03. Science and Technology (Natural Sciences) Committee
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.unesco.gov.ph/handle/123456789/3
In creating a culture of peace and addressing sustainable development challenges, UNESCO aims to cultivate the generation and application of scientific knowledge among its Member States. At UNACOM, we facilitate access to UNESCO’s international programmes in the sciences, such as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, and International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP), among others.
Through this sector, the Commission aims to contribute to the following SDGs: 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, 13 - Climate Action, 14 - Life Below Water, and 15 - Life On Land. With the overarching vision of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP), UNACOM targets grassroots-inspired cultural heritage and biodiversity protection and conservation, as well as multi-stakeholder partnerships for SDGs promotion.
Through this sector, the Commission aims to contribute to the following SDGs: 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, 13 - Climate Action, 14 - Life Below Water, and 15 - Life On Land. With the overarching vision of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP), UNACOM targets grassroots-inspired cultural heritage and biodiversity protection and conservation, as well as multi-stakeholder partnerships for SDGs promotion.
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- Fisheries Administrative Order No. 246: Series of 2013. Banning the operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine in Philippine waters.(Department of Agriculture, 2013-09-12)
- Fisheries Administrative Order No. 244: Series of 2012. National tuna Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) management policy.(Department of Agriculture, 2012-06-25)
- Fisheries Administrative Order No. 242: Series of 2012. Reinstating the ban on the export of elvers.(Department of Agriculture, 2012-04-10)
- Contrasting reproductive strategies between stress-tolerant and competitive coral taxaBonilla, K. G.; Guest, J. R.; Baria-Rodriguez, M. V. (Springer, 2023-04-19)Reproductive traits such as fecundity (i.e., the number of gametes produced) and the size and age of coral colonies at reproductive onset can vary in predictable ways among life history strategies. However, most studies on the onset of reproductive maturity in corals only report the presence or absence of oocytes with little known about variation in fecundity across size and age classes. This study aimed to determine the colony size and fecundity at the onset of reproductive maturity across size classes of two scleractinian corals with contrasting life history strategies, Acropora millepora (competitive) and Favites colemani (stress-tolerant). Colonies at a site in northwestern Philippines were sampled to determine the smallest colony size class with mature oocytes and to estimate fecundity across size classes. Histological slides were also prepared to verify the presence of mature gametes. Colonies were able to produce mature oocytes when they had attained colony diameters of 4.7 cm for A. millepora and 1.5 cm for F. colemani. A. millepora had lower fecundity, but larger oocytes compared to F. colemani. Although small colonies can contribute to the larval pool, the proportion of mature colonies increased for larger size classes, suggesting that larger colonies make a disproportionately greater contribution to population reproductive output. These findings contribute to our understanding of coral population dynamics, particularly in parameterizing population and demographic models for different coral life histories.
- Size-dependent predation on juvenile sandfish, Holothuria scabra by seagrass-associated crabsCaasi, Olivier Josh C.; Gosselin, Louis A.; Juinio–Meñez, Marie Antonette (Cambridge University Press, 2023-10-23)High mortality of juvenile Holothuria scabra in seagrass nursery areas has been attributed to predation. In this study, laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the size of two seagrass–associated crabs, Thalamita crenata and Dardanus megistos, on the survival of juvenile sandfish at different sizes (1–10 g). Small juvenile sandfish (1–2 g) offered in field trials were more preferred by small Thalamita and large Dardanus. Non-lethal damage caused by both crabs were also evident, indicating differences in the mode of attack and consumption. The incidence of non-lethal wounds in medium and large juveniles in the laboratory indicate higher incidences of unsuccessful attacks by the crabs. Differences in consumption rate may be related to cheliped morphology and handling techniques, and activity patterns affecting encounter rates. Mortality rates of juvenile sandfish due to T. crenata (CW: 4.30–7.05 cm) ranged from 10–43%, while those by D. megistos (SL: 0.90–2.3 cm) was even higher at 34–53% after 24 h trials. This is the first report that a hermit crab D. megistos is a significant predator of juvenile sandfish. Results provide new insights on crab–soft-bodied prey interactions in tropical seagrass areas. These are also important considerations in stock restoration and ocean-based culture. Given that juveniles (≤10 g) are very vulnerable to predation by these common crab species, growing sandfish to larger sizes is essential prior to release in the field.
- Variation in epibiont communities among restocked giant clam species (Cardiidae: Tridacninae) and across different habitat typesde Guzman, Ian Joseph A.; Cabaitan, Patrick C.; Hoeksema, Bert W.; Sayco, Sherry Lyn G.; Conaco, Cecilia (Springer, 2023-07-07)Giant clam shells provide a solid substrate for various species of epibionts. Yet, it is not well known how epibiont communities vary among populations of different giant clam species and in giant clams restocked in different habitat types. Here, we examined differences in the epibiont communities of three species of giant clams with different shell morphology (Tridacna gigas, Tridacna derasa, and Hippopus hippopus), and characterized the epibiont communities on T. gigas from three different habitat types (sandy reef flat, seagrass bed, and coral reef). Tridacna gigas had higher species richness, abundance, and cover of epibionts compared to the other two species. Tridacna gigas in coral reef habitat also displayed higher species richness and cover of sessile epibionts, while the same species in the sandy reef flat had higher species richness and abundance of mobile epibionts. Epibiont communities were more variable across habitat types than among different giant clam species restocked in a similar area. Differences in abundance of Trochus sp., Pyramidella sp., and crustose coralline algae contributed to the variability in epibiont communities among the giant clam species and across habitats. A few taxa were observed only on specific giant clam species and sites. For instance, Diadema sp. and Echinometra sp. were found only on T. gigas, and Diadema sp. was present only in the sandy reef flat. Both the complexity of the giant clam shells and habitat type contribute to differences in associated epibiont communities. This further emphasizes the ecological importance of giant clams as habitats for other invertebrates.