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Purpose and research design

This study aimed to assess the mangroves community structure of selected sites on Brgy. Ermita,
Dumangas, Iloilo, Philippines. Also, to identify species found in the selected sites.

The research design used in this study was a field survey design in order to establish and
describe the mangroves community structure of selected sites on Brgy. Ermita, Dumangas, Iloilo.
Field Survey Design is an activity aimed at collecting primary (original or otherwise unavailable)
data, using methods such as face-to-face interviewing, telephone and postal surveys, and direct
observation.

Study Area

The study was conducted on the selected sites at Barangay Ermita, Dumangas, Iloilo in
order to determine the community structure of the mangrove community. According to
infogalactic 2015, Dumangas is located north-east of the province of Iloilo. Surrounded by the
towns of Barotac Nuevo in the north, Pototan in the west, Zarraga in the south and the waters and
islands of Guimaras and Negros Occidental in the east. Dumangas is situated at 10.83° North
latitude, 122.71° East longitude and 4 meters elevation above the sea level. Dumangas is a
coastal town in Northern Iloilo which is vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as storm
surges and tidal waves. Thus, mangrove reforestation is a priority of the local government.

Ermita, Dumangas. A remnant now-fringing area of a former deltaic mangrove cleared

inland for fishpond aquaculture, bordered in the landward direction by active fishponds and a
coastal road. The site contains a narrow band of remaining natural mangrove (A.
marina dominant; “Ermita natural”). Seaward of the natural mangrove is a low-intertidal stand
planted in 2007 (“Ermita rehab”). The area was originally planted with S. alba, A.
marina and Rhizophora spp. seedlings; however, only S. alba survived algal (A. marina) and
barnacle (Rhizophora spp.) infestation.
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Materials and Apparatuses

The tools that were used in the study:

● Transect line
● Tape Measure
● Thermometer
● Rope
● Writing Materials
.

Collection of Data

The study was conducted on May 11 , May 12 and June 25, 2017. Transect 1 was done
on May 11, transect 2 on May 12 while transect 3 was done on June 25. Transect 1 and 2 was
located along the coastal area, while transect 3 is inundated by water and was an old fishpond.
Transect 1 includes 5 plots, Transect 2 includes 4 plots but no data was obtained in plot 4
because the area is used as a fishpond, and Transect 3 has 3 plots.

Sampling Plot

All trees located within the 10m x 10m plot were identified and recorded. Plots covering
an area of 100 square meters (10m x 10m). There are three transects established in the site. The
procedures in taking the GBH:

The following points were considered in measuring GBH:

When the stem fork is below breast height, or sprout from single base, close to the ground
or above it, each branch was measured as a separate stem.

When stem forks at breast height or slightly above, measurement of the GBH was made
below the swelling caused by the fork.

When the stem has prop roots or fluted lower trunks (Rhizophora), the GBH was
measured 20 cm above root collar.

When the stem has swellings, branches or abnormalities at point of measurement, the
measurement was done on the girth slightly below the irregularity.
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Respectively, saplings and seedlings were counted along with the true and grown
mangroves. Saplings have GBH less than 4 cm and height greater than 1 meter. Seedlings have
height less than 1 meter (English et al, 1994)

Community Structure Analysis

The following ecological information was calculated from the measurements made:
1. The basal are (BA) for the stand in m2 per hectare (ha ) BA for each tree is the cross-
sectional area at breast height (English et al.1994) Basal area is equal to pi (diameter at
breast height squared) over 4 and its unit is in cm2.

BA = П DBH 2
--------------- (Units = cm2)

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2. The total BA for all species is the sum of the basal area for each in the plot

∑ BA (cm2)

Converting cm2 to m2, ground area from m2 hectares.

Stand BA = ∑ BA
----------- (units=m2ha2)
Area of the plot

3. The basal area of each species (Basal Area of Species) was calculated by the same
method as above, but calculating, the total/ only for trees of the same species.

4. The importance of the contribution of each component species to the stand in terms of
density, contribution to basal area (dominance) and probability of occurrence throughout
the plot (frequency) are described by the following parameters:

Relatively density = No. of individuals of a species

---------------------------------------x100%
Total no. of individuals (all species)
Relative Frequency = Frequency of species
------------------------------x100%
∑ Frequency of all species
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Relative Dominance = Total basal area of species

-----------------------------------x100%
Basal area of all species
Shannon Index of Diversity
H= ∑ ( Ni/N) log (Ni/N)
where :
H represents Shannon index 0f diversity. Ni which is the importance value of a species
and N is the sum of importance value for all species.

Parameters
The average soil temperature for transect 1 was 28.9°C, for transect 2 (20.8°) and for transect
3( 30°); the water temperature for transect 1 was 28.5°, for transect 2 was 23.9° and for transect
3 was 30.6°; the Air temperature for transect 1,2 and 3 were 31.2°, 20.8° and 29.1 respectively.
So the recordings indicate that the highest temp for soil temp was transect 3 with 30 and transect
2 was the lowest with 20.8. In water temp. Transect 3 again has the highest temp with 30.6 while
transect 2 has the lowest temp. with 23.9 For air temp. transect 1 has the highest temp with
31.2while transect has the lowest with 20.8. The researchers used