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University

of Santo Tomas
College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

A Study on the Biodiversity of Invertebrates and Seagrasses from


Silaqui Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan.
Tan, Eugene Francis U.1, Tuazon, Maria Felicia D.1, Valenzuela, Kim Patricia Nicole P.1, Villaseran, Janina Myka
G.1, & Vivas, Angelli Mutya L.1 GRP 8- 4BIO4
1

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS ESPAA, MANILA 1508

Abstract
Pangasinan has been exposed to many natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and storm surges due to
its geographical location, topography and the presence of vast rivers that greatly affect those living in the low lying
areas. In order to conserve biodiversity, estimations was done to evaluate Pangasinans biodiversity. The aim this
study is to determine level of biodiversity of invertebrates and seagrasses in the coastal region of Silaqui islands,
Bolinao, Pangasinan using statistical methods. In addition, this study also aims to identify species of invertebrates
and seagrasses in the mentioned location. Random sampling was done on 3 sites in the coasts of Salaqui island,
Pangasinan . The sites to be sampled are three 5 to 10-1x1 meter quadrats from the shore, as the starting point,
moving towards the sea, as the end point. Species richness was calculated using the the Shannon-Weiner diversity
index and the species evenness was investigated through the Simpsons index. Upon deliberation of results, the data
was treated using Kruskal-Wallis test. From the results of the Shannon-Weiner index can be deduced that the
individuals in the population is distributed evenly. With an H value lesser than the critical value, it is then proved
that at least for the sites studied the diversity is the same throughout.

Silaqui island, Pangasinan, Thallasia hemprichii, Shannon-Weiner, Simpsons Index, Kruskal-Wallis test

Introduction

in northwestern Luzon, bounded in the north by


La Union province, in the east by Nueva Ecija

The Philippines is the most biodiverse tropical

province, in the south by Tarlac province, and in

country located on the southeastern part of Asia.

the west by Zambales province. The provinces

It is an archipelago composed of 7,107 islands. It

coastal area is endowed with productive coastal

is one of the 17 mega-diversity countries, which

ecosystems, such as seagrass, coral reefs and

between themselves contain 70 to 80 percent of

mangroves that provide fishing grounds.

global biodiversity. The countrys marine waters


cover 2,210,000 km2 with a coastline of 22,450

Aside from these natural calamities,

km and an estimated 27,000 km2 of coral reefs

current trends in coastal migration and the

(Ong et al.). Pangasinan is one of the largest

increasing human activities on land, coasts and

provinces in Region I and in the country located

seas have exerted pressure on the sustaining

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

capacity of coastal and marine areas (Ong, et al.).

some of the few issues being faced by coast of

These also amplify the risks of environmental

Pangasinan. In order to conserve biodiversity,

degradation, destruction of vital coastal habitats,

estimations

loss

Pangasinans

of

marine

biological

diversity

and

must

be

done

biodiversity.

to

evaluate

Therefore,

the

deterioration of near shore water quality. Coral

objective of this study is to determine level of

reefs have experienced dramatic degradation and

biodiversity of invertebrates and seagrasses in

decline due to natural calamities, climate change

the coastal region of Silaqui islands, Bolinao,

impacts like coral bleaching and unabated human

Pangasinan using statistical methods. In addition,

pressures like overfishing, sedimentation and

this study also aims to identify species of

domestic pollution. Most seagrass beds are

invertebrates and seagrasses in the mentioned

moderately degraded and destroyed due to

location.

erosion and mine tailings.


Methodology
Philippines is the largest contributor to
the high biodiversity of the Indo-Pacific center

Research design. Random sampling was done on

(Carpteter & Springer, 2005). Biodiversity plays

3 sites in the coasts of Silaqui island, Pangasinan

a big role in the economy. Its vast flora and

(map shown, Figure 1-A,B). The sites to be

fauna are the main source of livelihood and

sampled are three 5 to 10-1x1 meter quadrats

income in coastal areas. One of the known sites

from the shore, as the starting point, moving

for fisheries in the country is in Pangasinan

towards the sea, as the end point. The rationale

where corals and commercial fishes dominate the

of this design is to compare presence of various

seafloors.

biodiversity,

species in 3 sites and to ensure variety of flora

Philippines is also at risk for marine danger and

and fauna in order to evaluate the overall

efforts have been made to conserve marine life.

biodiversity of the area.

Despite

its

vast

Marine extinction and coral bleaching are just

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

Figure 1: (A) Philippine map, marked with a red star symbolizing Silaqui island, (B) Silaqui
island with a red line marking site A, blue line marking site B and green line marking site C,
(C) Quadrat used in the field.

Research instrument. A experiment utilized a

where the species lay were also noted estimating

one 20-meter rope/string marked every meter, a

its mineral composition.

1x1 meter plastic quarter grid embedded with


stable ropes (Figure 1-C) swimming equipment,

Statistical treatment. Upon deliberation of

underwater camera, and field notebook for note

results, the data was treated using Kruskal-Wallis

taking.

test. This non-parametric statistical analysis


enabled the analysis of data in between ranks and

Research sampling. The 20-meter line will be

medians. This method enabled the test for

laid from the shore towards the sea. At every 1-2

overlap attribute, diversity, maximum diversity,

meter interval, a quadrat grid was placed.

evenness and dominance indexes comparisons. It

Presence of invertebrates and seagrasses were

also determined the difference between sites and

counted per selected quadrat and pictures were

percent cover and density of seagrasses species

taken for documentary purposes. The substrate

were studied.

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

Results and Discussion


Site A
From the selected quadrats within the first 5

species. While the selected quadrats within 5-10

meters show a total of 53 Littorina littorea, 1

meters from the shore contain 1 Ulva lactuca and

Ulva lactuca and 12 Thalassia hemprichii

41 Thalassia hemprichii species.

An estimate of 49% of site A consists of

first five meters of the site is seen to have a 90%

Thalassia hemprichii species and an equal 49%

dead coral and 10% fine sand substrate while the

of Littorina littorea, while a meager 2 % belongs

next 5-10 meter are observed to be 80% fine

to Ulva lactuca species as seen in Figure 2. The

sand and 20% dead coral substrate.

A transect line from site A shows a

Littorina littorea with 28% and lease populated

distribution wherein majority (48%) of the

by Ulva lactuca with 24% as seen in Figure 3.

species are Thalassia hemprichii followed by




49%

49%

28%

Littorina
littorea

48%

Ulva lactuca

2%

Littorina
littorea
Ulva
lactuca

Thalassia
hemprichii

Thalassia
hemprichii
24%

Figure 3:Estimate of the distribution of organisms at


site A from the average of the transect line data.

Figure 2:Estimate of the distribution of organisms at


site A from the average of the quadrat data.

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

lactuca species as seen in Figure 4. The first five


meters of the site is seen to have a 100% dead

Site B

coral substrate while the next 5-10 meter are


From the selected quadrats within the

observed to be 30% fine sand and 70% dead

first 5 meters show a total of 84 Littorina

coral substrate.

littorea, 1 Ulva lactuca and 5 Thalassia


A transect line from site B shows a

hemprichii species. While the selected quadrats

distribution wherein majority (52%) of the

within 5-10 meters from the shore contain 14

species are Thalassia hemprichii followed by

Littorina littorea and 41 Thalassia hemprichii

Littorina littorea with 41% and lease populated

species. An estimate of 67% of site B consists of

by Ulva lactuca with 7% as seen in Figure 5.

Littorina littorea species followed by 32% of


Thalassia hemprichii, while 1 % belongs to Ulva

41%

32%

Littorina
littorea
67%

Littorina
littorea
52%

Ulva lactuca

Ulva
lactuca

1%
Thalassia
hemprichii

7%

Thalassia
hemprichii

Figure 4:Estimate of the distribution of organisms at


site B from the average of the quadrat.

Figure 5:Estimate of the distribution of organisms at


site B from the average of the transect line data.


Ulva lactuca and 194 Thalassia hemprichii

Site C

species. An estimate of 89% of site A consists of


From the selected quadrats within the

Thalassia hemprichii species followed by 7% of

first 5 meters show a total of 13 Littorina

Ulva lactuca, while 1 % belongs to Littorina

littorea, 14 Ulva lactuca and 125 Thalassia

littorea species as seen in Figure 6. The first five

hemprichii species. While the selected quadrats

meters of the site is seen to have a 100% dead

within 5-10 meters from the shore contain 12

coral substrate while the next 5-10 meters are

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

observed to be 60% fine sand and 40% dead

pointed shell (Raynor & Rundle, 2015). These

coral substrate.

are small edible sea snails attached to the rocky


ocean floors of Pangasinan. Ulva lactuca is

4% 7%

89%

characterized by leafy appearance, hence its


Littorina
littorea

common name sea lettuce (van der Wal et

Ulva
lactuca

hemprichii also known as the sea grass is also

al.,2013: Djop et al., 2016). Lastly, Thalassia


common to coastal regions of the country and

Thalassia
hemprichii

dominates majority of the seafloor of Pangasinan


(Suphapon et al., 2013: Tanaka et al.,2014).

Figure 6:Estimate of the distribution of organisms at


site C from the average of the quadrat.

Species Evenness
Species evenness refers to how close

A transect line from site C shows a

each individual in a population is therefore

distribution wherein majority (84%) of the

quantifying the equal the distribution of each

species are Thalassia hemprichii followed by

individual. The evenness in the given population

Littorina littorea with 10% and lease populated

can be represented by the Shannon-Weiner

by Ulva lactuca with 6% as seen in Figure 7.

diversity index (H).


10% 6%
Littorina
littorea

Table 1: Values used and generated for the


Shannon-Weiner diversity index.

Ulva
lactuca

84%

Thalassia
hemprichii

Pi (n/N)

ln(pi)

(pi)*(ln(pi))

10

0.2222

-1.5042

-0.3342

0.1111

-2.1973

-0.2441

30

0.6667

-0.4054

-0.2703
H = 0.8486

Sum=

Figure 7:Estimate of the distribution of organisms at


site C from the average of the transect line data.

45

Species Identification
The variable pi (abundance) denotes the

Collected species of invertebrates and


seagrasses were identified to be the following:

portion

Littorina littorea, Ulva lactuca, and Thalassia

population. Variable H then signifies true

hemprichii. Species were confirmed by their

diversity among the population. The value of H

morphological characteristics. Littorina littorea

ranges from 0-1, if the value generated fails to

also

is

nest within the range, it is assumed that the

characterized by broadly ovate, thick and sharply


species is not evenly distributed within the

known

as

common

periwinkle

of

individuals

counted

from

the

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

population. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index

2.0408, where a higher value denotes greater

computed is 0.8486 therefore it can be deduced

diversity.

that the individuals in the population is not


evenly distributed

Kruskal-Wallis Statistical test


The

Species Richness

kruskal-wallis

test

is

non-

parametric test on ranks (which is the equivalent


of the one-way anova). This compares two or

The Shannon-Weiner index increases

more groups of the same or equal size

richness and evenness of the total population.

independent of each other (Lane et al. 2013).

Researchers prefer to measure the species

This test identifies whether there is a dominant

dominance since evenness and richness are

species and whether this dominance is the same

complimentary. To measure dominance,

in all the sites sampled. Using the values from

Simpsons index (D) is needed.

the transect line, the data was subjected to the


Kruskal Wallis test and yielded an H value (H=
0.088) less than the critical value or P value

Table 2: Values used and generated for the


Simpsons index.

(5.99) as seen in Table 3. Given this we have

Species

(n)

n(n-1)

accepted our null hypothesis, which implies that

L. littorea

10

90

for the three sites there is common dominant

U. lactuca

20

T. hemprichii

30

870

Total (N)

45

980

specie and the distribution is somewhat same


throughout.
Table 3: Values used and generated for the
Kruskal-Wallis test.

Simpsons index (D) is the measure wherein the


probability of 2 individuals take at random will

Site A

belong to the same group of species. The values

obtained in chart gives weight to the species with

17

most abundance. Simpsons index of diversity

14

24

53

calculated is equal to 0.49. D value ranges from

Tc

15 Tc

16

Tc

14

0-1, which denotes that the greater the value the

P value = 5.99

H = 0.088

lesser the diversity. On the other hand,

df = 2

= 0.05

Simpsons reciprocal index ranges from 1 as the


minimum value and the number of total samples
as the maximum value. The obtained value is

Site B

Site C

University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

In an instance wherein the H value was

(H) species richness was determined which was

seen greater than the critical value, and the null

calculated to be 0.28. It can be deduced that the

hypothesis was rejected, a post hoc in the form

individuals in the population is not distributed

of the Mann-Whitney must be done to compare

evenly. On the other hand, species evenness was

the diversity of the sites.

calculated using Simpsons index (D). Simpsons


index of diversity is equal to 0.49, and from

Conclusion

index (D), reciprocal of Simpsons index can be

Sampling was conducted in 3 different

determined and calculated to be 2.0408. A higher

sites of Silaqui island in Pangasinan. Collected

value of reciprocal signifies a higher level of

samples were identified using morphological

diversity. The kruskal-wallis test was done to

comparisons

Using

evaluate if the diversity of species was the same

combined transect and quadrat method, species

in all three sites. With an H value lesser than the

evenness and species richness were determined.

critical value, it is then proved that at least for

The

the sites studied the diversity is the same

of

calculated

its

value

characteristics.

for

Shannon-Weiner

diversity index (H) is 0.308, and from the index

throughout.

References:
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Arabejo, G. F. P. (2015). Nutrient Enrichment, Sedimentation, Heavy Metals and Plastic Pollution
in the Marine Environment and its Implications on Philippine Marine Biodiversity: A
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element contamination and bioaccumulation in algae (Ulva lactuca), mussels (Perna perna),
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Senegalese coast. Marine pollution bulletin.
Dizon, R. M., and Yap, H. T. (1999). Short-term responses of coral microphytobenthic communities to
inorganic nutrient loading. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Inc.
Fortes, M. D. (2012). Historical review of seagrass research in the Philippines.

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Department of Biological Sciences


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Gaither, M. R., & Rocha, L. A. (2013). Origins of species richness in the Indo Malay Philippine
biodiversity hotspot: evidence for the centre of overlap hypothesis. Journal of
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von der Heyden, S., Beger, M., Toonen, R. J., van Herwerden, L., Juinio-Meez, M. A., Ravago-Gotanco,
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open partial nephrectomy. The Journal of urology,190(1), 44-49.
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Supaphon, P., Phongpaichit, S., Rukachaisirikul, V., & Sakayaroj, J. (2013). Antimicrobial potential of
endophytic fungi derived from three seagrass species: Cymodocea serrulata, Halophila ovalis and
Thalassia hemprichii.PloS one, 8(8), e72520.

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Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

Tanaka, Y., Go, G. A., Watanabe, A., Miyajima, T., Nakaoka, M., Uy, W. H., ... & Fortes, M. D. (2014).
17-year change in species composition of mixed seagrass beds around Santiago Island, Bolinao,
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herbvores in seagrass communities. Estuaries, 7(4), 351-376.
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seaweed Ulva lactuca.Bioresource technology, 128, 431-437.
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G. A. (2009). Accelerating loss of seagrasses across the globe threatens coastal
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Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services. Science, 314(5800), 787-790.

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University of Santo Tomas


College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

APPENDIX I - Organisms found in 5 random quadrats within the first five (1-5) meters from shore
at site A
Quadrat

Littorina littorea

Ulva lactuca

Thalassia hemprichii

1. 2

2. 24

25

3. 13

4. 19

5. 10

53

12

TOTAL

APPENDIX II: Organisms found in 5 random quadrats within five to ten (5-10) meters from shore
at site A
Quadrat

Littorina littorea

Ulva lactuca

Thalassia hemprichii

1. 7

14

2. 9

3. 12

4. 19

5. 23

13

41

TOTAL

APPENDIX III: Organisms found within the 10 meter transect line from the shore of site A











Organisms

Count

1. Littorina littorea

2. Ulva lactuca

3. Thalassia hemprichii

14

11

University of Santo Tomas


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BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

APPENDIX IV: Organisms found in 5 random quadrats within the first five (5) meters from the
shore at site B.
Quadrat

Littorina littorea

Ulva lactuca

Thalassia hemprichii

1. 3

21

2. 7

12

3. 11

4. 5

50

5. 19

84

TOTAL

APPENDIX V: Organisms found in 5 random quadrats within five to ten (5-10) meters from shore
at site B.
Quadrat

Littorina littorea

Ulva lactuca

Thalassia hemprichii

1. 3

2. 7

3. 11

10

4. 5

11

5. 19

14

41

TOTAL

APPENDIX VI: Organisms found within the 10 meter transect line from the shore of site B








Organisms

Count

1. Littorina littorea

17

2. Ulva lactuca

3. Thalassia hemprichii

24

12

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BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

APPENDIX VII: Organisms found in 5 random quadrats within the first five (5) meters from the
shore at site C.
Quadrat

Thalassia

Littorina littorea

Ulva lactuca

1. 1

10

23

2. 5

12

3. 13

30

4. 22

25

5. 25

35

13

14

125

TOTAL

hemprichii

APPENDIX VIII: Organisms found in 5 random quadrats within five to ten (5-10) meters from
shore at site C.
Quadrat

Littorina littorea

Ulva lactuca

Thalassia hemprichii

1. 3

29

2. 14

45

3. 16

30

4. 20

41

5. 21

49

12

194

TOTAL

APPENDIX IX: Organisms found within the 10 meter transect line from the shore of site C








Organisms

Count

1. Littorina littorea

2. Ulva lactuca

3. Thalassia hemprichii

53

13

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College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences


BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

APPENDIX X: Computation for the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index



=
=
= .
=
= . .
= . ~ .

APPENDIX XI: Computation for the Simpsons Index

( )
( )

()

! () = .
!

14

= .

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BIO203L A.Y. 2015-2016

APPENDIX XI: Computation for the Kruskal Wallis Test

( + )

=

( + )

+ +

( + )
( + )

= .

Ho: All three sites are similar in terms of dominant species and general biodiversity.
Ha: One or two of the three sites are dissimilar in terms of dominant species and general biodiversity.
Crit value = 5.99
= 0.05
df = 3-1 = 2
H< Crit value
Since H < Crit value, ACCEPT HO

15

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