December 25, 2014

Comparative diversity analysis and species composition of seagrass and macroalgae along the intertidal zone of sarangani province, Philippines

Corresponding Author: Japhet M. Alima  japhetalima@yahoo.com
  • Japhet alima1, Blessie Justine Arellano1, Kim Menguita1, Marwan Omar1, Charlene Panolino1, Lorraine Par1, Trixie Joy Pilar1, Naica Amina Pundug1, Gerard Jay Suarez1, Jess Jumawan2
  1. Department of Science, Mindanao State University-General Santos City, Philippines
  2. Biology Division, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-General Santos City, Philippines
The study was carried out as an intensive sampling survey in the intertidal zones of Sarangani Province (Glan and Maasim), relying on the low tide to determine the total species number, relative species abundances, frequency and spatial distribution of seagrass.Eight Species of seagrasses andnineteen species of macroalgaewere gathered. These have been the sampling sites of researchers, most especially students, for its reputation of having diverse distribution of such aquatic plants. A total of fifty sampling plots were laid using quadrats; ten quadrats were arranged alternately with a five-meter disparity between each plot, placed perpendicularly to the shore. The study identified species of seagrass belonging to the family Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitaceae. Nineteen species of macroalgae were identified from where either seagrass was present or absent and categorized under the family of Dasycladaceae, Ulvaceae, Halimedaceae, Caulerpaceae, Dictyotaceae, Sargassaceae, Galaxauraceae, Wurdemanniaceae, Gelidiaceae, Gracilariaceae and Cryptonemiaceae.Seagrass. Biodiversity indices such as dominance, Shannon’s diversity, evenness, species richness and number of individuals were also determined using PAST software. Distribution analysis revealed the three highest number of species among the eightseagrass species wereEnhalusacoroides, Haloduleuninervis and Thalassiahemprichii-such werecommon in both sites. The Padina minor from the nineteen identified macroalgaespeciesin the algal community has the most number of species. There are great indications of seagrass and macroalgae presence with its distribution when proper sampling procedure is done. Researchers strongly recommend that physicochemical such salinity and sedimentation and also correlation on distribution of species be studied further.
Get full Article & download at Volume 5, Number 4, October 2014 – JBES

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