Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Doses Influence Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Jason G Tuang-tuang, from the different institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about Radiation and Roots: How Gamma Doses Influence Jatropha Seed Germination. Entitled, Status of scleractinian corals and reef-associated benthos in Tres Marias Islets, Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. This research paper published by the Journalof Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Coral reefs of the Tres Marias Islets provide habitat for diverse marine organisms and significantly contribute to the economic activities in Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. Unfortunately, no comprehensive and detailed study was conducted to determine the status of the hard coral and the reef-associated benthic resources in Tres Marias Islets, particularly, Tabuk Islet being a marine protected area. Baseline coral resources assessment was done in randomly identified stations in the Tres Marias Islets. The modified Reef Check methodology was used to determine the percentage covers and generic diversity based on the Taxonomic Agglomeration Units (TAUs). Tabuk Islet had the highest hard coral cover and generic diversity than the other two Islets. Four Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) hard coral species were recorded in Tres Marias Islets. Furthermore, a coral bleaching event was observed in the area and reported officially in this study. The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of the establishment of a marine protected area in the growth and recruitment of reef-building corals.

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Introduction

Statuses of coral reefs in the country were assessed over the years (Gomez et al., 1981; Gomez et al., 1994; Licuanan and Gomez, 2000; Licuanan et al., 2017; Licuanan et al., 2019). Results of these assessments revealed significant loss of scleractinian coral cover in the country affecting the ecosystem services it provides (Licuanan et al., 2019). Coral reefs provides significant environmental and economic contributions in the country which accounts a total of US $ 352,249.00/ha/year (Azanza et al., 2017). Unfortunately, reef-building corals are continuously declining due to competition for resources caused by unprecedented rise of population, and global stressors (Hughes et al., 2017).

Management strategies like establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) were launched. This approach provides enough time for reef-building corals to grow into bigger sizes, thus improving the coral cover (Edgar et al., 2014). Moreover, the reef-associated organisms will replenish their stocks through the reduction of pressures and stressors (Groves & Game, 2016). Protections imposed in the MPAs are helpful in achieving its primal objective for the sustainability of marine resources (Sale et al., 2015).

In Palompon, Leyte, one of the islets in Tres Marias Islets, Tabuk Islet, was declared a marine protected area since 1996. This declaration was executed in response to the declining fishery stocks brought by unsustainable and illegal fishing practices done in the area. However, no comprehensive and detailed assessments were done to check the improvement of coral cover, biodiversity, and fishery stocks in Tres Marias Islets, particularly in Tabuk Islet. Studies conducted in Palompon, Leyte focused on the siganid fishery (Paraboles and Campos, 2018) and fish corral industry (Cabansag et al., 2011). Hence, effectiveness of conservation and protection could not be determined without data from monitoring activities.

Thus, the establishment of baseline data on the status of coral and other associated benthic resources in the Tres Marias Islets needs to be undertaken for future comparison to determine effectiveness, improvement of hard coral cover, and biodiversity and address sustainability of reef-associated stocks.

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Article source : Status of scleractinian corals and reef-associated benthos in Tres Marias Islets, Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines