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National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS)

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    Attachment of potential cultivable primo-colonizing bacteria and its implications on the fate of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics in the marine environment
    Bitalac, Justine Marey S.; Lantican, Nacita B.; Gomez, Norchel Corcia F.; Onda, Deo Florence L. (Elsevier, 2023-06-05)
    Plastics released in the environment become suitable matrices for microbial attachment and colonization. Plastics-associated microbial communities interact with each other and are metabolically distinct from the surrounding environment. However, pioneer colonizing species and their interaction with the plastic during initial colonization are less described. Marine sediment bacteria from sites in Manila Bay were isolated via a double selective enrichment method using sterilized low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheets as the sole carbon source. Ten isolates were identified to belong to the genera Halomonas, Bacillus, Alteromonas, Photobacterium, and Aliishimia based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, and majority of the taxa found exhibit a surface-associated lifestyle. Isolates were then tested for their ability to colonize polyethylene (PE) through co-incubation with LDPE sheets for 60 days. Growth of colonies in crevices, formation of cell-shaped pits, and increased roughness of the surface indicate physical deterioration. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy revealed significant changes in the functional groups and bond indices on LDPE sheets separately co-incubated with the isolates, demonstrating that different species potentially target different substrates of the photo-oxidized polymer backbone. Understanding the activity of primo-colonizing bacteria on the plastic surface can provide insights on the possible mechanisms used to make plastic more bioavailable for other species, and their implications on the fate of plastics in the marine environment.
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    Effects of environmental regulations on heavy metal pollution decline in core sediments from Manila Bay
    Hosono, Takahiro; Su, Chih-Chieh; Siringan, Fernando; Amano, Atsuko; Onodera, Shin-ichi (Elsevier, 2010)
    We investigated the high-resolution heavy metal pollution history of Manila Bay using heavy metal concentrations and Pb isotope ratios together with 210Pb dating to find out the effects of environmental regulations after the 1990s. Our results suggested that the rate of decline in heavy metal pollution increased dramatically from the end of the 1990s due to stricter environmental regulations, Administrative Order No. 42, being enforced by the Philippines government. The presented data and methodology should form the basis for future monitoring, leading to pollution control, and to the generation of preventive measures at the pollution source for the maintenance of environmental quality in the coastal metropolitan city of Manila. Although this is the first report of a reduction in pollution in Asian developing country, our results suggest that we can expect to find similar signs of pollution decline in other parts of the world as well.
  • Pollution lang ang dolomite
    Valmonte, Ric (Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, 2020-09-21)
    Nakakuha kamakailan ng mga patay na isda na tinatayang 10 kilo ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sa tubig ng Manila Bay sa lugar malapit sa Baseco, Maynila. Nangyari ito sa gitna ng kontrobersiya hinggil sa ginagawa ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) na pagpapapaputi ng baybayin ng Manila Bay sa pamamagitan ng pagtatambak ng dinurog na dolomite malapit sa Baywalk, sa kahabaan ng Roxas Boulevard. Ayon kay DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, walang kaugnayan ang kanilang proyekto sa naganap na fish kill.
  • Solving major aquaculture woes sought
    (Panay News, Inc., 2018-10-06)
    The aquaculture industry faces three major constraints – lack of fry supply, high cost of feeds and skilled manpower. Upon identifying these constraints, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and concerned government agencies have since sought ways to address them. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Bangus Fry Sufficiency Program has worked on this.
  • 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.”