National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS)
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- MPA-FishMApp – a citizen science app that simplifies monitoring of coral reef fish density and biomass in marine protected areasAbesamis, Rene; Balingit, Rodel; de Castro, Romulo; Aguila, Raphael Nelo; Cabiguin, Maryjune; Villagracia, Julius; Susmeña, Marynoll; Montemar, Mario Neil; Yocor, Antonio (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 2022-12)Monitoring changes in fish density and biomass inside marine protected areas (MPAs) through fish visual census (FVC) can determine if MPAs are achieving their goal of promoting fish population recovery. Simplified FVC methods have been developed for citizen scientists to enable them to monitor fish populations in MPAs. However, MPA monitoring programs led by local stakeholders remain rare and difficult to sustain due to technical barriers related to FVC data management. Here, we describe and evaluate a novel online app called MPA-FishMApp, which we developed to help stakeholders of MPAs that protect coral reefs in the Philippines efficiently store, analyze, and visualize FVC data. MPA-FishMApp is coupled to a simplified FVC method wherein the observer records only 21 reef fish species groups during surveys. The app provides a simple data entry interface, cloud storage, and algorithms to estimate fish density and biomass. Spatial and temporal trends in fish density and biomass can be instantaneously visualized in the app based on relative importance to fisheries. Field testing suggested that the MPA-FishMApp methodology (simplified FVC and app) is sensitive enough to detect qualitative patterns showing differences in density and biomass that may develop between MPAs and fished sites, especially in fishes that are highly important to fisheries. However, users must have sufficient training and experience in simplified FVC to produce reliable data. MPA-FishMApp may help reverse the lack of monitoring in MPAs across the Philippines and offers an accessible, transparent, and auditable venue for collaboration between citizen scientists and professional scientists.
- Fisheries Administrative Order No. 202: Series of 2000. Ban on coral exploitation and exportation.(Department of Agriculture, 2000-08-14)
- 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).
- Survival and sexual maturity of sexually propagated Acropora verweyi corals 4 years after outplantationLigson, Charlon A.; Cabaitan, Patrick C. (Wiley, 2021-04-19)Most coral reef restoration efforts are carried out over 1–2 years, and few have assessed long-term (over 3 years) outcomes. Although studies of outplantation of sexually propagated corals have reported promising initial results, few studies have followed outplanted corals to maturity. Here, we monitored sexually propagated Acropora verweyi corals for 4 years post-outplantation to determine their survival and sexual maturity. These corals were outplanted when 4 months old in two size classes (small = 0.3–0.5 cm; large = 1.0–1.5 cm) at two sites in the northwestern Philippines. Four years after outplantation, the 240 colonies of A. verweyi exhibited 17.9% survival, with mean diameters ranging from 7.48–26.8 cm. Most of the surviving outplants were gravid (81.4% of the 43 colonies) with mean diameters of at least 11.8 cm. Higher survivorship was detected in the initial large size class outplants than in the small ones at the natal site, but not at the other site. However, 4 years after outplantation, there was no significant difference in terms of geometric mean diameter between the initial size classes or between the sites. Results show that 4-month-old outplants of sexually propagated corals can survive until sexual maturity and are already capable of contributing gametes for the potential recovery of degraded coral communities at age 4 years.The authors are grateful to Ronald de Guzman, Francis Kenith Adolfo,and Renato Adolfo for the field and hatchery assistance.This study was supported by a grant from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology to PCC. The authors are also grateful to Prof. Peter Harrison for providing CAL a research assistantship opportunity and for additional logistical support through an Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development.
- Sexual reproduction in the soft coral Lobophytum schoedei in Bolinao‐Anda Reef Complex, Pangasinan, northwestern PhilippinesBaran, Christine C.; Baria‐Rodriguez, Maria Vanessa (Wiley, 2021-04-02)The characterization of early life-history strategies of soft corals is important in understanding population maintenance, replenishment, and recovery in disturbed coral reefs. This study examined the sexual reproduction of the soft coral Lobophytum schoedei in the Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex (BARC), a degraded reef in northwestern Philippines. Reproductive strategies such as sexuality, sex ratio, fecundity, and reproductive timing were examined. Random colonies of L. schoedei were sampled a few weeks before the predicted time of spawning to assess fecundity (n = 73 colonies), and sexuality and sex ratio (n = 221 colonies). Monthly sampling of tagged colonies of L. schoedei (n = 20) was done over 13 months to determine the reproductive timing through polyp dissection. Peak of annual spawning was inferred based on the presence of large gametes and their absence in the next sampling period. Results showed that L. schoedei is a gonochoric broadcast spawner with 1:1.1 sex ratio. Although oogenesis and spermatogenesis exhibited overlapping cycles, both gametes matured and spawned in April, coinciding with increasing sea surface temperature. Prior to spawning, oocytes and spermaries ranged 300–633 µm and 150–337 µm in diameter, respectively. Mean female fecundity was 6.7 ± 3.9 oocytes per polyp and male fecundity was 39.2 ± 22.5 (±SD) spermaries per polyp. Some of these results, including the low number of oocytes produced by female polyps, may be caused by sexual reproduction in a degraded reef environment. Understanding these reproductive traits may be useful for predicting the resiliency of populations of L. schoedei in response to ongoing and future environmental change.
- A review of the status of Philippine reefsGomez, E. D.; Aliño, P. M.; Yap, H. T.; Licuanan, W. Y. (Elsevier BV, 1994-01)Since 1979, the status of Philippine reefs has been periodically updated. While conditions of the reefs during the early surveys were assessed in terms of live coral cover per se, the ‘coral mortality index’ was applied to the sets of data collected during the past 7 yr which may be a better gauge in determining the health of the reefs. Generally, most reefs surveyed are in fair condition. Major destructive factors described are sedimentation and siltation from coastal development and activities inland, illegal and destructive methods of fishing, and overfishing. If the reefs are to continue to provide for the present and future users, the ecological processes that render them productive must be maintained through integrated approaches of coastal area management.
- Institutional dimensions of coral reef restoration in the PhilippinesMatorres, Dane Erlo; Fabinyi, Michael; Horigue, Vera; Novilla, Carmela Therese; Baria-Rodriguez, Maria Vanessa (Elsevier, 2024)While the Philippines is mostly known for its experiences on marine protected areas, local governments and non-government organizations are increasingly using coral restoration with the aim of rehabilitating degraded reef areas. Since the establishment of artificial reefs in the 1970s, the application, techniques and corresponding policy directives for reef restoration have evolved over time, and restoration has recently generated significant interest and investments from donors and government agencies. As the Philippines does not have a policy framework to support effective and sustainable practices for the use of different coral restoration techniques, the increase and unregulated use of restoration may result in unintended consequences and pose potential challenges to coastal management. To address this gap, we conducted a review of existing coral restoration policies, programs and projects across the country, with a focus on social, economic and governance aspects. The study collated existing published literature and unpublished information on coral restoration in the country, and conducted key informant interviews. The results show that coral restoration continues to increase, and that existing guidelines on coral restoration are poorly implemented and not widely understood among practitioners. While coral restoration projects reported ecological benefits, socio-economic impacts are limited. The evidence supports the need to review existing policies and contextualize coral restoration to contribute to relevant policy decisions about the restoration and protection of reefs.
- Reef location and season, but not recruitment substrate contour and composition, affect coral recruitment patternsdela Cruz, Dexter W.; Harrison, Peter L. (Elsevier, 2024)Most studies have quantified coral recruitment using recruitment tiles temporarily deployed on reefs. However, the wide range of tile types used in different studies potentially influences recruitment patterns thereby hindering accurate comparisons among reef areas. We examined the effect of different tile types with different surface structure and composition on spatial (reef locations) and temporal (season) patterns of coral recruitment in the northwestern Philippines. Dead coral skeleton, terracotta, and fibre-cement tiles were deployed and retrieved quarterly over a 15-month period. In contrast to previous studies, patterns of standardized density and composition of recruits were consistent among tile types. Recruits varied spatially and were highest in Caniogan reef, followed by Cory reef and Lucero reef, suggesting that coral recruitment in the Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex (BARC) is influenced by reef location and existing coral cover. Highest recruitment was also found during the peak coral spawning season. The results of this study contrast with some previous reports which indicate that coral recruitment patterns are strongly influenced by recruitment substrate types. Our study suggests that once sufficient biological conditioning of the tile surfaces has occurred, the microbial and algal community present on the different tile surfaces are similarly conducive to larval settlement of some coral taxa. © 2024 The Authors
- Rare Tahiti coral reef 'like a work of art'(Concept & Information Group, Inc., 2022-01-30)One of the largest coral reefs in the world has been discovered by a United Nation (UN)-supported scientific mission off the coast Tahiti. Announcing the stunning find UNESCO said drivers has explored large rose-shaped corals spanning some three kilometers, at depths of between 30 and 65 meters.
- Reef Alert(Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc., 2016-10-09)There is no way attention will be directed at the crying urgency of protecting the coral reefs unless we belabor the issue and repeat ourselves. At the rate coral reefs are being destroyed by human activity or damaged by bleaching due to global warming, it won’t be long before these “colorful gardens under the sea where marine life thrives” die off, never to be appreciated by future generations. Indeed, though the Philippines is “the richest place on earth” in terms of biodiversity, according to scientist Wilfredo Licuanan, he has warned that because of climate change, “we can lose our corals in a matter of weeks, not years.”