Seagrass in Talavera, Taganaan Surigao Del Norte, Philippines
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Seagrass and Seaweed Resources
The PCRA covered the assessment of seagrass beds in Sitio Look, Barangay Talavera, Taganaan, Surigao del Norte on October 25, 2012. Barangay Talavera is one of the 17 barangays of Taganaan, covered for the seagrass survey; however, due to typhoon Ofel, out of the two sampling sites identified, only one site was assessed.
The survey involved the use of the transect-quadrat method modified after English et. al (1997). Three transect lines were laid in the sampled site. Quadrats measuring 1m x 1m were sampled at 10m interval within the transect line. Seagrass and seaweed cover inside the 1m2 quadrat were scored based on percentage cover for each species. A GPS (Global Positioning System) position reading was taken at the beginning and end of each transect for later relocation.
Data on the species composition and relative abundance of seagrasses and seaweeds were obtained along three transects about 100 meters long. Estimates of percent cover of seagrass and seaweeds inside quadrats measuring 1m2 were recorded at 10m interval along the transect. Fish, invertebrates and other associated fauna were identified and recorded. Substrate type within each sample quadrat was also noted.
Seagrass ecosystems have very high primary productivity and play an important role in the food chain in the Philippine marine environment. It is this capacity which helps to support and provide nutrients and physical habitat to a variety of organisms. Seagrasses can grow quickly without fertilizers or modern cultivation techniques. Some species can grow as much as 8 cm/day (Fortes 1995). They also produce multiple crops (2-4 times annually). Their high productivity includes not only their own high growth rates but also the many small plants and other organisms that attach to their surfaces and live among them.
Species Composition
A total of six seaweed species corresponding to three groups of algae (Table 1) and three species of seagrass
Seagrass and Seaweed Resources
The PCRA covered the assessment of seagrass beds in Sitio Look, Barangay Talavera, Taganaan, Surigao del Norte on October 25, 2012. Barangay Talavera is one of the 17 barangays of Taganaan, covered for the seagrass survey; however, due to typhoon Ofel, out of the two sampling sites identified, only one site was assessed.
The survey involved the use of the transect-quadrat method modified after English et. al (1997). Three transect lines were laid in the sampled site. Quadrats measuring 1m x 1m were sampled at 10m interval within the transect line. Seagrass and seaweed cover inside the 1m2 quadrat were scored based on percentage cover for each species. A GPS (Global Positioning System) position reading was taken at the beginning and end of each transect for later relocation.
Data on the species composition and relative abundance of seagrasses and seaweeds were obtained along three transects about 100 meters long. Estimates of percent cover of seagrass and seaweeds inside quadrats measuring 1m2 were recorded at 10m interval along the transect. Fish, invertebrates and other associated fauna were identified and recorded. Substrate type within each sample quadrat was also noted.
Seagrass ecosystems have very high primary productivity and play an important role in the food chain in the Philippine marine environment. It is this capacity which helps to support and provide nutrients and physical habitat to a variety of organisms. Seagrasses can grow quickly without fertilizers or modern cultivation techniques. Some species can grow as much as 8 cm/day (Fortes 1995). They also produce multiple crops (2-4 times annually). Their high productivity includes not only their own high growth rates but also the many small plants and other organisms that attach to their surfaces and live among them.
Species Composition
A total of six seaweed species corresponding to three groups of algae (Table 1) and three species of seagrass