Baseline information of the benthic macroinvertebrates in the Tinabilan Marine Protected Area, Northwest Leyte as Bioindicators of Reef Health
Paper Details
Baseline information of the benthic macroinvertebrates in the Tinabilan Marine Protected Area, Northwest Leyte as Bioindicators of Reef Health
Abstract
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are established as a management strategy to protect plants and animals in the marine environment, particularly, coral reefs. Coral reefs primary inhabitants are composed of benthic macroinvertebrates which does not only provide huge economic impact to the community but act as bioindicators of reef health. In Tinabilan MPA, Northwest Leyte, no comprehensive and detailed study was conducted to determine the status of benthic macroinvertebrates in the newly-established MPA. Baseline reef macroinvertebrate assessment was done in identified permanent stations in the coral reef areas in the inside and outside portions of the MPA. The modified Reef Check methodology was used to determine the status, taxonomic composition and diversity of macroinvertebrates. Results showed that the reef macrobenthic invertebrates were in poor status dominated by several species of demosponges, asteroids, crinoids, and mollusks. The endangered gastropod species, Trochus niloticus, was recorded with several specimens in the area. The results of this study showed that strict implementation of protection and conservation should be imposed to improve the biodiversity and sustain the ecological balance in the coral reef ecosystem.
Adamska M. 2016. Sponges as models to study emergence of complex animals. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development 39, 21-28.
Alexander B. 2015. Cell turnover in marine sponges: insight into poriferan physiology and nutrient cycling in benthic ecosystems. Dissertation, University of Amsterdam
Allen VAH, Mourato S, Gulland EJM. 2017. Drivers of coral reef marine protected area performance. PLoS ONE 12(6), e0179394. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179394
Chong-Seng KM, Mannering TD, Pratchett MS, Bellwood DR, Graham NAJ. 2012. The influence of coral reef benthic condition on associated fish assemblages PLoS One 7(8), 1-10.
Coching JD, Lopez MRC, Montilijao CL, Paquibot MA. 2020. Manual on biophysical assessment of coastal and marine habitats. London, UK: ZSL.
Cooper TF, Gilmour JP, Fabricius KE. 2009. Bioindicators of changes in water quality on coral reefs: Review and recommendations for monitoring programmes Coral Reefs 28, 589-606
Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith, RD, Willis TJ, Kininmonth S, Baker SC, Banks S, 2014. Global Conservation outcomes depend on marine protected areas with five key features. Nature 506(7487), 216-220.
Groves CR, Game ET. 2016. Conservation planning: Informed decisions for a healthier planet. Greenwood Village, Colorado: Roberts and Company Publishers. ISBN: 978-1936221516.
Hopkins A. 2009. Marine invertebrates as indicators of reef health. Unpublished M.S. Thesis. Imperial College London, London, England.
Ibrahim S, Hussin WMRW, Kassim Z, Joni ZM, Zakari MZ, Hajisamae S. 2006. Seasonal abundance of benthic communities in coral areas of Karah Island, Terengganu, Malaysia. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 6, 129-136.
Kumar R, Nesemann H, Sharma G, Tseng LC, Prabhakar AK, Roy SP. 2013. Community structure of macrobenthic invertebrates in the River Ganga in Bihar, India. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 16(4), 385-394
Sale PF, Cowen RK, Danilowicz BS, Jones GP, Kritzer JP, Lindeman KC, Planes S, Polunin NVC, Russ GR, Sadovy YJ, Steneck RS. 2005. Critical science gaps impede use of no-take fishery reserves. Trends in Biology & Evolution 20, 74-80.
Tuang-tuang JG, Llana MAF, Mercado BE, Dimzon JC. 2018. Effects of Temperature to the Collector Urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) Two-Armed Larvae. Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 6, 27-34.
Tuang-tuang JG. 2021. Status of Scleractinian Corals and Reef-Associated Benthos in Tres Marias Islets, Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 18 (6), 1-7.
Wilkinson C, Green A, Almany J, Dionne S. 2003. Monitoring of Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas. Australian Institute of Marine Science and the IUCN Marine Program.
Worm B. 2006. Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services. Science 314, 787-790.
Jason G. Tuang-Tuang, 2022. Baseline information of the benthic macroinvertebrates in the Tinabilan Marine Protected Area, Northwest Leyte as Bioindicators of Reef Health. Int. J. Biosci., 21(5), 12-17.
Copyright © 2022 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.