Species composition of the macrofouling community in South Harbor, Manila Bay during the northeast monsoon period

Abstract

Manila Bay is one of the most important bodies of water in the Philippines due to its economic, industrial and ecological contributions. Within Manila Bay is Port of Manila which facilitates international logistics via its South Harbor. International vessels carry macrofoulers and introduce fouling organisms outside their native range. The non-indigenous species may pose harm to native fouler community and become invasive. This study assessed the species composition of the macrofouling community in South Harbor, Manila Bay during the northeast monsoon period. Nine fouler collectors, in each of the five sampling sites, were deployed in Manila Bay from Oct 2017 to Feb 2018. Three collection plates from each of the five sites were retrieved every month. Identification was carried out via morphological and DNA analysis. A total of 18,830 organisms were identified and classified to 17 families. For the first two months, Amphibalanus sp. was most abundant with relative abundances of 87% and 72% respectively. However, in the succeeding months, polychaetes became most abundant with relative abundances of 70% and 71% respectively. This shift in abundance ranks may be attributed to the density-dependent mortality observed within the barnacle population. Diversity and richness values across sites were observed to increase. This is a common trend in primary succession events. Evenness values were found to be low, indicating dominating taxa. The dominating taxa are Amphibalanus sp., and the polychaetes. Their dominance may be attributed to their life history pattern and strategies. New macrofoulers in Manila Bay are reported as well: Barbatia sp., Membranipora sp., a Stylochid flatworm, a Venerid clam, and Hesionid, Phyllodocid and Cirratulid polychaetes. Non-indigenous species were observed: Mytilopsis sp., Mytella charruana, Brachidontes sp., Hydroides sp. and Family Spionidae. These non-indigenous species may possibly be invasive and may alter the ecosystem of Manila Bay over time. It is then important to continue monitoring species composition of the fouling community in South Harbor, Manila Bay over time.

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Cruz, Jose Joachim G. Lim, Jerrold E.

Angiogenic effect of aqueous Eucalyptus deglupta leaf extracts on the chorioallantoic membrane of duck eggs

June 2016

Eucalyptus deglupta

Aqueous extracts from local plants, such as Eucalyptus deglupta, with anti-angiogenic properties can have therapeutic potential. To test for the angiogenic effect of E. deglupta leaf extracts on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in duck embryos, an infusion of five grams of leaves in 1 liter of distilled water was prepared. Test groups of eight-day old embryos were treated with different concentrations of the extract, namely: 0% (for the controls), 0.01%, 0.1% and 1%. At thirteen days of age, the duck embryos were examined for the extent of angiogenesis quantified through the use of a modified planimetric count method and fractal analysis of blood vessel branching with ImageJ software. Results showed that all embryos treated with E. deglupta have reduced angiogenic response compared to the untreated controls. The implication for the potential angiogenic suppression by E. deglupta particularly

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Afidchao, Schedyn Lizeth Del Rosario Mandi, Mikaella Roma

Effects of branded and generic glutathione capsules on the melanin content, liver histology, and fecundity of adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio hamilton 1822)

June 2019

Glutathione

Glutathione is popularly known for its anti-melanogenic properties despite not having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a skin-whitening agent. But it is endorsed as a supplement which acts as an antioxidant in the body. This study aimed to assess anti-melanogenic properties; effects on liver histology; and effects on fecundity of a branded and a generic glutathione supplement. There were three set-ups, control, branded, and generic groups. The control group were fed with untreated TetraMin™ fish flakes while the branded and generic groups were fed with TetraMin™ fish flakes mixed in with the equivalent amount of branded and generic glutathione, respectively, based on weight equal to the human dose of 1000 mg/day. Results showed that branded and generic glutathione had significant lower mean absorbance compared to the control group at 350 nm and 450 nm, branded being more effective than generic, except no significant difference between control and generic groups at 350 nm; no significant difference based on the NAFLD scoring was observed between liver sections of the three groups; and no significant difference was observed in terms of fecundity as well as no obvious difference in larval pigmentation at 72 hpf among the three groups. This investigation provides evidences of anti-melanogenic properties of branded and generic glutathione.