Challenge 04: Develop a sustainable and equitable ocean economy

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Ocean Decade

Challenge 04:
Develop a sustainable and equitable ocean economy

Generate knowledge, support innovation and multi-sectoral partnerships and develop solutions for equitable, resilient and sustainable development of the ocean economy under changing environmental, social and climate conditions.

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Spatial planning insights for Philippine coral reef conservation using larval connectivity networks
Pata, Patrick R.; Yñiguez, Aletta T. (Frontiers Media SA, 2021-10-06)
The marine habitats of the Philippines are recognized to be some of the most biodiverse systems globally yet only 1.7% of its seas are designated as marine protected areas (MPAs) with varying levels of implementation. Many of these MPAs were established based on local-scale conservation and fisheries objectives without considering larger-scale ecological connections. The connectivity of reefs through larval dispersal is important in the regional-scale resilience against anthropogenic disturbances and is considered a significant criterion in planning for MPAs. In this study, we provide insights into the delineation of ecologically connected MPA networks using larval dispersal modeling and network analysis. We characterized the network properties of the Philippine coral reefs, organized as 252 reef nodes, based on the larval connectivity networks of a branching coral, sea urchin, and grouper. We then evaluated the distribution of the existing 1,060 MPAs relative to the connectivity patterns. All reef nodes were found to be highly interconnected with a mean shortest path ranging from 1.96 to 4.06. Reef nodes were then ranked according to their relative importance in regional connectivity based on five connectivity indices. Despite the between-organism and between-index variability in rankings, there were reefs nodes, mostly located offshore and at major straits, which consistently ranked high. We found that the distribution of existing MPAs partially capture some of the regional connectivity functions but there is a spatial mismatch between the primarily coastal MPAs and the high-ranking reef nodes. Furthermore, network partitioning identified subnetworks and dispersal barriers. The existing MPAs were found to be disproportionately distributed to a few subnetworks and that the largest subnetworks do not contain the greatest number of MPAs. Considering these gaps, we suggest expanding the coverage of protected areas especially in underrepresented reef networks to meaningfully capture national-scale connectivity and meet global conservation objectives.
We would like to thank Dr. Vera Horigue and Andrew Torres for constructive comments and suggestions during the early versions of this paper. We also thank the members of the Biological Oceanography and Modeling of Ecosystems (BiOME) Laboratory who assisted in running model simulations.
Growth, nitrate uptake kinetics, and biofiltration potential of eucheumatoids with different thallus morphologies
Narvarte, Bienson Ceasar V.; Genovia, Tom Gerald T.; Hinaloc, Lourie Ann R.; Roleda, Michael Y. (Wiley, 2021-12-30)
The declining production of commercially important eucheumatoids related to serious problems like increasing susceptibility to ice‐ice disease and epiphytism may be ameliorated by nutrition. This ushered to an increasing interest in incorporating seaweeds into an integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture (IMTA) setup to take up excess inorganic nutrients produced by fish farms for their nourishment. In this regard, it is important to understand the nutrient uptake capacity of candidate seaweeds for incorporation in an IMTA system. Here, we examined the growth, nitrate (NO3‐) uptake kinetics and biofiltration potential of Eucheuma denticulatum and three strains of Kappaphycus alvarezii (G‐O2, TR‐C16 and SW‐13) with distinct thallus morphologies. The NO3‐ uptake rates of the samples were determined under a range of NO3‐ concentration (1‐ 48 µM) and uptake rates were fitted to the Michaelis‐Menten saturation equation. Among the examined eucheumatoids, only SW‐13 had a linear response to NO3‐ concentration while other strains had uptake rates that followed the Michaelis‐Menten saturation equation. Eucheuma denticulatum had the lowest Km (9.78 ± 1.48 µM) while G‐O2 had the highest Vmax (307 ± 79.3 µmol · g‐1 · min‐1). The efficiency in NO3‐ uptake (highest Vmax/Km and α) was translated into the highest growth rate (3.41± 0.58 % · d‐1) measured in E. denticulatum. Our study provided evidence that eucheumatoids could potentially take up large amount of NO3‐ and fix CO2 when cultivated proximate to a fish farm as one component of an IMTA system. During a 45‐d cultivation period of eucheumatoids, as much as 370 g NO3‐ can be sequestered by every 1 kg initial biomass E. denticulatum growing at 3% · d‐1. Furthermore, based on our unpublished photosynthetic measurements, the congeneric K. striatus can fix 27.5 g C · kg‐1 DW during a 12‐h daylight period.
Two hidden mtDNA-clades of crown-of-thorns starfish in the Pacific Ocean
Yasuda, Nina; Inoue, Jun; Hall, Michael R.; Nair, Manoj R.; Adjeroud, Mehdi; Fortes, Miguel D.; Nishida, Mutsumi; Tuivavalagi, Nat; Ravago-Gotanco, Rachel; Forsman, Zac H.; Soliman, Taha; Koyanagi, Ryo; Hisata, Kanako; Motti, Cherie A.; Satoh, Noriyuki (Frontiers Media SA, 2022-04-27)
Recurring outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) severely damage healthy corals, especially in the Western Pacific Ocean. To obtain a better understanding of population genetics of COTS and historical colonization across the Pacific Ocean, complete mitochondrial genomes were sequenced from 243 individuals collected in 11 reef regions. Our results indicate that Pacific COTS (Acanthaster cf. solaris) comprise two major clades, an East-Central Pacific (ECP) clade and a Pan-Pacific (PP) clade, separation of which was supported by high bootstrap value. The ECP clade consists of COTS from French Polynesia, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The Hawaii population is unique within this clade, while California COTS are included in EPC clade. On the other hand, the PP clade comprises multiple lineages that contain COTS from Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, GBR, Vanuatu, Fiji and French Polynesia. For example, a lineage of the PP clade, which has the largest geographic distribution, includes COTS from all of these locations. These results suggest two alternative histories of current geographic distributions of COTS in the Pacific Ocean, an ECP clade ancestry or Western Pacific clade ancestry. Although further questions remain to be explored, this discovery provides an evolutionary context for the interpretation of COTS population structure which will aid future coral reef research in the Pacific Ocean, and ultimately improve reef management of COTS.
We thank the following people for their help with sample collection: Dr. Hugh Sweatman and the AIMS Bioresources Library for GBR samples, Dr. Molly Timmers for Hawaiian samples, Geoff Jones and Jeff Kinch for Papua New Guinean samples, Monal Lal for Fijian samples, Christina Shaw for Vanuatu samples, Hoang Dinh Chieu for Vietnamese samples, and Hiromitsu Ueno for Japanese samples. The DNA Sequencing Section and IT section of OIST are acknowledged for its expert help with genome sequencing and bioinfomatic analysis. Last, but not least, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands and sea country on which this research took place.
Anti-inflammatory activity of monosubstituted xestoquinone analogues from the marine sponge Neopetrosia compacta
Susana, Shalice R.; Salvador-Reyes, Lilibeth A. (MDPI, 2022-03-22)
Chronic inflammation is recognized as a contributor to multiple chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and autoimmune disorders. Here, a natural products-initiated discovery of anti-inflammatory agents from marine sponges was undertaken. From the screening of 231 crude extracts, a total of 30 extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity with no direct cytotoxic effects at 50 μg/mL on RAW 264.7 (ATCC®TIB-71™) murine macrophage cells stimulated with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Bioactivity-guided purification of the anti-inflammatory extract from the sponge Neopetrosia compacta led to the isolation of xestoquinone (1), adociaquinone B (2), adociaquinone A (3), 14-hydroxymethylxestoquinone (4), 15-hydroxymethylxestoquinone (5), and an inseparable 2:1 mixture of 14-methoxyxestoquinone and 15-methoxyxestoquinone (6). Compounds 1–6 caused a concentration-dependent reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, with 4–6 having low micromolar IC50 and acceptable selectivity index. Gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR showed that 1, 5, and 6 downregulated Il1b and Nos2 expression by 2.1- to 14.8-fold relative to the solvent control at 10 μM. Xestoquinone (1) and monosubstituted analogues (4–6), but not the disubstituted adociaquinones (2 and 3), caused Nrf2 activation in a luciferase reporter MCF7 stable cells. Compounds 5 and 6 caused a modest increase in Nqo1 gene expression at 10 μM. The anti-inflammatory activity of xestoquinone (1) and monosubstituted analogues (4–6) may, in part, be mediated by Nrf2 activation, leading to attenuation of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β and NOS2.
Samples were collected under gratuitous permit numbers GP-0084-15 and GP-0123-17, issued by the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines. We thank the municipalities of Bolinao, Pangasinan, and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro for permission for sample collection. We acknowledge assistance from Z. L. Malto and DDHP chemical ecology group in obtaining the mass spectrometric data and sample collection, respectively.
A benefit-cost comparison of varying scales and methods of coral reef restoration in the Philippines
Abrina, Tara Alessandra S.; Bennett, Jeff (Elsevier, 2021-12)
The slow rate of recovery in some reefs around the Philippines has prompted the widespread investment in active reef restoration in the country. However, from the point of view of society, these different coral reef restoration investments have not yet been fully compared in a benefit-cost analysis. In this paper, the economic efficiencies of four coral reef investments are compared – at two different scales (local and national) and two different technologies (‘coral gardening’ and ‘mass larval enhancement’). The values are derived from a previous valuation study that used the Choice Modelling method of estimating non-market values of coral reef restoration. The capacity of these values to facilitate comparisons among reef investments is thus assessed in this paper. Based on predictions from reef restoration scientists the Philippines, the mass larval enhancement investments are estimated to produce higher net benefits and benefit-cost ratios compared to those of coral gardening. In terms of scale, higher net social outcomes for the local-scale investments support more localized approaches to coral restoration.
The complete mitochondrial genome of a wild-collected Kappaphycus malesianus (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta)
Crisostomo, Bea A.; Dumilag, Richard V.; Roleda, Michael Y.; Lluisma, Arturo O. (Taylor & Francis, 2023-03-04)
Kappaphycus malesianus is a red seaweed farmed primarily for its carrageenan, a polysaccharide important in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Among the commercially cultivated Kappaphycus species, only K. malesianus has no mitogenome data available. Here, we assembled the mitochondrial genome of K. malesianus from next-generation sequencing data. The circular mitogenome consisted of 25,250 base pairs (bp) with a GC content of 30.25%. These values were comparable to previously sequenced solieriacean mitogenomes. Structural features, such as the stem-loop and hairpin, which were previously reported in other rhodophytes mitochondrial DNA, were also identified. The annotated genes (24 protein-coding genes, 24 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes) were arranged in an order similar to the other available solieriacean mitogenomes. Lastly, phylogenetic analysis using 23 predicted protein domains showed the sister relationship of K. malesianus with other Kappaphycus species.
The authors are grateful to Z.-Z. Aguinaldo, S. Damsik, and J. Turong for aiding during laboratory and field works. The authors also acknowledge the LGU of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi for granting permission for the collection activities. This is contribution no. 495 from the University of the Philippines the Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), Diliman, Quezon City.
Strong genetic structure and limited gene flow among populations of the tropical seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the Philippines
Nakajima, Yuichi; Matsuki, Yu; Fortes, Miguel D.; Uy, Wilfredo H.; Campos, Wilfredo L.; Nadaoka, Kazuo; Lian, Chunlan (MDPI AG, 2023-02-05)
Seagrasses are marine angiosperms, and seagrass beds maintain the species diversity of tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems. For proper understanding, management and conservation of coastal ecosystems, it is essential to understand seagrass population dynamics. Population genetic studies can cover large geographic scales and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of reproductive dynamics and potential dispersal among locations. The clonal and genetic diversity and genetic connectivity of Thalassia hemprichii in the Philippines were estimated by a population genetics approach. The geographic scale of this study has a direct distance of approximately 1600 km. Although high clonal diversity was found in some sites (R = 0.07–1.00), both sexual and asexual reproduction generally maintains separate populations. Genetic diversity is not definitely correlated with latitude, and genetic differentiation is significant in all pairs of sites (FST = 0.026–0.744). Complex genetic structure was found in some regions, even at a fine geographic scale. The migration of fruits and seedlings was elucidated as an infrequent and stochastic event. These results suggest the necessity for the conservation of this species due to a deficiency in migrants from external regions.
We thank members of CECAM project.
Emerging pharmaceutical contaminants in key aquatic environments of the Philippines
Mariano, Shyrill Mae F.; Angeles, Luisa F.; Aga, Diana S.; Villanoy, Cesar L.; Jaraula, Caroline Marie B. (Frontiers Media SA, 2023-09-13)
Pharmaceuticals in natural waters are considered emerging pollutants due to their low concentrations and the negative effects they pose to the environment. Common sources of such pollutants include untreated wastewater from hospitals, residential, industrial, and agricultural sources. Many wastewater treatment methods only remove a subset of all pharmaceuticals from the wastewater; remaining pharmaceuticals are discharged into natural waters, and ultimately drain into coastal areas. Regions without proper wastewater treatment are especially susceptible to such contamination. This study deals with the distribution, sources, and seasonal variability of pharmaceuticals in key aquatic systems in the Philippines. Two watershed continuums (Davao Gulf, Davao City; Macajalar Bay, Cagayan de Oro City); two tourist areas (Boracay Island, Aklan; Mabini, Batangas); and one pristine atoll (Tubbataha Reefs, Palawan)—all with varied prevailing human population pressures—were studied. Samples of hospital wastewater as well as groundwater, surface and bottom water samples from rivers and coastal seas collected during dry and wet seasons were analyzed using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Thirty-four target pharmaceutical residues and antibiotics were extracted and quantified. Acetaminophen was detected at concentrations of up to 289.17 ppb in freshwater samples, and at concentrations of up to 253.39 ppb in seawater samples. Ubiquitous to all the sites was caffeine, reaching 1848.57 ppb. Sulfamethazine, a commonly used veterinary antibiotic, was detected at 764.91 ppb in a river site in Cagayan de Oro. Untreated hospital wastewater contained metformin, iopamidol, sulfamethoxazole, acetylsulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin, but these pharmaceuticals were not detected in other river and coastal waters. Samples collected during the dry season exhibited higher concentrations than those from the wet season, which appears to be related to increase in transient populations from tourism activities as well as dilution. The presence of pharmaceutical residues and antibiotics in these areas and the potential impact on the environment indicate the need for stricter wastewater management measures, particularly in communities located near water bodies. As the results of this study show, such measures might be most beneficial and effective if imposed during dry season and in areas open to tourism.
We thank the crew and researchers aboard M/Y Panata expedition PA0421 to Tubbataha in October 2019 and cruise to Boracay December 2019. Our gratitude to Mary Antoinette Limen, Mishel Valery Rañada, Gio Ferson Bautista, and Ernest Guiller Pineda for helping us in the field, and to Lahiruni Halwatura for assisting in the creation of a standard calibration curve for saltwater.
Sargassum sp. juice as an early juvenile supplemental feed for Stichopus cf. horrens
Ibañez, Glaiza; Cabanayan-Soy, Rona; Baure, Jerwin; Juinio-Meñez, Marie Antonette (Springer, 2022-09-28)
The development of an efficient and low-cost feed is important to reduce the production and maintenance costs of microalgae. In this study, two experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using Sargassum sp. juice (SARG) to boost the growth and survival of post-settled Stichopus cf. horrens juveniles. Experiment 1 tested whether SARG improves growth compared with live microalgae diets, Chaetoceros calcitrans (Cc), combined Cc and Navicula ramosissima (Nr), and an unfed treatment. Experiment 2 determined the best SARG concentration—high feeding regime (HFR; 1 mL ind−1), medium (MFR; 0.5 mL ind−1), or low (LFR; 0.25 ml ind−1), relative to live microalgae Chaetoceros muelleri (CM). Juveniles in both experiments were reared for 30 days. In Experiment 1, the average daily growth rate (DGRL) of juveniles in SARG (0.04 ± 0.01 cm d−1) was the highest although not significantly different from Cc and Cc + Nr, but was significantly higher than the control. In Experiment 2, DGRL at day 14 in HFR (− 0.02 ± 0.02 cm d−1) was significantly lower than LFR (0.01 ± 0.01 cm d−1) and MFR (0.02 ± 0.02 cm d−1). Survival was higher in all SARG treatments compared with CM, while a significant decrease in feeding activity was observed in HFR by day 30. Results indicate that concentrations of 0.25–0.5 mL SARG per juvenile can boost growth and be an alternate diet for post-settled juveniles during early rearing. However, SARG alone is not sufficient to maintain growth beyond 3 weeks. With SARG feed supplementation and water quality management, the scaling-up of juvenile production of this emergent culture species can be accelerated.
Our sincere gratitude to Mr. Tirso Catbagan and Mr. Garry Bucol for their assistance in the set-up of the experiments. We also thank Ms. Rose Angeli Rioja and Ms. JayR Gorospe for providing inputs to improve this paper. We also thank the Sea cucumber Research Team and the staff of the University of the Philippines—Marine Science Institute, Bolinao Marine Laboratory for their support and assistance during the conduct of the study.
Complex patterns of genetic structure in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra from the Philippines: implications for aquaculture and fishery management
Lal, Monal M.; Macahig, Deo A. S.; Juinio-Meñez, Marie A.; Altamirano, Jon P.; Noran-Baylon, Roselyn; de la Torre-de la Cruz, Margarita; Villamor, Janine L.; Gacura, Jonh Rey L.; Uy, Wilfredo H.; Mira-Honghong, Hanzel; Southgate, Paul C.; Ravago-Gotanco, Rachel (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-06-04)
The sandfish Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra, is a high-value tropical sea cucumber harvested from wild stocks for over four centuries in multi-species fisheries across its Indo-Pacific distribution, for the global bêche-de-mer (BDM) trade. Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines is an important centre of the BDM trade, however overharvesting and largely open fishery management have resulted in declining catch volumes. Sandfish mariculture has been developed to supplement BDM supply and assist restocking efforts; however, it is heavily reliant on wild populations for broodstock supply. Consequently, to inform fishery, mariculture, germplasm and translocation management policies for both wild and captive resources, a high-resolution genomic audit of 16 wild sandfish populations was conducted, employing a proven genotyping-by-sequencing approach for this species (DArTseq). Genomic data (8,266 selectively-neutral and 117 putatively-adaptive SNPs) were used to assess fine-scale genetic structure, diversity, relatedness, population connectivity and local adaptation at both broad (biogeographic region) and local (within-biogeographic region) scales. An independent hydrodynamic particle dispersal model was also used to assess population connectivity. The overall pattern of population differentiation at the country level for H. scabra in the Philippines is complex, with nine genetic stocks and respective management units delineated across 5 biogeographic regions: (1) Celebes Sea, (2) North and (3) South Philippine Seas, (4) South China and Internal Seas and (5) Sulu Sea. Genetic connectivity is highest within proximate marine biogeographic regions (mean Fst=0.016), with greater separation evident between geographically distant sites (Fst range=0.041–0.045). Signatures of local adaptation were detected among six biogeographic regions, with genetic bottlenecks at 5 sites, particularly within historically heavily-exploited locations in the western and central Philippines. Genetic structure is influenced by geographic distance, larval dispersal capacity, species-specific larval development and settlement attributes, variable ocean current-mediated gene flow, source and sink location geography and habitat heterogeneity across the archipelago. Data reported here will inform accurate and sustainable fishery regulation, conservation of genetic diversity, direct broodstock sourcing for mariculture and guide restocking interventions across the Philippines.