Rey Malvin A.

Pallomina Bio 196 Section 2

Speciation and Species Diversity in the Coral Triangle Megadiversity

February 9, 2018

Maria Celia D. Malay

Division of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Philippines Visayas

Species of Calcinus hermit crabs are most diverse in one of the four major tropical marine
biogeographic regions, in the West Pacific which is the main focus of the study, specifically
in the Indo-Malayan “coral-triangle”. The ‘coral-triangle’ is the center of interest of this study
because of the three underlying theories (1) it is the cradle of biodiversity, (2) it is the
museum of biodiversity, and lastly (3) the center of overlap. There were 43 described species
and thirty three are found in West Pacific. Species of these crabs have distinct and striking
color pattern that may be observed and they are distinguishable by these coloration. Using
morphological, color pattern, and mitochondrial DNA evidence to validate certain hermit
crab species and find out new species in the Philippines, specifically in the central Visayan
region during the PANGLAO 2004 expedition. It established that the hypothesis of being the
center of diversity in the coral triangle is not really in the coral triangle but in the Western
Oceania. Also, there are 8 new species that were identified in these areas and it was identified
through their unique pattern and distinctive coloration present on their carapace.

The presentation was elaborate and was discussed thoroughly, the presenter showed pictures
that could incorporate and backup the study claims and differentiate the newly discoverd
species.
Rey Malvin A. Pallomina Bio 196 Section 2

Valorization of Brown Seaweeds through Alginate

Extraction for Fruit and Fish Post – harvest Preservation

February 10, 2018

Hilario S. Taberna, Jr.

Iloilo Science and Technology University

There are approximately twenty species of brown algae found in the Panay and Guimaras
Islands. Brown seaweeds are abundant in the coastal waters of San Dionisio, Iloilo. However,
these seaweeds are not utilized as a food source and for other purposes, especially to the
economy of the community, according to the locals of the town in Iloilo. Unlike the red
seaweeds that is being harvested in Iloilo, brown seaweed has no demand in the market. In
2011 to 2013, there was a massive harvesting of brown seaweed species as a raw material for
fertilizers which led to a loss and destruction of natural habitat. But in San Dionisio, Iloilo,
brown seaweeds are a biological pollutant that causes hindrance in red seaweed farming
because brown seaweeds destroy the propagation lines. Studies have shown that brown
seaweeds are the main source of a natural product called alginate, a polysaccharide utilized
by industries in the production of foods, textiles, cosmetics, and biomedical and
pharmaceutical products. In agriculture, alginate is used as an edible coating for fruit and fish
for postharvest preservation.

Alginates are extracted and characterized from different species of local brown seaweed,
Sargassum oligocystum and Padina sanctae-crusis, to identify the percentage yield of
alginate in the different species of brown seaweed, and the characteristics of the extracted
alginate from the different species of brown seaweed. This method establishes the potential of
each brown seaweed species as a material for alginate mass production and their rightful
application for industrial use. The extracted alginate is applied as a coating material for
mangoes to prolong their shelf life and maintain their quality while exposed in various
environmental changes. Mangoes are climactic in nature and undergo major negative change
after harvest due to the rise in temperature during respiration. Mango fruits that are marketed
are stored in ambient environment which promotes rapid decay. Alginate are also used in
preservation of fish by acting as a coating material to further extend their storage time and
extend their shelf life, just like the mangoes. Based on the results of the study, the extracted
alginates are suitable for cell encapsulation for biomedical or environmental application.
Alginate extract, 1.5% solution, could minimize the spoilage level of fishes for up to three
months when applied to fish sold in the market, and a 3% solution of extract, could also
minimize the spoilage level of mangoes for up to fourteen days. But further studies are
needed to improve the application of the coating material to minimize the sacrifice in terms
of aesthetic of the product.

The presentation was not effective in a sense because of the wordiness of the presentation and
the figures used do not have labels to specify what the images convey.
Rey Malvin A. Pallomina Bio 196 Section 2

Bioactive Glycosaminoglycans from Silver Banded Whiting Fish Head

February 09, 2018

Dr. Bernadeth F. Ticar

Iloilo Science and Technology University

The fishery industry plays a huge role in the Philippine economy since the country is rich in
marine resources. Commonly, fish processing industries are located near the coastal areas in
which fish processing waste (heads, skeleton and viscera) are discarded in the marine
ecosystem. This is considered inefficient residue management. The aim of the project is to
increase the profitability of fish processing and to lessen the fish waste discarded in the
environment. The heads of the silver banded whiting fish heads contain hyaluronic acid,
which has anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and whitening properties that is
marketable and in-demand among drug companies and cosmetic industries worldwide. The
study, specifically, aims to extract and quantify the percent yield of the hyaluronic acid, a
bioactive glycosaminoglycans, that were obtained from the fish heads. There was a
significant result of 1% yield which is considered a great yield for other sources of hyaluronic
acid only yield lesser than 1%. The study will continue to further investigate on the
characterization and biocompatibility assessment of the hyaluronic acid extract so that it
would be commercialized and mass produced for pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies.
The development of this study would greatly benefit the fishery industries with more income
and job opportunities.

The presentation was technical that some terms were not discussed thoroughly and were not
understood by the audience, but in a way Dr. Ticar’s presentation was effective since the
objectives, and the key findings were presented in a manner that the audience understood
what the study was trying to convey.
Rey Malvin A. Pallomina Bio 196 Section 2

Phytosociological Survey of Island Flora: Preliminary Results

from Taklong Island National Marine Reserve

February 9, 2018

Dr. Resurreccion B. Sadaba et al.

Division of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Philippines Visayas

Phytosociological studies were done to study and determine the species composition of the
island flora, to establish the relationship of plant communities to their environment, and to
find out and understand the changes that occurred in the environment over time. It is also
used to help establish a relationship between varying species. Philippines, an archipelagic
island which is composed of groups of small and smaller islands, that is composed of low
species diversity and acts as a reservoir of flora which has distinct characteristics and are
highly specialized. Small islands are used for studying ecological processes because of the
endemic species that are only found in these islands such as in Taklong Island, Guimaras.
The study was about the identification of the plant species composition and community
structure of Taklong Island, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

Eighty-four species were recorded which was identified through collective data gathering in
different islands around the area. Invasive species were also identified which is not good for
the native species because these invasive plants tend to compete with the limited resources
which is only adequate for the native plant species. Diversity of the plant species in the island
was greatly affected due to recent industrialization and being a tourist attraction, which may
have caused the deterioration of the island’s plant composition, thus it is important to
determine and record to tract the flora that is found in these islands in Taklong.

The presentation was interesting because the speaker engaged with the audience which
caught their attention and focused to the presentation. Also, the presenter used quality
pictures which is important so that the audience at the back could see with clarity. The main
points of the study were conveyed evidently to the audience.
Rey Malvin A. Pallomina Bio 196 Section 2

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria for Plant Immunity

February 10, 2018

Marilyn Sumayo et al.

Division of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Philippines Visayas

Pepper is one of the important vegetable crops with a high economic value because it is a
common spice that is used in preparing many traditional Korean foods. During cultivation in
greenhouses and in fields, plant diseases such as bacterial spot disease, phytophthora blight,
and damping-off disease causes massive yield loss which then hurt the profit of pepper farm
industries. Different approaches were practiced such as chemical control methods, cultural
control methods, and biological control agents were also applied. But over time, chemical
applications that were used for disease control accumulate residual waste in the environment
which causes human and animal toxicity. The residual waste could also give rise to resistant
pathogens to the chemical used for disease management. For these reasons, the use of
rhizosphere bacteria (rhizobacteria) has been widely studied for eco-friendly biological
control as the best alternative to the chemicals. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)
are capable of causing induced systemic resistance (ISR) in pepper against bacterial spot
disease. The study aimed to determine whether plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria strains
(KUDC1013, KUDC1065, and E681) either singly or in combinations were capable to have
the capacity for biological control and plant growth promotion effect in field trials.

This study showed that pepper plants treated with mixtures of PGPR strains have
significantly higher fresh and dry weights than those treated with single strains. All PGPR
strains used induced systemic resistance against the bacterial spot disease with an increasing
trend of effectiveness from single strains to the mixture of different PGPR strains. Though
the disease protection of the mixture of strains were not different to the single PGPR strains.
Strain KUDC1013 can cause systemic protection from bacterial spot disease in young pepper
seedlings whereas, the strain KUDC1065 showed ISR effects in old pepper seedlings. This
suggested that different strains of PGPR have different mechanisms in causing the induced
systemic resistance. The treatment of pepper with mixtures of PGPR stains might be
considered as potential biological control agents for growth promotion and protection from
bacterial spot disease under greenhouse and field conditions.

The presenter used quality pictures for the presentation to back her claims such as figures and
tables and graphs. The presenter also conveyed the key points of the study with clarity but the
lecture was too technical so some parts were not understood.