Sea-grass assessment and soil substrates along the coast of Barangay Union and Malinao, Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines

Paper Details

Research Paper 13/10/2023
Views (140) Download (30)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Sea-grass assessment and soil substrates along the coast of Barangay Union and Malinao, Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines

Jhondel P. Baranggan, Archie D. Cawaling, Aldwin Y. Sarmen, Mauricio S. Adlaon, Mariah Jay E. Escatron
J. Bio. Env. Sci.23( 4), 108-119, October 2023.
Certificate: JBES 2023 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

This research study comprehensively assessed seagrass characteristics using the transect quadrat method in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. Three 50 m transect lines and laid parallel, separated by a 25 m distance, and readings were taken using steel quadrats placed every 5 m along the transects. A total of 11 quadrats were laid in each transect, and five seagrass species were recorded: Cymodocea serrulata, Cymodocea rotundata, Thalassia hemprichii, Enhalus acoroides, and Halodule pinifolia.As displayed in Tables 2, 3, and 4, the outcomes showed the percentage of seagrass coverage in each quadrat and the corresponding seagrass species. The dominant species varied across the quadrats, highlighting the spatial variability in seagrass distribution. Transect 1 had the highest species richness, while Transect 3 exhibited the most dominance and evenness. The study also analyzed the substrate types in the site, including clay, silt, sand, gravel, and rock. The preference of seagrass species for coarse sand substrate was seen, while rocky substrates had minimal seagrass cover. Transect 3 predominantly featured a coarse sand substrate. The findings indicate that it is suggested to implement conservation and management measures to protect and preserve the seagrass ecosystems. Restoration efforts should be considered in areas with absent or poor seagrass coverage. The dominant seagrass species should receive special attention in conservation efforts. Long-term monitoring programs are crucial to track changes in seagrass coverage and species composition. Lastly, this research provides valuable insights into the seagrass characteristics and their interplay with substrate types in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. The findings contribute to the area’s understanding and conservation of seagrass ecosystems.

VIEWS 34

Agrawal A, Gopal K. 2013. Application of Diversity Index in Measurement of Species Diversity. In: Biomonitoring of Water and Wastewater. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0864-8_4

Brazas FP Jr, Lagat RD. 2022. Diversity, distribution, and habitat association of Seagrass in Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines. Journal of Ecosystem Science and Eco-Governance 4(Special Issue), 23-32(6). Retrieved from https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/366135298_Diversity_distribution_and_habitat_association_of_seagr

Calagui LB, Rosal JJ, Seronay RA, Calagui SIM. 2022. Inventory of fish fauna in Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape, Surigao del Norte, Philippines. Fisheries Research 251, 106325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2022.106325

Calumpong HP, Menez EG. 1997. Field guide to the common mangroves, seagrasses and algae of the Philippines pp. 183-187. Retrieved from https:// agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?record ID= US2 01300021635

Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 2016. Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Biodiversity Management Bureau (DAO 2016-26). bmb.gov.ph. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://www.bmb.gov.ph/index.php /resources/downloadables/laws-and-policies/denr-administrative-orders/dao-2007-2016

Dunic JC, Brown CJ, Connolly RM, Turschwell MP, Cote IM. 2021. Long-term declines and recovery of meadows area across the world’s seagrass bioregions. Global Change Biology 27, 4096-4109. https://d.org/10.1111/gcb.15684

Edgar GJ, Mukai H, Orth RJ. 2001. Fish, crabs, shrimps and other large mobile epibenthos. In G. P. Short, C. A. Short, & T. T. Gleason (Eds.), Global Seagrass Research Methods (pp. 255-270). DOI: 10.1016/B978-044450891-1/50014-1. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278718090_Fish_crabs_shrimps_and_other_large_mobile_es

Fortes MD. 1989. Seagrasses: A resource unknown in the ASEAN region. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, 5, 46. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication /39012908_Seagrasses_a_resource_unknown_in_the_ASEAN_region

Kuo J, den Hartog C. 2001. Seagrass taxonomy and identification key. In G. P. Short, C. A. Short, & T. T. Gleason (Eds.), Global Seagrass Research Methods (pp. 31-58). DOI: 10.1016/B978-044450891-1/50003-7. Retrieved from https://www.researc hgate.net /publication/278718099_Seagrass_t axo nomy _and_identification_key

McKenzie LJ. 2003. Guidelines for the rapid assessment and mapping of tropical seagrass habitats. Retrieved from https://www.seagrasswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Methods/manuals/PDF/SeagrassWatch_Mapping.pdf.

McKenzie LJ, Campbell SJ, Roder CA. 2001. Seagrass-Watch: Manual for Mapping & Monitoring Seagrass Resources by Community (citizen) volunteers. (QFS, NFC, Cairns) 100pp. Retrieved from https://www.seagrasswatch.org/manuals.html.

Potouroglou M. 2017. Assessing the role of intertidal seagrasses as coastal carbon sinks in Scotland (Doctoral dissertation). Edinburgh Napier University, School of Applied Sciences. Retrieved from https://www.napier.ac.uk/research-and-innov ation /research-search/phds/assessing-the-role-of-intertidal-seagrasses-as-coastal-carbon-sinks-in-

Rain R. 2022. Shannon Diversity Index Calculator. Omni Calculator. Retrieved May 24, 2023, from https://www.omnicalculator.com/ecology/shannon-index#:~:text=How%20to%20interpret%20the%20Shannon,is%20the%20number%20of%20species.

Reynolds PL, Duffy E, Knowlton N. 2018. Seagrass and Seagrass Beds. Smithsonian. Retrieved May 24, 2023, fromhttps://ocean.si.edu/ ocean-life /plants-algae/seagrass-and-seagrass beds#:~: text= Seagrasses%20can%20further%20improve%20water,acting%20as%20a%20nutrient%20pump.

Tanduyan SN, Andriano BT, Gonzaga RB. 2011. Species diversity of seagrasses in Camotes Islands, Central Philippines. In Biodiversity and Conservation Oral Presentation (pp. 203-206). San Francisco, Cebu, Philippines: Cebu Technological University. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf /12217684.pdf

Ulfah M, Fajri SN, Nasir M, Hamsah K, Purnawan S. 2019. Diversity, evenness and dominance index reef fish in Krueng Raya Water, Aceh Besar. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 348(1), 012074. https:// doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/348/1/012074

Wilson KL, Lotze HK. 2019. Climate change projections reveal range shifts of eelgrass Zostera marina in the Northwest Atlantic. Marine Ecology Progress Series 620, 47-62. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/26789823

Whiting D, Card A, Wilson C, Reeder JPhD. 2014. Colorado State University Extension. CMG Garden Notes #214: Estimating soil texture – sandy, loamy, or clayey. Retrieved from SOIL texture (studylib.net)