Observations on a multi-seagrass meadow offshore of Negros Oriental, Republic of the Philippines

Abstract

Eight species of seagrasses were encountered in a multi-species meadow offshore of Negros Oriental, Republic of the Philippines: <i>Halodule uninervis</i> (Forssk.) Aschers., <i>Halodule pinifolia</i> (Miki) Den Hartog, <i>Cymodocea rotundata</i> Ehrenb. et Hempr. ex Aschers., <i>Cymodocea serrulata</i> (R. Br.) Aschers., <i>Syringodium isoetifolium</i> (Aschers.) Dandy, <i>Thalassia hemprichii</i> (Ehrenb.) Aschers., <i>Enhalus acoroides</i> (L./.) Royle, and <i>Halophila ovalis</i> (R. Br.) Hook./. A transect survey showed that five of the eight species were quite common, with cover estimates of individual species ranging from less than 10% to over 50%. Above- and below-ground biomass and leaf productivity data were collected for at least four species at each of three stations. Above-ground biomass for combined species ranged from 125 to 250g dw m~2, and below-ground biomass of combined species ranged from 264 to 828 g dw m~2. Areal production rates for combined species ranged between 4.78 to 9.38g dw m~2 d"1, with considerable inter-specific variation. High levels of protein and low levels of soluble carbohydrate were consistent with the rapid above-ground growth observed for all species, and also suggested high growth for below-ground portions of <i>C. serrulata, H. uninervis, S. isoetifolium</i>, and <i>T. hemprichii</i>. Epiphyte loads were low compared to sister species from other locations, perhaps due to rapid blade turnover rates (up to 7.8% day"1 for <i>S. isoetifolium</i>).