Journal Articles - UP - MSI
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- Nutrient limitation of the tropical seagrass Enhalus acoroides (L.) Royle in Cape Bolinao, NW PhilippinesTerrados, Jorge; Agawin, N.; Duarte, Carlos M.; Fortes, Miguel D.; Kamp-Nielsen, L.; Borum, J. (Elsevier BV, 1999-11)Experimental additions of nutrients to the sediment of Enhalus acoroides stands were performed at four sites and three times along the year in Cape Bolinao, NW Philippines to test the hypothesis that seagrass growth in tropical environments is limited by the availability of nutrients. Both the nitrogen content (as % DW) and the nitrogen incorporation of E. acoroides leaves increased after the addition of nutrients. The size (g DW per shoot) and the leaf growth rates (g DW per shoot d−1) of E. acoroides shoots also increased after the addition of nutrients. Nitrogen rather than phosphorus was the nutrient limiting shoot size and leaf growth of E. acoroides in the area. The extent of nutrient limitation of E. acoroides showed high variability both in space and time which cannot be directly linked with differences in light or nutrient availability among the experimental sites.
- Physiological and ecological aspects of coral transplantationYap, H. T.; Alvarez, R. M.; Custodio, H. M.; Dizon, R. M. (Elsevier BV, 1998-10)The growth and mortality of transplants of two species of scleractinian corals, Porites cylindrica Dana and P. rus Forskal (1775), were monitored over 16 months in a reef in the northwestern Philippines. Transplants were in two sizes (nubbin, ∼8 cm in length; and fist-sized, ∼8 cm in diameter) and deployed at two depths (1 and 10 m). Specimens at the shallow depth had more rapid growth than the deeper ones. Light had significant effects on coral growth while temperature, salinity, water motion and sedimentation did not. Smaller corals consistently registered greater percentage increases in size as compared to the larger ones. Small transplants of P. cylindrica showed higher percentage growth rates than those of P. rus. Contrary to expectations, there were no differences in transplant mortality due to size. Over the course of the experiment, mortality was generally confined to the shallow depth. It was brought about either by algal competition or by strong water movement.
- Root production and belowground seagrass biomassDuarte, C. M.; Merino, M.; Agawin, N.; Uri, J.; Fortes, M. D.; Gallegos, M. E.; Marbá, N.; Hemminga, M. A. (Inter-Research Science Center, 1998)The root and rhizome biomass of the seagrass species present in 3 mixed and 2 monospecific meadows representative of different floras (Spanish Mediterranean, Mexican Caribbean, Kenyan coast, and the South China Sea off The Philippines) was examined to test for the existence of general patterns in the distribution of their biomass in the sediments, and to test a simple approach based on age determinations to estimate root production. The thickness of the roots was scaled to the thickness of the seagrass rhizomes (r = 0.92, p < 0.001). Root and rhizome biomass were high (>100 and >200 g DW m-2, respectively) for the mixed meadows examined; these belowground structures had a projected surface area often exceeding 1m2 m-2 when roots and rhizomes were considered together, and they formed a dense web of root material comprising several hundred meters per square meter. Belowground biomass showed considerable vertical stratification within the sediments, with a tendency for the larger species to extend deeper into the sediments than smaller ones. This tendency for segregation should reduce the potential interspecific competition for sediment resources, which is likely to be greater in the uppermost layers, where the belowground biomass is more evenly distributed among species. The rate of adventitious root production on vertical shoots varied from species that produced a root on almost every node to species that produced 1 adventitious root for every 10 nodes. Root production--both on horizontal rhizomes and vertical shoots--was substantial, with the combined root production approaching, or exceeding, 1000 g DW m-2 yr-1. The resulting root turnover was quite high, with most values ranging between 2 and 10 yr-1, indicative of a characteristic turnover time of months for the root compartment. The estimates of root production derived here often exceed those of rhizome production and reach values comparable to leaf production, clearly demonstrating that root production is an important component (up to 50%) of total seagrass production.
- Damage and recovery of four Philippine corals from short-term sediment burialWesseling, I.; Uychiaoco, A. J.; Aliño, P. M.; Aurin, T.; Vermaat, J. (Inter-Research Science Center, 1999)Recovery of corals after full burial with littoral sediment (16% silt, 46% fine sand and 38% coarse sand; 28% CaCO3) was monitored in 2 field experiments at the reefs off Lucero, Bolinao (Pangasinan, NW Philippines), from April to May 1996. In the first experiment at 2 m depth, Porites was buried for 0, 6, 20 and 68 h; a second experiment was done at 5 m depth and 4 common taxa (Porites, Galaxea, Heliopora and Acropora) were buried for 20 h. At 2 m depth, Porites was not affected by 6 h burial compared to the controls that were not buried. Increasing burial time had increasingly more serious effects. Burial for 20 h resulted in increased discoloration of the coral tissue. After 68 h of burial, up to 90% of the tissue bleached in the first days. About 50% of this tissue disappeared subsequently and bare coral skeleton became exposed or were covered with algae. After a few weeks, however, recovery took place: the bare areas were recolonized from surrounding surviving tissue or from highly retracted polyps in the affected area. In the corals that had been buried for 20 h no more significant differences from the controls were observed after 3 wk. For those that were buried for 68h, this was the case after 4 wk. At 5 m depth, all Acropora died after the 20 h burial treatment, but the other taxa recovered in a comparable way to the Porites in the first experiment at 2 m depth. It is concluded that complete burial will cause considerable whole-colony mortality in at least Acropora, and thus may result in a permanent loss of coral taxa from reefs that are subject to such intense sedimentation events. Less sensitive taxa incur substantial damage but significant recovery was observed after a month.
- Temporal changes in the abundance, leaf growth and photosynthesis of three co-occurring Philippine seagrassesAgawin, N.; Duarte, C. M.; Fortes, M. D.; Uri, J. S.; Vermaat, J. (Elsevier BV, 2001-06)The analysis of the temporal changes in shoot density, areal leaf biomass, leaf growth and parameters of the photosynthesis–irradiance relationship of three tropical seagrass species (Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata), co-existing in a shallow subtidal meadow in Cape Bolinao, Philippines, shows that species-specific traits are significant sources of temporal variability, and indicates that these seagrass species respond differently to a common environmental forcing. Species-specific differences are much less important as source of variability of the temporal change in chlorophyll concentration of seagrass leaves. The results indicate that the temporal changes in photosynthetic performance of these seagrasses were driven by environmental forcing and their specific responses to it mostly, but the temporal change in their abundance and leaf growth was also controlled by other factors. The significant contribution of species-specific factors in the temporal changes of biomass, growth and photosynthetic performance of co-occurring seagrass species in Cape Bolinao should contribute to the maintenance of the multispecific, highly productive meadows characteristic of pristine coastal ecosystems in Southeast (SE) Asia.
- Influence of light, water motion, and stocking density on the growth and pigment content of Halymenia durvillei (Rhodophyceae) under laboratory conditionsRula, Najeen Arabelle M.; Ganzon-Fortes, Edna T.; Pante, Ma. Josefa R.; Trono, Gavino C. (Springer, 2021-05-17)The tropical red seaweed Halymenia durvillei Bory de Saint Vincent is a potential source of the high-value pigments, r-phycoerythrin (RPE) and r-phycocyanin (RPC). The unique properties of these pigments find many applications—from food to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research. This study aimed to improve the land-based culture technology of H. durvillei by determining the appropriate combination of light, water motion, and stocking density that would result in high growth performance and high RPE and RPC content. Combinations of two light levels (full light, 100% and reduced light, 67%), two water motion levels (low and moderate), and three stocking densities (50, 100, and 200 g) were studied using 64.5-L glass tanks with flow-through seawater and aeration systems at the outdoor land-based seaweed nursery in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines. After 6 weeks of culture, growth performance (growth rate and productivity) of H. durvillei and phycobiliprotein content were best under a combination of full light (100%), moderate water motion, and 50-g stocking density. The generally low light regime during the experimental period, which coincided with the cold, dry season characterized by shorter days and overcast skies, may have influenced H. durvillei to maximize the use of available resources such as light and possible increased nutrient availability from water motion to promote growth and phycobiliprotein synthesis. Treatments with low stocking densities generally showed satisfactory growth and phycobiliprotein content. This study provides groundwork for future research into mechanisms by which these and other factors affect the growth and physiology of H. durvillei in culture.
- Linking thallus morphology with P-I curves of 50 macrobenthic algae from Bolinao, Pangasinan, PhilippinesSaco, Jayvee; Ganzon-Fortes, Edna (Science and Technology Information Institute, 2022-08-04)This study demonstrated that thallus morphology could affect a species' capacity to utilize light for photosynthesis and, hence, will affect its productivity. Fifty (50) macroalgal species collected from an intertidal habitat in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines were grouped into five "functional-forms" based on their inferred productivity: functional-form group (FFG) A: very thin tubes/sheets/strips, FFG B: thin sheets/delicately branched, FFG C: medium-thick blade/coarsely branched with dense ramuli, FFG D: heavily thick branches/segments or with moderate calcification, and FFG E: heavily calcified. Their photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) curves were determined through the measurement of oxygen evolved in a closed system after 1-h incubation under six different light treatments. P-I curve parameters such as P n max , I k , I c , α, and R d were assessed to determine the groups' physiological responses to light. The thickness of thallus blades, coarseness of branches, complex branching, and calcification appeared to lessen photosynthetic capacity, as shown by the significantly decreasing trend of P n max from FFGs A-E. FFG A also showed the steepest slope (highest mean α value) compared with the rest of the functional-form groups, indicating their efficiency to utilize low light for photosynthesis. Light saturation and compensation values were less distinct in differentiating the functional form groups, probably because the seaweeds examined were all collected from the same shallow intertidal zone, suggesting their acclimation to similar photon flux densities. Results from this study fit the prediction of the function form hypothesis for seaweeds quite well.Appreciation is extended to: [1] the Philippine Council for Aquatic, Agricultural, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology as thesis grant to the first author; [2] the UP-CS-MSI research grant to the second author; [3] the Commission on Higher Education for the financial support; and [4] the staff of the Bolinao Marine Laboratory, UP-MSI, and the Batangas State University for their assistance. Helpful critics and recommendations from Dr. Rhodora Azanza and Dr. Wilfredo Uy are acknowledged, most especially to the late Dr. Ronald Villanueva, to whom this paper is wholeheartedly dedicated. Also, deep appreciation is extended to the reviewers for greatly improving the manuscript of this paper.
- Short‐term responses of coral reef microphytobenthic communities to inorganic nutrient loadingDizon, Romeo M.; Yap, Helen T. (Wiley, 1999-07)The responses of coral reef flat microphytobenthos to short-term exposure to elevated levels of inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were investigated in 1994 and 1995. Sand samples collected from the reef flat were maintained over 7 d in triplicate cultures with N-enriched (100 µM NO3), P-enriched (10 µM PO4), and ambient seawater. A fourth experiment used a treatment of combined N and P enrichment. The sediment samples were assessed for chlorophyll a (Chl a) content and photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) responses. P-I curves, constructed from area-and Chl a-specific metabolic rates, showed consistently higher maximal rates in the nutrient enriched samples. Sediments exposed to enhanced levels of N exhibited the highest Chl a content while both N- and P-enriched samples showed increased photosynthetic yield. Very little depletion of nutrients in the water column was detected over time in the batch cultures except in the N:P-enriched treatments where nutrient values dropped to near-ambient levels. Results from these experiments point to N and P colimitation in tropical carbonate sediments.
- Partial mortality in Porites corals: Variation among Philippine reefsWesseling, Ineke; Uychiaoco, Andre J.; Aliño, Porfirio M.; Vermaat, Jan E. (Wiley, 2001-01)Partial mortality or tissue necrosis was quantified in the massive scleractinian coral Porites at three sites in The Philippines (Bolinao, NW Luzon; Puerto Galera, Mindoro; and El Nido, N Palawan). Overall, 15 ± 1 (mean ± 1 standard error, 642 replicates) percent of colony area was dead, mean colony area was 1135 plusmn; 127 cm2, and lesion density was 1.7 ± 0.1 dm—2. Total live coral cover varied between 20 and 63% in belt transects, and Porites and Acropora cover were inversely correlated. ANOVA models incorporating effects of site, colony size, sedimentation rates, wave exposure and depth were highly significant but explained only a small proportion of the variation observed in lesion density and percent dead area (respectively 8 and 2%). Lesion density was found to vary significantly with site (contributed 29% to this explained variance), decrease with increasing colony area (33%), and increase with increasing sedimentation (23%) and wave exposure (14%). Colony size was significantly explained by the factor site (contributing 61% to the total 29% explained variance) and depth (34%), with the smallest colonies being observed in Bolinao and the largest in El Nido. Densities of lesions were highest in Bolinao, intermediate in Puerto Galera, and lowest in El Nido. This pattern is parallel to intensity of human reef exploitation and opposite to that in colony size, live coral cover and Acropora cover. Since only a small part of the observed variance in partial mortality estimators was explained by the ANOVAs, other factors not quantified here must have been more important (e.g. disease incidence, predation, human exploitation).
- Species composition and plant performance of mixed seagrass beds along a siltation gradient at Cape Bolinao, The PhilippinesBach, S. S.; Borum, J.; Fortes, M. D.; Duarte, C. M. (Inter-Research Science Center, 1998)The response of mixed Southeast Asian seagrass beds to siltation was analyzed based on field data, a transplantation experiment and experimental manipulation of light availability in seagrass populations along a silt gradient at Cape Bolinao,The Philippines. Seagrass species diversity, shoot density and depth penetration declined with increasing amounts of suspended material and increasing water column light attenuation along the silt gradient. The seagrass species could be ranked according to decreasing tolerance to siltation as: Enhalus acoroides > Cymodocea serrulata > Halodule uninervis > Thalassia hemprichii > Halophila ovalis > Cymodocearotundata > Syringodium isoetifolium. A gradual decline in shoot density and depth penetration of the different species along the silt gradient suggested that changes in the vertical light attenuation coefficient in the water column, primarily caused by differences in suspended inorganic solids, was the most important factor affecting seagrass performance. However, inconsistency among the species in response to increasing water depth, artificial shading and transplantation indicated that other factors, such as siltation-derived changes in sediment conditions, contribute to the sequential loss of seagrass species along the silt gradient.
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