Objectives

The objectives of the study are the following:

1) To quantify macroalgal biomass in the selected MPAs and non-MPAs in Danjugan

island.

2) To describe macroalgal species composition, abundance, and distribution in the selected

areas

3) To differentiate macroalgal biomass and biodiversity between selected MPAs and non-

MPAs.
 Chapter III

Methodology

I. Materials

500 m transect line

50x50 cm square quadrats

Collection bags and jars

II. Area Identification

Three general separate areas are identified in the sampling which are further divided into

two each—these areas will be a combination of MPAs and non-MPAs—while a fourth area,

identified to be a non-MPA, will serve as a control. Species collection and identification will be

conducted in these areas within a five to six day period between the 4th and 11th of April, 2011.

Sampling will only be done once per area, i.e. once collection has been conducted in one

MPA no further collection shall be done in that location.

III. Sampling Method

The transect line method will be used in conducting the research. A transect line is laid

out across the desired area beginning from the shoreline towards a determined endpoint. The

total length of the line will range from approximately 100m up to 500m. Square quadrats are

placed at predetermined points. The interval between the points will vary between sampling

areas due to differences in the total length of the line therefore the distance between two intervals

will be the 10% approximate of the total span of the transect line (e.g. a 100m transect line would
yield points at every 10m). A single 50x50cm square quadrat is randomly placed within the

determined interval.

A total of 5 transect lines will be laid out at each designated area.

All macroalgal species enclosed within the quadrat will be collected. Percent cover of

unique species will be estimated from surface observation. Collection will resume until all points

along the line have been sampled. All samples from a single quadrat will be placed in a net bag.

Once collection has been completed in a specified area, species segregation will be done. Species

that have been separated and identified will have their initial fresh/wet weight quantified. Four

voucher specimens representing each unique species will be preserved in a formalin solution

contained in either a zip lock bag or a glass jar.

After all areas have been sampled, the retrieved specimens will be taken back to the

University of St. La Salle. Collected species will be oven dried and their dry weights retrieved.

Chosen voucher specimens will be subjected to a plant press in order to preserve it in a

herbarium.

Physiochemical properties of the sampling areas—water temperature, water pH, and

dissolved oxygen—will also be obtained and these shall be correlated with the physical data

obtained from the species samples.

IV. Analysis of Data

Biomass of each individual species taken from a quadrat will be derived from the product

of the estimated percent cover of each species with the difference of their dry and fresh weights.

Biomass of sp. (g) = Est. % cover x (/fresh weight – dry weight/)

 For example, species 1 has an estimated percent cover of 30% and initial fresh weight is

quantified to be at 0.60 g. After oven drying, the sample is weighed again and is now at 0.30 g.

Using the given formula, biomass of that sample of species 1 will be 9 g.

All instances of a unique species occurring within an area are plotted against the quadrat

number and the total biomass is computed. Results obtained from MPAs shall be contrasted

against results obtained from non-MPAs.

Relative species abundance and species richness will also be quantified from the tally of

observed and sampled species. The general diversity of an area will be derived using the

Shannon-Weiner Index.