CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

Tropical communities are particularly important in global economics of

biodiversity because of increasing human population and monetary resource

as sources, strand and problem of food production, pollution and environmental

changes were more acute. Coral reef resembles rainforest in their biologically

generated physical complexity, high species biodiversity, elaborate component

of species, and convoked associations between species (Reaka-Kudla, 1997).

Likewise, corals are important locally in supplying coastal protection,

sand for beaches and fish invertebrates, seaweeds for harvest, site for Mari

culture and other benefits and services to those who lived along the reefs and

travel to use their resources (McManus 2002). Moreover corals are some of the

most diverse, valuable marine habitat on earth; they provide millions of people

with foods, revenue, tourism and coastal protection (Erdmann, 1997).

Carpenter (1977) estimated the area of corals in the Philippines at a

range of 12,000 km² - 33,000 km². In Southern Mindanao, particularly in Davao

Region where a diverse group of coral marine species was found is considered

as one of the premiere sources of profitable marine animals and of breeding

site among sea creatures. Corals biodiversity measures ecological balance as

a habitat of marine species, especially fish which is one of the major income

commodities among Filipino family. Coral reefs were one of the contributors for

different source of income especially in tourism.

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Generally, this study intends to identify the abundance of corals in the

shallow reefs of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur. Analysis of the

presence or absence of various coral species of this kind will be performed in

order to assess biodiversity concerns of the said study area. Hence, this

research endeavour emphasizes the importance of coral species in marine

environment as well as to the community.

Statement of the Problem

This investigation aimed to identify the current corals in the shallow reefs

of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur this year 2014-2015.

Purposely the following questions should be answered:

1.) What are the physicochemical properties of water in Barangay Bitaug

Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur in terms of:

1.1 Location;

1.2 Temperature;

1.3 pH?

2.) What are the orders of corals present in Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz

Davao Del Sur?

3.) What are the biodiversity indices of coral reef in terms of:

3.1 Shannon index;

3.2 Simpson index;

3.3 Richness;

3.4 Evenness?
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Review of Related Literature

This section contains a variety of literature and related studies from

various books, journals and published articles that are relevant on this study.

Biodiversity of Corals

Marine environment contained diverse group of different species

including fishes, sea grasses, crabs, molluscs, sea urchins and corals. Corals

were one of the most important creatures in underwater marine environment

that served as the habitat of most sea creatures, coastal protection, source of

food and breeding ground for other marine life underwater most especially

fishes.

Similarly, coral reefs were an incredibly valuable ecosystem. Not only

they were very important for nature but also they represented a very high value

for humankind, supporting millions of people whose lives depended on these

natural resources as their sources of food and income (L.Burke et al 2003).

Corals belong to Kingdom Animalia and Phylum Cnidaria which include three

classes; Hydrozoa, Schypozoa, Anthozoa ( A. Rose 2009).

The universal recognition of coral reefs as the oceans rainforest and as

a supplying coastal protection for beaches, fish and other invertebrates are also

subject for conservation. As in the rainforest, the overwhelming majority species

and clades on the reef were cryptic. Worms, mollusc, echinoderm and

crustaceans are numerically dominant, which contribute to the tropic

underpinning and play pivotal ecological roles. Biodiversity plays a significant

role for all living organisms as it to human beings. As stipulated by McManus in

(2002) Philippines is one of the portion of the world oceans with the highest
 4

diversity of coral reefs species that extends due south through eastern

Indonesia and eastward around Papua New Guinea. Thus, having a diverse

ecosystem of corals is a great pleasure for having vast benefits as a source of

income mostly in tourism section. Being diverse means humongous source of

raw material supply and a wide range of product can be derived.

Coral Distribution

The diverse groups of coral reefs species are mostly found at

approximately 100 meters and above along the seashore in fertile seas. In

Israel the corals especially in Eilat, the healthy corals could be reached at 1200

meters distance along the seashore and with a depth of 3 to 4 meters from the

ground (Israel Ministry of Tourism 2011).

Similarly, H. Tacio (2012) reported that in Davao gulf the coral species

covers an approximate sea area of 308,000 hectares, cuts into the island of

Mindanao from Philippine Sea. The World Wildlife Fund considers Davao Gulf

as one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world. Diverse coral reefs,

different mangrove species, cetaceans and a host of invertebrates contribute

to the natural diversity of the gulf. Furthermore, Davao gulf consists of many

different islands and municipalities namely; Sta. Cruz, Mati, Samal Island, and

Digos,

Physicochemical Parameter

Corals are limited by physical factors in the environment, but often exist

in areas where conditions are close to the limit. The reef is a sensitive indicator

of environmental stresses because of its response to the stresses. Beyond this,

 5

the reef can give us a look in time at former baseline conditions where we do

not have data in an area before development has occurred.

Temperature

World Meteorological Organization (2010) stated that climate change is

one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. Thus, climate change

has serious impacts on biodiversity, while changes in biological systems can in

turn affect the climate. Climate change is an important factor contributing to the

loss of biological diversity in which rapid changes in temperature and rainfall

affect their habitat. As a result, increasing temperatures, sea level rise and

drought, as well as changes in precipitation patterns and in the frequency and

intensity of extreme events, are the source of additional uncertainties and stress

on the world’s ecosystems.

In addition, R. Aronson et al (2004) stressed that, climate change, such

as high-temperature episodes that promote coral bleaching, reduced

calcification, and changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation, present one

set of challenges to coral reefs. However, these stresses may exacerbate other

stresses not directly related to climate, such as disease, predation, and the

cumulative effects of other non-climate stresses. Thus, it is difficult to separate

the effects of global climate and local non climate influences when considering

reef condition or vulnerability.

Furthermore, the rise of temperature also caused by the phosphorus

and nitrogen cycles have accelerated because of artificial fertilizer use and

massive changes in land use, the hydrologic cycle has been altered by river

damming and water diversion as well as climate change, major natural

ecosystems have been altered by fishing, forestry, and agriculture, and the
 6

ecological and biogeochemical implications of increased atmospheric CO 2

levels go well beyond the effects on global temperature (Steffen and Tyson,

2001). Moreover, temperature also affects metabolic rates of corals and their

symbionts. The influence of temperature on productivity depends on how

photosynthesis and respiration of both the algae and animal respond to

changes in temperature. In general, corals are adapted to their ambient

temperature conditions (C. D’ Elia)

pH

Atkinson (1999) stated that the increasing CO2 in coastal water from

rising atmospheric CO2 lowers seawater pH. The effect of pH on coral growth

rate will be tested using a factorial ANOVA in which the slope of the regression

of coral weight over time was the dependent variable. Increasing concentrations

of CO2 lower the pH of seawater (ocean acidification) with a coincident

decrease in the concentration of carbonate ions. This reduces the capacity of

corals and other calcifying organisms to make calcium carbonate skeletons.

Ocean acidification also may increase the susceptibility of corals to bleaching

during thermal stress (C.M Eakin et. Al., 2008).

Generally, oceanic uptakes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) affects the

carbonate system to lower the pH present in the ocean and seas that largely

affect the growth of coral reefs in the deep marine environment ( V. Fabry et al

2006).
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Diversity Index

Richness

The number of species per sample is a measure of richness. The more

species present in a sample, the 'richer' the sample. Species richness as a

measure on its own takes no account of the number of individuals of each

species present. It gives as much weight to those species which have very few

individuals as to those which have many individuals.

Evenness

Evenness is a measure of the relative abundance of the different species

making up the richness of an area. To give an example, we might have sampled

two different fields for wildflowers. The sample from the first field consists of

300 daisies, 335 dandelions and 365 buttercups. The sample from the second

field comprises 20 daisies, 49 dandelions and 931 buttercups. Both samples

have the same richness and the same total number of individuals (1000).

However, the first sample has more evenness than the second. This is because

the total number of individuals in the sample is quite evenly distributed between

the three species. In the second sample, most of the individuals are buttercups,

with only a few daisies and dandelions present. Sample 2 is therefore

considered to be less diverse than sample 1.

Shannon Index

The interpretation of an index should always take into account its upper

and lower limits. Beisel & Moreteau (1997) illustrated the importance of using

normalized measure. The author stressed that the hurlbet’s form should be
 8

used when calculating the Shannon’s index of diversity, owing to the fact that

the minimum is integrated into the calculation of the index. Nevertheless, the

Shannon diversity index (H), also known as communication entropy, was

introduced by Claude Shannon in 1948.

In addition, calculation of Shannon diversity index could be computed in

this specific equation:

𝑛

H = − ∑ Pi log Pi
𝑖=1
Equation 1

Where pi is the frequency ni/N. If the data are in the form of counts, for

a given species number (S),and a sample size (N), the minimum (H min) and

maximum (Hmax ) possible values for H can be calculated with the equations

Hmin=log N – (N-S+1)log(N-S+1) Hmax=log S

N

Equation 2

Finally, the Shannon index is one of the most reliable instruments for

measuring biodiversity index of coral species found in the shallow reefs of

Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur that would give an appropriate result

to the researchers.

Simpson Index

Simpson diversity index is also a reliable instrument that can be used to

calculate diversity of the coral species.

𝑁(𝑛−1)
𝐻=∑ 𝑁(𝑛−1)

Equation 3
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In ecology, it is often used to quantify the biodiversity of a habitat. It takes

into account the number of species present, as well as the abundance of each

species in a specific location or region. Specifically, the two main factors taken

into account when measuring diversity are richness and evenness.

Furthermore, richness is a measure of the number of different kinds of

organisms present in a particular area. For instance, species richness is the

number of different species present. However, diversity depends not only on

richness, but also on evenness. Evenness compares the similarity of the

population size of each of the species present. Generally, Simpson's Index (D)

measures the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample

will belong to the same species (or some category other than species). (Biesel

et al 1997).

Related Studies

A study of English et.al. (1994) in Ragal gulf stated that 50 coral genera

were recorded from just 13 sites surveyed using the line intercept method and

based on occurrences, the top coral genera are Porites, Acropora, and

Montipora. The highest percentages of coral cover were found in Alibijaban and

Tres marias with 66% respectively. The other transect locations had a coral

cover ranging from 4% to 64%. There is an overlapping range of percent live

coral cover for shoals and coastal sites. These could be attributed to several

factors, such as reef morphology, siltation rates and anthropogenic inputs (i.e.,

destruction of coral reef due to illegal fishing).

Moreover, considerable study of Palaganas et. al. (1985) testified that

the coral community in the reefs included 46 genera exhibiting diverse

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morphology. Acropora, Porites, Millepora, and Pocillopora had the highest

percentage cover in Tubbataha reef. Finally, a study of Erdmann et. al (1997)

most reef surveys in southeast Asia were conducted using the life form line

intercept transect method, and as part of national coral reef monitoring

programs. Because it did not require a high degree of taxonomic expertise, this

simple transect line method was easy to use, and is well suited for students and

volunteer survey. And the data were usually reported only as coral reefs

condition based exclusively on live corals cover.

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Biodiversity of a species in a certain habitat or ecosystem could be

determined by the locations. Every living organism could be found in a specific

geographical location where they could have their foods, comfortable

settlement, a very well site for reproduction and exact temperature that enable

them to adapt and survive.

Niche theory stated that the geographical location of the environment

dictates the species found on it. Also pointed in this theory, that it’s potential

nature - the idealized distribution of an individual in the absence of interactions

with the other species (J.H.Vandermeer, 1972). Species could be able to

multiply depending upon its place of settlement where they can adapt the

environmental changes as the time keeps on moving forward. As what the

theory implied, the environment is one of the biggest factor of the species

diversity, the environment is responsible for choosing the organism that will

survive on it. Diversity of coral species depends upon its geographical location

that is well suited to them.

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Biodiversity index

Location

Parameter

Physicochemical

Properties

Species

Presence

Absence

Abundance

Figure 1.Schematic diagram of the study

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Significance of the Study

The product of this research will be beneficial to the following:

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The

research study will help the agency to inform the citizens of Barangay Bitaug

Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur about preserving and protecting the corals in the

shallow reef of the said site. Also the research study will give them the

awareness in monitoring activities that are happening in their area. Lastly, the

research study will help them improve and enforce strict surveillance to ensure

the abundance of the corals in the shallow reefs of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz

Davao del Sur which is the subject for protection and conservation.

Municipality of Santa Cruz. The outcome of this research will help them

to have knowledge about the status of the corals in the shallow waters of

Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur. The municipality will benefit from

this study by providing income to the common fisherman, and improving tourism

on the said site as well as providing shelter for the marine creatures. In this

study they will have an idea on what is the solution to protect the marine life in

the future.

Citizens. The study will help the citizens of Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur,

especially to our common fishermen in Barangay Bitaug to gain more income

by having an abundant fishing site. In this study they will know in the future

what is the best month and year to get their needs from the sea. And in future

they will preserve the marine protected area for the sake of the corals and

fishes.

Future Researcher: The study will provide data for the future

researchers of the next generations through the previous research study

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conducted by the researchers. The outcome of this study will minimize burden

of the future researcher upon collecting information and data of the future

researches related to this study. They can also use this study to preserve the

marine protected area (MPA) in the future.

Scope and Limitation

The research study focused on the biodiversity of corals present in the

shallow reefs of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur. Every corals found

in the study site were identified according to their classification. The pH,

temperature, location, and salinity will be the measurement of the presence or

absence of corals on the said study sites.

On the limitation, biodiversity of corals in the shallow reefs of Barangay

Bitaug Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur are only be identified and classified inside the

study site.

Definition of Terms

This section presents the important technical terms that are used in the

study. They are both defined conceptually and operationally for better

understanding of the study.

Biodiversity Index. This is defined as an alphabetical listing of the

number and variety species of plant and animal life within a region of a specific

location. In this study, biodiversity index refers to the diverse group,

classification and order of corals present in the shallow reefs of Barangay

Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur.

Shallow Reefs. This refers to branches or chains of corals located at

sea surface consisting only a little deep where fishes and other aquatic
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creatures reside. As used in this study it is refer to as the diverse chains or

branches of corals within a little deep which is the subject of the study.

Corals. Corals belong to Kingdom Animalia and Phylum Cnidaria which

include three classes; Hydrozoa, Schypozoa, Anthozoa (A. Rose 2009).

As it is used in this study, it refers to the marine habitat of most marine

creatures which also provide coastal protection, sand for beaches, and tourist’s

attraction.

Barangay Bitaug. This is one of the Barangay of Sta. Cruz, Davao del

Sur where the study was conducted. It has a land area of 30,240 hectares and

with 5826 residents whose main source of living is fishing.

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CHAPTER 2

METHOD

This chapter presents research design, method and procedures being

use in conducting the study. The researchers used quantitative methods of

sampling. The researchers conducted field observation of the corals in the

shallow reefs of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur.

Research Design

The researchers used quantitative methods of research to describe and

analyze the current condition accurately and accordingly. This study design was

created to describe the biodiversity index of coral reefs. It also described the

physicochemical of the sea water in terms of pH and temperature.

Research Subject

The study focused on the corals in the shallow reefs of Barangay Bitaug,

Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur with a belt transect technique of sampling in a

diameter of 100 meters length as sampling site. The sampling site was located

at its starting point of 125° 24' 38.61" E and 6° 49' 37.06" N and ended up to

125° 24' 37.56"E and 6° 49' 33.37" N which was exactly 100 meters length.

Materials and Equipment

Sampling Materials and Equipment

The study, “biodiversity index of corals in the shallow reefs of Barangay

Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur” was measured using a variety of measuring

instrument namely; pool, a five-meter round bamboo stick to be used as

sweeping pool, 2 plastic slate as underwater writing pad, 2 pencils for writing,

2 metal rulers for underwater measuring tools, notebooks as another writing

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pad, ballpen for writing, Styrofoam as floating pad for the GPS, 2 underwater

camera for species documentation, GPS for the exact location, parameter and

positioning of the species and compass for the exact direction of the given

transect line. Taxonomic Key, a laminated images of coral species that would

be used for species identification,and 2 gallons for water sample container.

Research Safety Materials

To ensure the safety of the research as well as the research team,

the research team should be equipped with the following safety materials

namely; first aid kit, snorkel, life vest, sun block lotion, warmer, shoes, and

leggings.

Data Gathering

Upon collecting data for the research the researchers followed a

step by step procedure to make it formal and valid.

1. Formal letter asking permission to conduct the study. In gathering

data for the study, the researchers made a formal letter to ask permission from

Barangay Bitaug as well from the municipality of Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur to

allow the said sampling visit and data gathering.

2. Site Selection. The researchers did a preliminary visit and pre-data

gathering as well as evaluation on the target study parameter, to ensure the

safety and availability of species to be studied with the permission of the

Barangay Captain and Sta. Cruz Municipal mayor.

3. Innovation and Enumeration of Research Equipment. After visiting

the said study site and further verification, the researchers enumerated the

possible research equipment that can be used in the study with their availability

and innovate the said instrument to make it more usable for the study.
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Sampling Procedure

Before the actual sampling day, the research team was briefly oriented

about the proper sampling procedures. Two or three days before the actual

sampling day all the materials and equipment were prepared, calibrated and

finalized by the research team.

On the actual sampling day, this was the flow of the entire data sampling

procedure. There were 10 individuals who were assigned to different tasks on

conducting the sampling. The first three persons served as the posts that held

the 100 meters transect line, one person on the starting point, one person on

the middle, and one person on the end point. There were two floating Styrofoam

attached to the transect line where the two cameras and two GPS were located.

Then, the other two people held the five-meter sweeping pool. They were

equipped with the slate, metal ruler and pencils. They did the transect walk.

They walked together along the transect line holding the sweeping pool. They

took pictures of the coral species with a ruler, took down notes and coordinated

them with the slate. Then, they marked the species location through the GPS.

Then the other two individuals stood perpendicular to the posts that served as

a compass. They monitored the proper positioning of the other individuals who

performed the transect walk. The three other persons took two gallons of water

from the sampling site for laboratory analysis and they also assisted and

facilitated the entire sampling.

Biodiversity Index Computation

After the sampling, the data were calculated and analysed by the

researchers through the following computerize computation instruments to

have the exact results.

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PAST (Paleontological Statistics) is software for data analysis that can

compute Shannon index, Simpson index, Evenness, Richness and plotting the

graph of the species diversity distribution by just encoding the sampling data

on the software.

Laboratory Analysis. The researchers took two gallons of water

sample from the sampling area which were sent to Davao Analytical Laboratory

for analysis and to obtain the physicochemical properties of water in the shallow

reef of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur. The laboratory result

determined certain chemical factors and the water contents that served as the

growth hindrances and factors affecting abundance of corals species.

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CHAPTER 3

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS

This chapter includes the presentation, analysis and interpretation of

data for the Biodiversity Index of Corals in the Shallow Reef of Barangay Bitaug

Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur. The discussion focuses on the following: (a) physico-

chemical properties (b) biodiversity index of corals (c) biodiversity indices

between the three sampling sites (d) taxonomic order of different species of

corals found during the data gathering.

Physicochemical properties

Location

The sampling site was located at starting point of 125° 24' 38.61" E and

6° 49' 37.06" N and ended up to 125° 24' 37.56"E and 6° 49' 33.37" N. It was

described according to its morphometric characteristic as a rocky with minimal

sand substrate for both hard and soft corals embedded with kelps and other

underwater plants. It also included coral fishes housing the mass of boulder and

soft corals as its bed. Plants underwater resembled symbiotic community for

both corals even sea animals. The sampling site had its average sea waves

and minimal current water turbidity usually in its clear state. Transect 1 was in

a location with which the starting point was on 6°49′24.19″ N latitude

125°24′36.70″ E longitude and an end point of 6°49′27.54″N latitude

125°24′36.87″E longitude and described the substrate as rocky with boulders

resembling mountain with less sand. Kelps carpeted on boulder mass of corals.
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While transect 2 was situated in starting point of 6°49′28.91″N latitude

and 125°24′36.96″E longitude and an end point of 6°49′32.08″N latitude and

125°24′37.34″E longitude. The substrate was less sandy and with the

abundance of the Family Alcyoniidae.

Transect 3 was in a starting point of 6°49′33.37″N latitude and

125°24′37.55″E longitude and an end point of 6°49′36.44″N latitude and

125°24′33.87″E longitude with the substrate contained kelps, coral boulder and

a settled particles of crashed corals.

Temperature

Through the use of thermometer the actual temperature of Bitaug sea

was at 20°C at 11 in the morning of August 09, 2015.Water temperature

contributed different intervention on the growth and the status of corals.Over

the last few decades, several major ecosystems proved to be vulnerable to

future climate changes. Increases in ocean temperature have some of the most

visible and dramatic effects because they contributed to the two major causes

of coral mortality: coral disease and coral bleaching (Arceo et al. 2001; Aronson

& Precht 2006; Graham et al. 2006).

pH

The pH scale measured how acidic or basic a substance is. The pH scale

ranged from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 was neutral. A pH less than 7 was acidic. A pH

greater than 7 was basic. Finally, the result of Barangay Bitaug seawater

laboratory analysis conducted in Davao Analytical Laboratory, showed that the

pH of Bitaug Sea was at 8.11 pH with the use of glass Electrodes method. This
 21

result emphasized that the sea water of Barangay Bitaug, Sta. Cruz, Davao del

Sur was basic.

Biodiversity Indices

Transect 1 had a total of 773 individuals and each of them was classified

according to hard and soft corals. Transect 2 had a total of 905 individuals and

transect 3 had 936 species and a total of 2614 coral individuals. The

Sarcophyton coral species had dominated most of the coral species found in

Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur in terms of its quantity with a total

count of 532 coral individuals. Second in the rank was the Acropora species

with a total count of 398 individuals. It was followed by the Sinularia coral

species with a total count of 348 species. Last, was the Lobophytum species

with a total count of 187 coral colonies.

The table on the next page showed the result of diversity indices using

a software called PAST (Paleontological Statistics). It showed a result of

Shannon diversity index, Simpson diversity index, the Evenness, Abundance

and Richness of a species.

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Table 1. Biodiversity Indices Results through PAST software

Transect Lower Upper Transect Lower Upper Transect Lower Upper

1 2 3

Taxa S 38 37 38 40 39 40 41 40 41

Individual 773 773 773 90 905 905 936 936 936

Dominance_D 0.0718 0.06566 0.0803 0.05842 0.0546 0.06422 0.05663 0.05306 0.06191

Simpson_1-D 0.9281 0.9194 0.9343 0.9416 0.9358 0.9454 0.9434 0.9381 0.9469

Shannon_H 3.011 2.928 3.066 3.133 3.065 3.177 3.157 3.092 3.203

Evenness_e^H/ 0.5345 0.4932 0.5665 0.5735 0.5371 0.6011 0.5734 0.5384 0.6021

S
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Biological Profile of Bitaug Sea Water

Presented in figure 1 diverse coral species present in three sampling

transect in a diameter of 100 meters length as sampling site. The sampling site

was located at its starting point of 125° 24' 38.61" E and 6° 49' 37.06" N and

end up to 125° 24' 37.56"E and 6° 49' 33.37" N which exactly 100 meters length

transects showed that Family Alcyoniidae which includes Sarcophyton Species,

Sinularia Species and Lobophytum species dominated the highest count

among hard and soft coral families observed in on the above mentioned

sampling site. And total of 2,640 different of individual was found on the final

calculation of every individual.

Coral reef diversity can be seen in their different ecological and

economic functions by protecting coastline and shoreline erosion as it holds

and protect the underwater substrate from movement (M.P. Crosby et al, 2010)

Table 2.Taxonomic Classification by Order of Corals in Bitaug Sea Water

Picture Description

These are soft corals

with soft corallites. They

Acropora sp.1
form a plate – like or

tabulate colonies.
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These are hard

species of acropora.

They are seen as white

Acropora sp. 2
in colour. They form a

flat colony

These are spiny hard

corals. They are seen as

pink in colour, forming

Acropora sp.3 circular colonies. They

are attached in hard

substrate.

These are hard

branching corals. The

corallites at the tip of

Acropora sp.4 each branch usually

appear spiny and pinkish

in colour.
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These are hard corals

Acropora sp 5 with corallites. They

usually appear brown in

colour in the middle of

the colony and light at

the edge. They form a

plate – like or tabulate

colonies.

These are colonies of

Acropora sp. 6 cylindrical branches that

branch in three

dimensions, often

forming a dense tangle.

These are hard corals

Agariciidae sp.1 which have deep walls.

They are seen as brown

in their surface and

white in the edge.

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These are soft corals

Lobophytum sp.1 with tiny white polyps on

their surface. They are

as yellow in colour and

will form a thick and wide

colony.

These are soft corals

Lobophytum sp. 2 with thin walled valleys

and widely spaced

septa. They form a flat

plate – like colony.

These are massive

Poritidae sp.1 hard corals. They are

seen as brown in colour.

They form a huge colony

enveloping their

substrate.
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These are soft corals.

Sarcophyton sp.1 They are hairy and they

have valleys on their groovy

surface. They are seen

yellow in colour. They form

thick and wide colony.

These are soft corals.

Sarcophyton sp.2 They are usually seen as

white or yellow or green in

colour

These are soft corals

Sarcophyton sp.3 which are yellow in colour

and they have white polyps

on their surface. They form a

wide wavy colony.

These are species of soft

Sarcophyton sp.4 corals. They are seen as

white colour and they have

branches.
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These are hairy soft corals

Sarcophyton sp.5 with polyps. They are brown

and yellow in colour. They

form thick and wide colonies

with valleys in their surfaces.

These are soft corals with

Sarcophyton sp.6 narrow walls and flat

surface. They are seen white

in colour, forming a flat

colony.

These are soft corals with

Lobophytum sp. 2 thin walled valleys and

widely spaced septa. They

form a flat plate – like colony.

These are massive hard

Poritidae sp.1 corals. They are seen brown

in colour. They form a huge

colony enveloping their

substrate.
 29

These are soft corals.

Sarcophyton sp.1 They are hairy and they

have valleys on their groovy

surface. They are seen

yellow in colour. They form

thick and wide colony.

These are soft corals.

Sarcophyton sp.2 They are usually seen as

white or yellow or green in

colour

These are soft corals

Sarcophyton sp.3 which are yellow in colour

and they have white polyps

on their surface. They form a

wide wavy colony.

These are species of soft

Sarcophyton sp.4 corals. They are seen as

white colour and they have

branches.
 30

These are hairy

Sarcophyton sp.5 soft corals with

polyps. They are

brown and yellow in

colour. They form

thick and wide

colonies with valleys

in their surfaces.

These are soft

Sarcophyton sp.6 corals with narrow

walls and flat

surface. They are

seen white in colour,

forming a flat colony.

These are soft

Sarcophyton sp. 7 corals with flat

surface. They are

seen as light yellow

in colour. And they

form a flat colony.

 31

These are soft corals

Sinularia sp. 1 with soft corallites.

They form a plate –

like or tabulate

colonies.

These are soft corals

Sinularia sp.2 with soft corallites

which are seen as

yellow or white in

colour.

Sinularia sp. 3 These are soft

white corals forming

a plate or tabulate

colonies with taller

branch.
 32

These are soft

Sinularia sp.4 corals. They are

seen as yellow in

colour. They

resemble as thick

plate – like colony.

These are hard

Sinularia sp.5 corals with branches

which are seen as

yellow or white in

colour.

These are hairy

Sinularia sp.6 soft corals having

long tentacles which

appear yellow in

colour. They are not

a branching type of

soft coral.
 33

These are hard

Species 1 species of corals.

They are seen as

gray in colour with

branches forming a

colony.

These are soft

Species 2 corals. Which have

shallow walls without

any hairs or polyps.

They appear purple

in colour.

These are species

Species 3 of fan – like structure

of hard corals. They

have bumpy massive

plate or crust.
 34

These are hard

Species 4 corals forming a

massive colony.

They appear as

green in colour with a

circular shape.

These are boulder

Species 5 hard corals. They are

seen as dark brown

or gray in colour.

This is a hard

Species 6 massive brain coral

with wide sharp/

narrow upper edge.

It forms a groove on

the top of the walls.

 35

These are hard

Species 7 coral species with

branches and single

stems. They form a

circular colony.

These are soft

Species 8 coral. They are seen

as yellow in colour.

They form a flat plate

– like colony with

valleys in the

surface.

These are hard

Species 9 corals, seen as rocky

and gray in colour.

They form a massive

circular colony.
 36

These are hard

Species 10 corals, resembling

species 26, but they

form a flat and not a

circular colony.

These are hard

Species 11 corals. They are also

brain corals with

sharp grooves and

deep walls. They are

seen as white in

colour.

These are hard

Species 12 corals resembling

species 6 and 24,

butr they have deep

walls and distinct

holes. They could be

yellow or white in

colour.
 37

These are soft

Species 13 corals resembling

species 4, but they

have smaller

branches than

species 4. They are

seen as yellow in

colour with white

hairs.

These are hard

Species 14 corals, type of brain

corals that have

narrow walls and

grooves. They

usually form a huge

circular colony.

These are corals,

Species 15 with deep valleys.

They form a circular

colony. They usually

appear as gray in

colour.
 38

These are species

Species 16 of soft corals having

an ear - like

structure. They

appear dark green in

colour.

These are hard

Species 17 corals with shell –

like structures. They

resemble mushroom

corals.

This is a hard corals

Species 18 which appears purple

in color and has a

short and thick

branches.

This is a flat hard

Species 19 coral species. It

appears white and

Looks like a bee’s

nest.
 39

Table 3. Abundance of corals through its counts.

Species Transect

1 2 3

Acropora sp. 1 10 12 18
Acropora sp. 2 1 2 7

Acropora sp. 3 40 53 2
Acropora sp.4 58 97 78
Acropora sp.5 5 8 15
Acropora sp.6 0 3 7
Agariciidae 1 30 10 7
Lobophytum sp.1 39 45 47
Lobophytum sp.2 11 27 18
Poritidae sp.1 10 45 5
Sarcophyton sp.1 45 23 47
Sarcophyton sp.2 48 48 28
Sarcophyton sp.3 11 8 13
Sarcophyton sp.4 9 31 22
Sarcophyton sp.5 10 3 18
Sarcophyton sp.6 7 23 9
Sarcophyton sp.7 20 35 56
Sinularia sp.1 23 27 32
Sinularia sp.2 55 55 83
Sinularia sp.3 5 7 8
Sinularia sp.4 0 2 1
Sinularia sp.5 13 7 1
Sinularia sp.6 4 19 12
Species 1 2 5 2
Species 2 5 7 8
Species 3 9 6 5
 40

Species 4 3 5 10

Species 5 95 101 90

Species 6 1 0 3
Species 7 4 2 11
Species 8 9 3 0

Species 9 5 10 2

Species 10 1 2 8
Species 11 0 1 1

Species 12 125 96 104

Species 13 8 1 12
Species 14 1 26 3
Species 15 9 27 37
Species 16 35 30 48
Species 17 3 41 10

Species 18 1 2 1

Species 19 0 0 3

Species Total 2,614

 20
40
60
80

0
100
120
140

Sinularia sp.1
Sinularia sp.2
Lobophytum sp.1
Sarcophyton sp.1
Acropora sp.1
Sinularia sp.3
Sarcophyton sp.2
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Species 5
Sarcophyton sp.3
Sinularia sp. 4
Lobophytum sp.2
Acropora sp. 2
Acropora sp.3
Agariciidae 1
Species 6
Acropora sp. 4
Sarcophyton sp. 4
Poritidae sp. 1
Sarcophyton sp. 5
Species 7
Species 8
Species 9
Sinularia sp. 5
Species 10
Species 11
Species 12
Species 13
Sarcophyton sp. 6
Sarcophyton sp.7
Species 14
Graph1. Diversity of the corals in Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur

Species 15
Acropora sp. 5
Sinularia sp.6
Species 16
Species 17
acropora sp. 6
Species 18
Species 19
41

transect 3
transect 2
transect 1
 42

Data analysis

Data were collected by counting the number of both soft and hard coral

species observed in its three transects site at Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao

del Sur. The counted coral species were then subjected to PAST Software in

order to identify its diversity indices. Since the study was all about the

biodiversity index of corals species of the sampling site, the research team

calculated its richness and evenness using these two diversity indices

equations; first, Shannon index, was calculated by substituting corals species

count to the equation

𝐇 = − ∑𝒏𝒊=𝟏 𝐏𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐏𝐢. Where pi is the frequency ni/N. If the data are in

the form of counts, for a given species number (S),and a sample size (N), the

minimum (Hmin) and maximum (Hmax ) possible values for H can be calculated

with the equations

Hmin=log N – (N-S+1)log(N-S+1) Hmax=log S

N
Also Simpson index was calculated by encoding the data to its equation

𝑵(𝒏−𝟏)
𝑯=∑ .
𝑵(𝒏−𝟏)

To calculate the different indices of corals in Bitaug Sta.Cruz

PAST(Paleontological Software) was used to obtain the biodiversity index of

corals in an accurate and convenient way.Below were the results.

 43

Table 4. Shannon Diversity Index

Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Interpretation

Effective Number of Species (ENS) 3.011 3.133 3.157

Shannon Evenness 20.308 22.943 23.5 equally common species

e^H/S 0.5345 0.5375 0.5812 value closer to 1 is more even

probability of finding a
different
Simpson’s Index of Diversity (1-D) 0.9281 0.9416 0.944
species when two individuals
are
commonly selected
Simpson’s Reciprocal Index ( 1/D) determine the presence of
13.91 18.36 17.86 dominant species
 44

Table 5. Biodiversity Indices Results through PAST software

Transect 1 Lower Upper Transect 2 Lower Upper Transect 3 Lower Upper

Taxa S 38 37 38 40 39 40 41 40 41

Individual 773 773 773 905 905 905 936 936 936

Dominance_D 0.0718 0.06566 0.0803 0.05842 0.0546 0.06422 0.05663 0.05306 0.06191

Simpson_1-D 0.9281 0.9194 0.9343 0.9416 0.9358 0.9454 0.9434 0.9381 0.9469

Shannon_H 3.011 2.928 3.066 3.133 3.065 3.177 3.157 3.092 3.203

Evenness_e^H/S 0.5345 0.4932 0.5665 0.5735 0.5371 0.6011 0.5734 0.5384 0.6021
 45

CHAPTER 4

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter includes the presentation of the findings, conclusion and

recommendations of the study. The findings of the study were based on the results

of various observation conducted on the sampling site during data gathering.

Summary

The study dealt with the Biodiversity Index of Corals in the Shallow

Reefs of Barangay Bitaug Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur. Specifically, determined and

identified the quantity of current diverse corals species present in Barangay Bitaug

Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur.

The research team used a quantitative observation method in

identifying the corals species on the sampling site. The data also were derived

from the laboratory results obtained from the service of Davao Analytical

Laboratory, Davao City for the chemical parameter of the above mentioned

sampling site.

The following are the findings of the study:

1.) In Shannon diversity index transect, 1 had 20 equally common species

while transect 2 had 23 common species and transect 3 had 24 common species.

2.) In Shannon Evenness Index transect 3 was more even with the value of

0.5812. In determining the value of Shannon evenness index, the value nearest to

1 was determined more even.

 46

3.) Simpson’s Index of Diversity determined that transect 3 had 94% of

having same species among the 3 transects.

4.) Simpson’s Reciprocal index determined that transect 3 had 17.86 % of

having dominant species.

5.) Among the 3 transect, transect 3 was determined to be the most diverse.

6.) Based on the laboratory result from Davao Analytical Laboratory the

actual pH of the sampling sites was 8.11.

Conclusions

Based on the result using a PAST software, the research team concluded

that transect 3 was the transect which had the most diverse corals species found

in the three sampling site in terms of the number of species, followed by transect

two and then transect one. Corals in the shallow reefs of Barangay Bitaug Sta.

Cruz Davao del Sur were more diverse in the shallow part of the seawater than in

the deep seawater. Furthermore, the research team concluded that, these corals

were more tolerant to the stored sediments, pH, temperature and chemicals from

industrial factories located on the nearby seashore of the sampling site.

Recommendations

Based on the results and conclusions presented, the research team would

like to recommend the following:

1) Identify ecotypes in the research site

2) Conduct gene extraction to determine why these corals have survived

and became tolerant to different environmental factors

 47

3) Conduct a similar research on a different site to validate the results of

this study
 48

REFERENCES

Atkinson, M.J., F. Marubini 1999. Effects of Lowered Ph and elevated Nitrate

on Coral Calcification.Marine Ecology Progress Series.Hawaii USA.

Carpenter, K.E.1997 Philippine coral reef fisheries resources.Philipp

Fish.JFish. 15(1):95-125.

Eakin, C.M.,J.Klypas and O.H.Culdberg 2008. Global climate change and

coral reefs:Rising temperature, Acidification and needs for resilient reef.

English, S.A.,C.Wilkinson and V.J.Baker(eds). 1994. Survey manual

for tropicalmarine resources. ASEAN Australia Marine

Science Project, Australian Institute for Marine Science,

Townsville Australia

Erdmann M.R.,J. Gibson Jr., S.C. Jamejon, J.R. Karr and K.W. Potts 1997.

Charting a course towards a diagnostic monitoring: A Contuing

Review of Coral Reef Attributes and Research Strategy for Creating

Indices Biotic Integrity Coral Reef

Fabry, V.J.,J.Klypas, M.Feely, C.Larydon,C.S.Sabine and L.L.Robbins 2oo6

impact of ocean acidification in coral reefs and other marine

calcifiers Guide for Future Research

Larned, S.L.1998. Marine Biology (1998) 132: 409±421S pringer-Verlag 1998

McManus, J.W.1992. The spratly Islands: a marine park alternative. Naga I

ICLARM Quarterly (july). Pp. 4-7.

McManus, J.W., 1994. The spratly islands: a marine park? Ambio 23(3):181-
 49

186 Ministry of Tourism, Government of Israel 2011

DOI: 10.1146/annurev.es.03.110172.000543

Palaganas, V.P., Sy and P.Alino. 1985. Coral Communities Of The Tubbataha

Reef National Marine Park (Philipinnes)

Reaka-Kudla, M.L.,1997 Understanding and protecting our Biological

resources. The Global Biodiversity of Coral Reefs :A Comparison

with Rainforest.university of Maryland, College Park.

Tacio, H.D.,2012. Corals in Davao. Sunstar Davao Philippines.

Vandermeer J.H Niche Theory Annual Review of Ecology and

SystematicsVol. 3: 107-132 (Volume publication date November 1972)

World Meteorological Organization 2010. Climate , Carbon and coral

reef.Weather,Water, Climate.WMO no. 1063 CH-1211 Geneva 2,

Switzerland.
 50

APPENDIX A

LETTER OF PERMISSION
51
 52

Appendix B

Satellite Image of Sampling Site 1

 53

Satellite Sketch of Sampling 1

 54

Appendix C

TAXONOMIC KEY
 55

TAXONOMIC KEY
 56

Appendix D

Taxonomic Classification by Order of Corals in Bitaug Sea Water

Picture Description

Acropora sp.1 These are soft corals

with soft corallites.

They form a plate –

like or tabulate

colonies.

These are hard

Acropora sp. 2 species of acropora.

They are seen as

white in colour. They

form a flat colony

These are spiny hard

Acropora sp.3 corals. They are seen

as pink in colour,

forming circular

colonies. They are

attached in hard

substrate.
 57

These are hard

Acropora sp.4 branching corals. The

corallites at the tip of

each branch usually

appear spiny and

pinkish in colour.

These are hard corals

Acropora sp 5 with corallites. They

usually appear brown

in colour in the middle

of the colony and light

at the edge. They form

a plate – like or

tabulate colonies.

These are colonies of

Acropora sp. 6 cylindrical branches

that branch in three

dimensions, often

forming a dense

tangle.
 58

These are hard corals

Agariciidae sp.1 which have deep

walls. They are seen

as brown in their

surface and white in

the edge.

These are soft corals

Lobophytum sp.1 with tiny white polyps

on their surface. They

are as yellow in colour

and will form a thick

and wide colony.

These are soft corals

Lobophytum sp. 2 with thin walled valleys

and widely spaced

septa. They form a flat

plate – like colony.

 59

These are massive

Poritidae sp.1 hard corals. They are

seen as brown in

colour. They form a

huge colony

enveloping their

substrate.

These are soft corals.

Sarcophyton sp.1 They are hairy and

they have valleys on

their groovy surface.

They are seen yellow

in colour. They form

thick and wide colony.

Sarcophyton sp.2 These are soft corals.

They are usually seen

as white or yellow or

green in colour
 60

These are soft corals

Sarcophyton sp.3 which are yellow in

colour and they have

white polyps on their

surface. They form a

wide wavy colony.

These are species of

Sarcophyton sp.4 soft corals. They are

seen as white colour

and they have

branches.

These are hairy soft

Sarcophyton sp.5 corals with polyps.

They are brown and

yellow in colour. They

form thick and wide

colonies with valleys in

their surfaces.
 61

These are soft corals

Sarcophyton sp.6 with narrow walls and

flat surface. They are

seen white in colour,

forming a flat colony.

These are soft corals

Sarcophyton sp. 7 with flat surface. They

are seen as light

yellow in colour. And

they form a flat colony.

These are soft corals

Sinularia sp. 1 with soft corallites.

They form a plate – like

or tabulate colonies.
 62

These are soft corals

Sinularia sp.2 with soft corallites.

which are seen as

yellow or white in

colour.

Sinularia sp. 3 These are soft white

corals forming a plate

or tabulate colonies

with taller branch.

These are soft corals.

Sinularia sp.4 They are seen as

yellow in colour. They

resemble as thick

plate – like colony.

 63

These are hard corals

Sinularia sp.5 with branches which

are seen as yellow or

white in colour.

These are hairy soft

Sinularia sp.6 corals having long

tentacles which

appear yellow in

colour. They are not a

branching type of soft

coral.

These are hard

Species 1 species of corals.

They are seen as gray

in colour with

branches forming a

colony.
 64

These are soft corals.

Species 2 which have shallow

walls without any hairs

or polyps. They

appear purple in

colour.

These are species of

Species 3 fan – like structure of

hard corals. They

have bumpy massive

plate or crust.

These are hard corals

Species 4 forming a massive

colony. They appear

as green in colour with

a circular shape.

Species 5 These are boulder

hard corals. They are

seen as dark brown or

gray in colour.
 65

This is a hard massive

Species 6 brain coral with wide

sharp/ narrow upper

edge. It forms a

groove on the top of

the walls.

These are hard coral

Species 7 species with branches

and single stems.

They form a circular

colony.

These are soft coral.

Species 8 They are seen as

yellow in colour. They

form a flat plate – like

colony with valleys in

the surface.
 66

These are hard corals,

Species 9 seen as rocky and

gray in colour. They

form a massive

circular colony.

These are hard corals,

Species 10 resembling species

26, but they form a flat

and not a circular

colony.

These are hard corals.

Species 11 They are also brain

corals with sharp

grooves and deep

walls. They are seen

as white in colour.
 67

These are hard corals

Species 12 resembling species 6

and 24, butr they have

deep walls and distinct

holes. They could be

yellow or white in

colour.

These are soft corals

Species 13 resembling species 4,

but they have smaller

branches than species

4. They are seen as

yellow in colour with

white hairs.

These are hard corals,

Species 14 type of brain corals

that have narrow walls

and grooves. They

usually form a huge

circular colony.
 68

These are corals, with

Species 15 deep valleys. They

form a circular colony.

They usually appear

as gray in colour.

These are species of

Species 16 soft corals having an

ear - like structure.

They appear dark

green in colour.

These are hard corals

Species 17 with shell – like

structures. They

resemble mushroom

corals.

This is a hard corals

Species 18 which appears purple

in color and has a

short and thick

branch.
 69

This is a flat hard coral

Species 19 species. It appears

white and Looks like a

bee’s nest.
 70

Apppendix E

GRAMMARIAN CERTIFICATE
 71

CURRICULUM VITAE

GERMAN C. DALUCAN
Malungon Gamay Mlungon, Sarangani Province
Contact Number: +639107108246
Email Address: german_dalucan@yahoo.com

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Age 21 years old

Gender Male
Date of Birth August 08, 1994
Civil status Single
Religion One Way Outreach

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

TERTIARY Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education m

Major in Biological Science
University of Mindanao Digos Campus
Roxas Extension, Digos City, Davao Del Sur
S.Y: 2012-present

SECONDARY Malungon Gamay National High School

Malungon Gamay, Malungon, Sarangani
Province
S.Y: 2008-2012

ELEMENTATRY Malungon Gamay Elementary School

Malungon Gamay Malungon, Sarangani
Province
S.Y: 2002-2008
 72

CURRICULUM VITAE

JHON MARK BOLIVAR

Bitaug Barangay Zone IV Davao Del Sur
Contact Number: +63123970058
Email Address: kenpogs31@yahoo.com

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Age 19 years old

Gender Male
Date of Birth April 6, 1996
Civil status Single
Religion Roman Catholic

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

TERTIARY Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education

Major in Biological Science
University of Mindanao Digos Campus
Roxas Extension, Digos City Davao Del Sur
S.Y: 2012-present

SECONDARY Sta. Cruz National High School

Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur
S.Y: 2008-2012

ELEMENTARY Agripina Elementary School

Sta. Cruz Davao Del Sur
S.Y: 2002-2008
 73

CURRICULUM VITAE

RENATO D. AGRAVIO JR
Balabag Digos City
Contact Number: +63463009404
Email Address: renatojragarvaio@gmail.com

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Age 20 years old

Gender Male
Date of Birth December 21, 1994
Civil status Single
Religion Roman Catholic

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

TERTIARY Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education

Major in Biological Science
University of Mindanao Digos Campus
Roxas Extension, Digos City, Davao Del Sur
S.Y: 2012- present

SECONDARY Digos City National High School

Rizal Avenue, Digos City
S.Y: 2008-2012

ELEMENTARY Balabag Elementary School

Balabag Digos City
S.Y: 2002-2008
74