Year-Long Monitoring Of Coral Recruits And Its Correlation To The Abiotic And Biotic Factors In Coral Garden And Angel’s Cove, Talicud Island, Island Garden City Of Samal
Volume 6 - Issue 8, August 2023 Edition
[Download Full Paper]
Author(s)
Bagani Fidel A. Evasco
Keywords
Abiotic and Biotic Factors, Coral Garden and Angel’s Cove, Coral Recruits, Spearman’s Rho, Samal, Philippines
Abstract
The study focuses on coral recruits and their correlation to biotic and abiotic factors. Coral Recruits were assessed in two sites, namely Coral Garden and Angels Cove in Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal. They were found at varied depths: 6 meters, 13 meters, and 20 meters, with a duration period of at least 12 months, specifically between January – December 2017. The pairwise correlation between coral count and abiotic and biotic factors was also analyzed using Spearman’s Rho, and the correlation result was true in all sites. Multi-correlation between coral count and abiotic and biotic factors across all depths was analyzed through Principal Component Analysis, which showed no differences between the two sites. The data collection method utilized SCUBA, and observation is done through visual observation and the utilization of a Camera as a photo documentation of the settlement found on the four sides concrete marine block installed in the study sites. The coral recruit and algae have developed a symbiotic and mutualistic relationship in 13m and 20m depths. In comparison, they have a parasitic relationship at 6m depth as per observation that there was a massive decrease of corals in shallower waters (6m). At the same time, a massive increase in algae was observed instead. In terms of abiotic factors, the study also found that there have been no significant changes that took place specifically along benthic waters as compared to the surface water. The massive increase of algae can be observed in the shallow waters, and leaving coral mortality can be attributed to the fact that the study sites have high anthropogenic activities, such is also evident across many parts of the globe. High anthropogenic activities have been the cause of the decline of coral recruits and increased chances of coral mortality.
References
[1]. A. Allen and S. Gaines A call for a standardized its conception. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50:1745–1748 2005
[2]. L. Kura, K. Kaseem, C. Revernga, M. Spalding and D. Pilot analysis of Global Ecosystems: coastal ecosystems. World Resources Institute, Washington DC, 2001.
[3]. S. Boschetti, Impact of the Local Environmental Variability on the Patterns of Coral Recruitment on Indo-Pacific Reefs, Victoria University of Wellington, 2016.
[4]. V. Lukoschek, P. Cross, G. Torda. R. Zimmerman, and B. Willis The Importance of Coral Larval Recruitment for the Recovery of Reefs Impacted by Cyclone Yasi in the Central Great Barrier Reef, The PLOS ONE. www.plos.org. 2013.
[5]. Bak R.P.M, E.H. Meesters, Population structure as a response of coral communities to global change, 1999.
[6]. TP. Hughes and JE. Tanner Recruitment failure, life histo- ries, and long-term decline of Caribbean corals. Ecology 81:2250 – 2263, 2000.
[7]. LD. Smith, M. Devlin, D. Haynes and JP. Gilmour A demo- graphic approach to monitoring the health of coral reefs. Mar Pollut Bull 51:399–407. 2005.
[8]. P. Harrison, R.C Babcock, GD. Oliver, JK, BL. Willis Mass spawning in tropical reef corals. Science, 223: 1186–1189, 1984.
[9]. RH. Richmond and CL. Hunter Reproduction and recruitment of corals— comparisons among the Caribbean, the Tropical Pacific, and the Red-Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 60, 1990.
[10]. C. Wallace, K. Srtychar, K. Withers, and B BoatwrightEffects of salinity and sedimentation on the Gorgonian Coral, Leptogorgia virgulata. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology Vol. 409, pp. 331-338; Elsevier B, 2011.
[11]. A. Abelson and S. Gaines A call for a standardized protocol of coral recruitment research and outlines for its conception. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50: 1745–1748, 2005.
[12]. A. Baird, and E. Meeter, Population structure as a response of coral communities to global change. Am Zool 39:56 – 65, 1999.
[13]. A. Baird, A. Sslih, and A. Trevor-Jones Fluorescence census techniques for the early detection of coral recruits. Coral Reefs, 25: 73–76, 2006.
[14]. A. Roik, T. Roder, C. Ziegler, M. Kremb and S. Voolstra Year-Long Monitoring of Physico-Chemical and Biological Variables Provide a Comparative Baseline of Coral Reef Functioning in the Central Red Sea .PLOS ONE DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0163939. 2016