substrate type.

Species Substrate Total Frequency Relative Abundance (%)

Thalassia hemprichiiSandy-muddy, sandy, sandy-rubble

30 55.55

Enhalus acoroides Sandy-muddy, sandy 16 29.63

Cymodocea serrulata Sandy, Sandy-rubble 6 11.11

Syringodium isoetifolium Sandy-rubble 2 3.7

Morisita’s IndexIr = 0.552 (random distribution)

Table 2.4. Species richness, diversity, dominance and evenness of seagrasses in Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan, Lanao del Norte.

Diversity Indices Index Value

Species Rishness (S) 4

Shannon-Wiener Index (H') 1.481

Dominance Index (D) 0.201

Evenness (E) 0.799

2.3.2.3 Environmental Parameters

The mean values of the environmental parameters measured in the area are shown in Table 3 (Appendix C).

Temperature is a critical factor that would affect plant growth, survival (Dizon, 2009) and distribution (Padla, 2001). As Responte (2009) pointed-out, temperature regulates the range of pH, dissolved Oxygen (DO), dissolve carbon dioxide (Collier, et al., nd), as well as salinity in the water column. High temperature enhances evaporation rate. The loss of water particles in the seawater will eventually saturate the salts dissolved in the sea, thus, reduces the concentration of dissolved gases particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide. The mean surface water temperature of the area was 28.44 0C which corresponds to the maximum temperature of open surface waters (Royle, 1972 as cited by Apao et al., 1994). As expected, surface water temperature was higher than the obtained mean soil temperature of 27.330C. This was due that surface waters are exposed to intense light.

Table 2.5. Mean values of the environmental parameters and type of substratum obtained in Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Temperature, 0C Salinity, ppt pH DO, ppm Subtrate

Water Soil

28.44 27.33 31 8.83 4.863

Sandy-muddySandy-rubble

Sandy

The more basic is the environment, the more favorable it is for the growth of organisms (Nybakken, 1988). The mean pH value of Barangay Tubajon was 8.83 indicating that the water was basic. This basicity could be due to the inputs of nutrients that have alkali properties such as phosphates, nitrate and nitrites from domestic waste. The presence of numerable household and cottages near the coast might be the contributing sources.

The average salinity was 31 ppt which was close to the normal salinity of the seawater of 33 ppt (Nybakken, 1988). As for the dissolved oxygen (DO), the mean value was 4.863 ppm which falls within the normal value set by DENR in coastal water (DAO34, 1990 as cited by Dizon, 2009). The type of substratum in Tubajon ranges from sandy-muddy, sandy-rubble to sandy.

2.3.2.4 Partial Correlation

Table 4 shows the partial correlation of the frequency of seagrasses and the environmental parameters was computed using the Pearson Rho (r) Correlation through a calculator which has a linear regression function.

Table 2.6. Correlation of the frequency of seagrasses and the different environmental parameter readings using the Pearson Rho (r) formula.

Parameters r Values RelationshipWater Temperature 0.642 moderateSoil Temperature 0.027 negligibleSalinity 0.633 moderatepH 0.767 high

DO 0.791 high

The different environmental factors measured in Barangay Tubajon, all (water temperature, soil temperature, salinity, pH and DO) showed a direct relationship to the population of the seagrasses. Dissolve oxygen (DO) and pH showed high direct correlation to the seagrass frequency. Surface water

temperature and salinity had positive moderate association while the soil temperature, although positive, had negligible relationship to the population of the seagrasses.

The results described the influence of a certain environmental parameters to the population of the seagrasses in Barangay Tubajon. The positive correlation, generally, means that any increase among the physico-chemical parameters especially pH and DO has an influence on the increase of seagrasses population. However, the effect of soil temperature is considered to be insignificant.

2.4 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

Only one mangrove species of the genus Rhizophora was observed in the area. The occurrence of only one species and the uniform distribution of the mangrove might be due to reforestation by the establishment or enactment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) Program in Barangay Tubajon.

The seagrass community in Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental was assessed using the line transect-quadrat method. Several parameters were determined: species composition, relative abundance, species richness, diversity, dominance, evenness and distribution of seagrasses. Some environmental parameters such as surface water temperature, soil temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and substratum type were also measured.

The results showed that there are four (4) species of seagrasses that occurred in the area namely: Thalassi hemprichii, Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea serrulata and Syringodium isoetifolium. Among the species identified, T. hemprichii was the most abundant followed by E. acoroides and C. serrulata while S. isoetifolium had the lowest abundance. The area had a moderate diversity of seagrasses with high degree of dominance and high degree of evenness. In addition, the coast of Barangay Tubajon exhibited a random type of seagrass distribution.

Among the environmental parameters measured, changes of soil temperature had the positive but considered negligible effect on the population of seagrasses. The pH and DO, on the other hand, were the factors that will greatly influence the seagrass frequency.

A thorough or wide-area range assessment on the seagrass community of Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental will provide more details on the status of the area. This will then served as baseline for drafting a coastal management plan.

2.5 References Cited

Dizon, 2009. Seagrass Community Structure of Barangay Buru-un, Iligan City. MSU-IIT.

Jimenez, B.D. 2009. Lecture Notes: Marine Resource Management (Bio 174/MRM). MSU-IIT. Iligan City.

Responte, J.A. 2008. Lecture Notes: Oceanography (Ocea 101). MSU-IIT. Iligan City.

2.6 Appendices

Appendix A

Several methods were used in order to analyze the data that were collected. It includes the following procedure given by Odum (1971).

1. Index of relative abundance (RA)RA (%) = (ni/N) x 100

Where: ni = number of individuals of speciesN = total number of all individuals

2. Frequency (F) CmputationF= j/K

Where: F= frequency of species 1…species nJ= no. of smaller square occupied by species 1…species nK= total number of small squares in the quadrat

3. Morisita’s Index (Ir)Ir = {[Ni (Ni – 1)]/n (n – 1)} x N

Where: Ni = frequency of seagrasses in each transectn = total frequency of seagrasses in all transectssN= number of transect

Result Interpretation: a.) Ir < 1, random dispersion b.) Ir > 1, aggregated or dumped dispersion c.) Ir = 1, uniform distribution 4. Index of Species Diversity (Shannon-Wiener Index, H’)

This determines the average uncertainty per species in an infinite community made up of (S) species with known proportional abundances.

H’=-(ni/N)log(ni/N) or -Pi log Pi

Where: ni=importance value (i.e. frequency)N=total importance value (i.e. total frequency of all species)Pi=importance probability of each species=ni/N

Interpretation of results:

a. 0.0- 1.0, less diversityb. 1.0-2.0, moderate diversityc. 2.0-3.0, high diversity

5. Index of Dominance (D)

D=1-E

Where: E=evenness value

6. Evenness Index (E)

This refers to how the species abundance (i.e. the number of individuals, frequency, etc.) is distributed among the species.

E=H’/(logS)Where: H’=Shannon index

S=number of species

Interpretation of results:

a. 0.0-0.5, low degree of evennessb. 0.5-1.0, high degree of evenness

Appendix B

A photographic illustration and taxonomic list of mangrove found in Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental with their morphological descriptions based on who and who, (1983, 1997).

Genus: Rhizophora

Morphological characteristics:

Grows 15-25m tall; Stilt roots emerging in Arches from the lower trunk and the prop roots may grow downwards from the branches. Tiny lack spots on the underside of the leaf. Flower inflorescence long slender and yellow. No scent or fragrance, wind-pollinated.

Rhizophora Mangarove Forest

Appendix C

A photographic illustration and taxonomic list of seagrasses found in Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental with their morphological descriptions (based on Phillips and Meňez, 1983, 1997).

Family: Hydrocharitacea

Scientific Name: Thalassia hemprichii


These are moderately sized plants with rhizomes of 2-4 mm in diameter. The roots are clothed with dense hair-like laterals, one per node, if present. Erect shoots are sparsely distributed along the rhizomes; Leaf blades are linear and distinctly scythe-shaped (particularly in less grazed areas), 4-10 mm wide, 7-40 cm long (commonly less than margins). Each leaf has 10-16 serves connected by cross veins, the median serve often conspicuous.

Thalassia hemprichii

Family: Hydrocharitacea

Scientific Name: Enhalus acoroides


Rhizome up to 1.5 cm wide, densely clothed with the persistent fibrous strands of decayed leaves. Roots numerous, not branches, 10-20 cm long, 3-5 mm wide. Leaves 30-150 cm long, 1.25-1.75 cm wide.

Family: Pomatogetonaceae

Scientific Name: Cymodocea serrulata


Rhizome internodes 2-5.5 cm long; nodes each with 2-3 roots and a leafy shoot. Leaf sheath 1.5-3 cm long, shed entirely which leaves a circular scar on the stem. Leaf blade 6-15 cm long, 4-9 mm wide; 13-17 veins.

Family: Pomatogetonaceae

Scientific Name: Syringodium isoetifolium


Rhizome internodes 1.5-3.5 cm long; nodes each with short shoot and 1-3 roots. Leaf sheath 1.5-4 cm long. Leaf blade 1-30 cm long, 1 mm wide; 7-10 pericentral veins.

Enhalus acoroides

Cymodocea serrulata

Syringodium isoetifolium

3 PAPER 2

BENTHIC1 AND FISH CORAL REEF2 COMMUNITY OF DUKA

1 Gerald Jhon Castaňeto*Catherene Naval2 Debbie Ann Manlanat*Anne Xyza Pilayre*Marnelli Rubia

3.1 Introduction

Another interdependence of community was observed in the coral reef to reef fishes interactions. Benthic life forms includes the reef and non-reef forming corals. Dominantly, reef forming corals are of great economical, aesthetic and ecological value. Although coral reefs occupy less than one percent of the surface area of the world oceans, this community provides a home for 25 percent of all marine fish species. Reef habitats are a sharp contrast to the open water habitats that make up the other 99% of the world oceans (Jimenez, 2009).

Occupying a sandy shore and part of a hill, Duka Bay Resort is soothingly shaded by a cluster of large ancestral trees. Only a few meters from the shore is swarming coral community inhabited by colorful, tropical fish, and punctuated occasionally by a streak of turtles.

This study aims to estimate the variety of benthic life forms and reef fishes found in Duka Bay Resort. The information gathered reflects the health of the fish stocks within the coral reef area of Duka Bay Resort.


3.2.1 Benthic Assessment

After all the SCUBA gears were checked, the boat headed to the Duka Bay’s Paradise Garden Reef for the Light Intercept Transect activity. Divers were carrying their slate boards and pencils for the data gathering. For safety purposes, it was done in buddy system.

Using a calibrated fiber glass measuring tape, a 40feet or 1219.2cm distance was laid down so that the benthic life covers would be measured. Measurements of each benthic life form category were recorded. Identification of benthic life form was based on the general instructions of English et al (1997).

3.2.2 Fish Visual Census

Visual census was conducted in Duka Bay, Medina, Misamis Oriental to view the different species of fish present in the area through scuba diving. A 25 meters line intercept transect (LIT) was established using a tape measure at depth of 25 feet. The observer swam randomly around the LIT to record as many fish species as possible using the slate board. The survey was limited to the specific area to determine the species richness. Identification was cited in www.fishbase.org .


3.3.1 Benthic Life Form

Result shows that most of the benthic covers seen were in the form of soft sub-massive corals or in their growing stage because Paradise Garden Reef is under rehabilitation (Table 3.1).

Table 3.1 Estimation of the Benthic Life Form in Duka Bay, Medina, Misamis Oriental.

Distance, inches Benthic Life Form

0-15 Rock

15-97 Sand

97-133 Branching Acropora

133-1219.2 Soft sub-massive corals

3.3.2 Coral Reef Fishes

Among the three families which were Acanthuridae, Caesionedae and Pomancentridae, it was the Pomacentridae which has 9 species were considered having the highest number of species diversity within the LIT (Table 3.2).

The Family Acanthuridae or the thorn tail is the family of surgeonfishes, tang, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 80 species in six genera, all of which are marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular for aquaria. Family Caesionedae , the fusilier fishes are fishes in the order Perciformes. They are related to the snappers, but adapted for feeding on plankton, rather than on larger prey. And Family Pomacentridae is a family of perciform fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. They are primarily marine, with a few species found infreshwater and brackish environments (e.g., Neopomacentrus aquadulcis, N.

http://www.fishbase.org/

taeniurus, Pomacentrus taeniometopon, Stegastes otophorus). They are noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality. Many are brightly colored, so they are popular in aquaria.

Table 3.2 Identification of the Coral Reef Fishes of Duka Bay, Medina, Misamis Oriental.

FAMILY SCIENTIFIC NAME LOCAL NAME

Acanthuridae

Acanthurus lineatus Lapus-lapus

Acanthurus mata Saplan

Acanthurus triostegus Sindanga

Caesionedae Caesio striata Dalagang Bukid

Pomacentridae

Abudefduf vaigiensis Kikiringan

Amphirion clarkii Black Clownfish

Chrysiptera tricinctaThreeband damselfish

Chrysiptera brownriggii Surge damselfish

Abudefduf bengalensis Kapal

Acanthochromis polyacanthus Palata

Amphiprion percula Bantay bot-bot

Amblygobius nocturnus Bia

Calotomus carolinus Mulmol

Unfortunately, sizes and number of the fishes seen were not recorded due to the high turbidity and high speed of current of the water during the census.

See Appendix A for photographic illustrations of the fishes.

3.4 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

The dominant soft-bottom coral observed in are suggested that the coral reef is under rehabilitation. Of the fish species in the Duka Bay, species from family Pomacentridae was of dominant occurrence.

Underwater fish visual census provides information as to what species of reef fishes are found in Duka Bay Resort. The use of this method can also provide responses to questions raised during further assessment of the coral reefs in Duka Bay Resort. It is recommended that Fish Visual Census should be done when water is clear and calm to ensure adequate information.

In addition, wider assessment of the area will surely provide a general scope on the status of the community.

3.5 References Cites

English et al. 1997.


Labrosse, Pierre. 2002. Underwater visual fish census sur veys: Proper use and implementation by Pierre Labrosse, Michel Kulbicki and Jocelyne Ferraris.Secretariat of the Pacific Community Noumea, New Caledonia.

Sale, P. F. 1980, 'The ecology of fishes on coral reefs', Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev.18:367-421.

Thresher, R. E. and Gunn, J. S. 1986, 'Comparative analysis of visual census techniques for highly mobile, reef-associated piscivores (Centrachidae)', Environ. Biol. Fish., 17:93116.

http://www.aims.gov.au/source/research/monitoring/sops/sop03.pdf

http://www.spc.int/coastfish/sections/reef/react/downloads/uvc_en.pdf

3.6 Appendices

http://www.spc.int/coastfish/sections/reef/react/downloads/uvc_en.pdf

http://www.aims.gov.au/source/research/monitoring/sops/sop03.pdf

Appendix AA photographic illustration of the coral reef species observed in Duka Bay, Medina, Misamis

Oriental was based on the taxonomic classification of www.fishbase.org .

Family: Acanthuridae

Acanthurus lineatus Acanthurus mata Acanthurus triostegus

Family: Caesionedae

Caesio striata

Family: Pomacentridae

Abudefduf vaigiensis Amphiphrion clarkia Chrysiptera tricinta

http://www.fishbase.org/

Chrysiptera brownriggii Abudefduf bengalensis Acanthochromis polyacanthus

Amphriprion percula Amblygobius nocturnus Calotomus carolinus

4 PAPER 3

Plankton Community of Barangay Dalipuga, Iligan City1

1 Mary Rose Esperanza*Ronnel Brobo

4.1 Introduction

A complex variety of environment for living organisms are provided by the oceans and coastal seas of the world. One of the communities in the ocean is the plankton community, which are inhabited by plankton. Plankton are tiny organisms that float or drift in the ocean. They serve as an important food source for many other animals, including the giant blue whale. Although they come in many shapes and sizes, all plankton are heavier than water. Consequently, they have different adaptations that prevent them from sinking, such as a small body size or a long, thin flattened shape. Many plankton also have long spines or projections that increase drag in the water. Several plankton even contain small amounts of oil. Since oil is lighter than water, it helps the plankton stay afloat. Some plankton, called phytoplankton, use energy from the sun to make their own food in a process called photosynthesis. If these plankton sink too far down in the water they will not obtain enough sunlight. However, they cannot float too close to the water's surface or they will become too warm. Other plankton, called

zooplankton, feed on the phytoplankton. These plankton must stay suspended in the same part of the water column as their food supply.

Plankton also depend on the upwelling of nutrients (such as iron) from the cold dense water near the ocean floor. Under normal circumstances, this cold water layer periodically mixes with the warmer layers above it, bringing important nutrients to the zone where the plankton live. However, when the surface of the ocean heats up, this water becomes less dense and separates from the cold nutrient-rich layer below. Evidence suggests that plankton populations will decline as the Earth's ocean surfaces warm. When plankton populations decline, the animals that depend on these organisms for food will also be impacted.

This study was designed to primarily determine the zooplankton composition and relative abundance of groups at different time intervals of Barangay Dalipuga, Iligan City. The environmental parameters of the area such as surface water temperature, pH, salinity and total suspended solids were determined.


Towing of Plankton net

A plankton net with a mouth diameter of 12cm and a length of 28cm was used. At the bottom of the net an improvised sinker was placed. Vertical towing was done at about 5 meters depth for 2 minutes.

Collection of Samples

The samples were placed in a 500mL container. It was added with 5mL of 10% buffered formalin. The samples were brought to the laboratory for identification of different species of plankton.


The zooplankton collected from Barangay Dalipuga, Iligan City was identified up to phyla level only (Table 4.1).

There were seven (7) phyla of zooplankton recorded. Copepods, represented by calanoids and cyclopoids, were observed to be dominant and relatively abundant which contribute to at least 30% of the total population density throughout the entire sampling time. Abundance of zooplankton at different time intervals has a significant difference.

All throughout the sampling duration, species from phylum Arthropoda showed the highest abundance of 13 cells/ 100 ml; followed by the species such as ostracods and Cladocera of phylum Crustacea (12 cells/100 ml). Phylum Mollusca composed of gastropod and bivalve veliger ranked third with 11 cells/100 ml abundance. No significant difference of the temporal composition was observed in the samples collected.

The physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH and turbidity (TSS) observed in the area did not vary much with the entire sampling period with respect to sampling time. Parameters across sampling time were not correlated because of similarity in the range values (Table 4.2).

Table 4.1 Abundance of Zooplankton Collected from Brgy. Dalipuga, Iligan City.

Phylum Grand Mean (cells/100 mL)

Arthropoda 13

Annelida 6Cnidaria 4Mollusca 11

Sarcomastigophora (foraminiferans) 5

Ciliophora 0

Chordata (fish eggs) 4

Echinodermata 0

Platyhelminths 0

Crustacea (ostracods and Cladocera) 13

Table 4.2 Physico-chemical Profile of Brgy. Dalipuga, Iligan City

Time Temperature, 0C Salinity, ppt pH TSS, mg/L

12:00 Noon 32-33 28-30 8.2-8.4 .09-.18

6:00 PM 30-32 29-31 7.8-8.2 0.09-0.17

4.4 Summary, Conclusion and recommendation

Among the phylum identified, Arthropods which includes copepod has the highest number since copepods are said to be abundant near coastal areas. During noon time copepods rises at the surface of the water to utilized sunlight and also vertical mixing is frequent in the coastal area because the water is shallow and can easily be mixed.

4.5 References Cites


Documents

marine ecology