Ecological Status of Seagrass Beds in Barangay Subukin, San Juan, Batangas (2009)

Abstract

Seagrass communities are among the most ecosystems due to the predominance of seagrass and attached algal species that invariably support a wide array of animals. Despite assuming important ecological roles as natural filtering systems and as conduits for nutrient cycling, seagrass beds are highly threatened. In the Philippines, while seagrass have high seagrass species richness, seagrass ecosystems are also highly threatened attributed basically to anthropogenic activities. For this study, the ecological status of the seagrass beds in Barangay Subukin, San Juan, Batangas was determined. Three 50 meter transect lines were established perpendicular to shore, with the 0 m mark at the shoreline and the 50 m mark seaward. Transects were established 5 m apart from each other. Data on physico-chemical properties of water and substrate and vegetative population indices were taken at the 0 m, 25 m and 50 m marks of each transect line. Enhalus acoroides, Halodule uninervis and Halophila ovalis were identified. Enhalus was had the highest dominance, frequency, importance value. Halodule had the highest density. The study area was found to have moderate species diversity and low number of species. Associated fauna identified showed the seagrass beds were not in a pioneer stage. Physico-chemical analysis of the water and substrate in the study site showed values close to the standards for tropical seagrass ecosystems. Seagrass beds in Barangay Subukin, San Juan, Batangas are generally healthy and had undergone succession.