Philippine E-Journals

Contribution to the Ecology of Marine Biota of Talin Bay, Matuod: Distribution and Diversity of Macrobenthic Algae

Leonard Pinto | Noel Maglasang

Discipline: Ecology

 

Abstract:

Fringing communities such as seaweed beds, seagrass beds, salt marshes, coral reefs and mangroves are highly productive regions of the biosphere with an annual carbon fixation of 1000 g C m-2 and energy fixation of 10,000 Kcal m-2 (Barnes & Mann, 1980). Most of these communities are in the tropics and have received relatively little attention. In the Philippines, the taxonomic information on seaweeds has reached an advanced stage, but ecological studies are still lagging (Alcala, 1973).  Aside from their indirect contribution to the food chain, Cordero (1980) has noted five uses of 77 Philippine species of macro benthic algae. These are as food, as source of agar and similar gels, as medicine, as a supplementary fish feed, and as fertilizers. In general, marine algae are rich in Vitamins A, E, B 12, B I, and panthothenic acid. Folinic acid is higher in green and red algae than in the brown algae. Red algae also contain polysaccharides commonly known as gels. Because of their commercial value and ecological importance, this study was undertaken to take stock of the macro benthic algae in Talin Bay and to investigate their community structure. The investigation sought to provide baseline information for a future comparative study. It was aimed at understanding the diversity, density, and distribution of the macrobenthic algae in Talin Bay in the vicinity of the DLSU Marine Biological Station.