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IN-DEPTH COASTAL/MARINE RESOURCES SURVEY REPORT

FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF BUSUANGA

September 2006

Prepared for:

PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Palawan Center for Sustainable Development Sta. Monica Heights, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines 5300

Email: [email protected] Tel.: (63-48) 434-4235, Fax: 434-4234

Funded through a loan from :

JAPAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Prepared by:

PACIFIC CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL in association with

ALMEC Corporation CERTEZA Information Systems, Inc.

DARUMA Technologies Inc. Geo-Surveys & Mapping, Inc.

Photo Credits:

All photos by SEMP-NP ECAN Zoning Component Project Management Office

This report can be reproduced as long as the convenors are properly acknowledged as the source of information

Reproduction of this publication for sale or other commercial

purposes is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.

Printed by:

Futuristic Printing Press, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

Suggested Citation:

PCSDS. 2006. In-Depth Coastal/Marine Resources Survey Report for Busuanga Municipality

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

________________________________________________________________________ iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page List of Tables List of Figures

vi ix

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

xii

CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE RESOURCE SURVEY

1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1

2.0 OBJECTIVES 1 3.0 EXPECTED OUTPUT 2 4.0 METHODOLOGY

4.1 Date and Place of Survey and Location of Transect 4.2 Sampling Procedure 4.3 Field Methods 4.4 Data Processing and Analysis

2 2 2 4 6

5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5.1 Biodiversity Assessment

5.1.1 Species Composition and Distribution of Diversity Index

5.1.2 Ecological Diversity Indices 5.1.3 Similarity Index and Matrix 5.1.4 Analysis of Variance for Significant Differences of

Diversity Index 5.1.5 Cluster Analysis

8 8 8

10 14 17

18

5.2 Mangrove Forest Conditions and Structure 5.2.1 Mangrove Vegetation Structural Analysis 5.2.2 Average Stocking 5.2.3 Stand Volume 5.2.4 Average Mean Diameter 5.2.5 Average Mean Height 5.2.6 Average Basal Area 5.2.7 Regeneration Count and Abundance 5.2.8 Stand Stocking by Diameter Class and Species

5.2.9 Stand Volume by Diameter Class and Species

19 19 21 25 27 28 29 30 32 34

5.3 Mangrove Pattern of Uses and Existing Land Use/Forest

Condition 5.3.1 Existing Mangrove Condition 5.3.2 Pattern of Uses and Ecological State of Mangrove

37

37 38

________________________________________________________________________ iv

Title .4 Mangrove Management Zoning and Proposed Strategy 5.4.1 Ranking of Mangrove Sites for ECAN Zoning

5.4.2 Proposed Management Strategy

43 43 47

6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

54

CHAPTER 2. IN-DEPTH SEAGRASS SURVEY

71

7.0 INTRODUCTION 8.0 OBJECTIVES 9.0 METHODOLOGY 10.0 RESULTS 11.0 DISCUSSION 12.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

71 71 71 74 75 75

CHAPTER 3. IN-DEPTH CORAL REEF SURVEY

83

13.0 INTRODUCTION 14.0 OBJECTIVES 15.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 16.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 17.0 RESULTS 18.0 DISCUSSION 19.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 20.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

83 83 83 83 85 88 96 99

CHAPTER 4. IN-DEPTH REEF FISHES SURVEY

101

21.0 INTRODUCTION 22.0 OBJECTIVES 23.0 METHODOLOGY 24.0 RESULTS 24.1 General Results 24.1.1 Calumbayan Island (Site 1), 12.0124oN and 119.938oE 24.1.2 Tantangon Island (Site 2), 12.0124oN and 119.938oE 24.1.3 Denicolon Island (Site 3), 12.0124oN and 119.938oE 25.0 DISCUSSION 26.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

101 101 101 103 103 108 109 110

110 111

APPENDICES

• Mangrove • Reef Fishes

56 56 112

________________________________________________________________________ v

Title Page LIST OF REFERENCES

• Mangrove • Seagrass • Coral Reef • Reef Fishes

124 124 125 125 127

________________________________________________________________________ vi

List of Tables

Table No.

Title

Page

1 Location and Position of Belt Transects Surveyed, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003

2

2 List of True and Associate Mangrove Species Identified and Recorded, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

8

3

Distribution and Abundance of Top 11 Mangrove Species in the Different Sampling Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

10

4 The Diversity Indices of 30 Sampling Sites in Mangrove Forest Calculated Using Various Diversity Formula, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

12

5 The Relative Values of the Average Overall Diversity Index and Evenness based on Fernando Biodiversity Scale (1998), Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

13

6 Degree of Similarity based on Percent Diversity Index, Busuanga,Palawan, 2003

15

7 The RF, RDen, RDom, and IV of top 15 Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

19

8 Average Stocking (N/ha) of Timber and Pole Size Trees per Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2004

23

9 Stand Volume (m3/ha.) of Timber and Pole Size Trees by Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

26

10 Species Stocking (N/ha.) According to dbh Class with Percentage Distribution of Top Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

34

11 Species Volume (m3/ha.) Distribution by dbh Class with Percentage of Top Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

36

12 Area/Extent of Mangroves and Mudflats by Barangay, (JAFTA Maps, 1992), Busuanga, Palawan

37

________________________________________________________________________ vii

Table No.

Title

Page

13 Mangrove Index of Degradation and Ecological Condition Indices

based on Forest Structure and Ecological Diversity, Busuanga, Palawan 2003

40

14 Ranking of Mangrove for ECAN Zoning and Potential for Sustainable Uses, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

45

15 Factors Considered in Choosing Appropriate Management Strategy(ies) of Mangrove Area, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

48

16 Seagrass In-depth Survey Site Location and Description, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

73

17 Seagrass Description in the Proposed High Priority ECAN Core Zones, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

76

18 Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Shallow Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

87

19 Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Deep Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

89

20 List of Coral Genera found at the Survey Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

90

21 Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Shallow Station at Tantangon Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

92

22 Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Deep Station at Tantangon Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

94

23 Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Shallow Station at Calumboyan Is, Busuanga Palawan

97

24 Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Deep Station at Calumboyan Is, Busuanga, Palawan

98

25 Total species (number of species), abundance (individuals) and biomass (grams) of coral reef fish from 3 sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

104

26 Total Number of Species per Family for each Station, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

105

27 Total Abundance (individuals) per Family for each Station, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

106

________________________________________________________________________ viii

Table No.

Title

Page

28 Total Biomass (grams) per Family for each Station, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003

107

29 Total Abundance (individuals) of Different Feeding Guilds of Reef Fishes from 3 Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

108

30 Total Abundance of Reef Fish Categories at 3 Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

108

31 Total Fish Species, Abundance and Biomass per Station and per Depth at 3 Stations, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

109

________________________________________________________________________ ix

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Title Page

1 Cluster Analysis of 30 Transects, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

18

2 The Pattern of RF, Rden, Rdom and IV of top 15 Mangrove spp, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

20

3 The Index (C°) of Dominance of Top 15 Mangrove spp, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

21

4 Average Stocking (N/ha) per Transect of Timber, Pole and Total, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

22

5 Stocking (N/ha.) of Timber, Pole and Total of top 15 Diverse Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

25

6 Stand Volume (m3/ha.) of Timber, Pole and Total by Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

26

7 Average Mean Diameter at Breast Height (Dg) and Mean Diameter of Dominant Stand (Dho) of Timber and Pole Size (cm), Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

28

8 Mean Height (H) and Mean Height of Dominant (Ho) Stand of Timber and Pole in meter per Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

29

9 Average Basal Area (G) in m2/ha of Timber and Pole by Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

30

10 Regeneration Count (no./ha.) of top 15 Diverse Species, Busuanga, Palawan 2003

31

11 Regeneration Count (no./ha) of Top 5 Species per Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

31

12 Stocking (N/ha.) According to dbh Class of All Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

32

13 Stand Stocking (N/ha.) of Top 15 Diverse Species in Percentage, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

33

________________________________________________________________________ x


14 Pattern of Species Stocking (N/ha.) According to dbh Class of Top Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

34

15 Stand Volume (m3/ha) According to dbh Class with Percentage Distribution of All Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

35

16 Stand Volume (m3/ha.) According to Species with Percentage of Top 15 Diverse Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

35

17 Pattern Species Volume (m3/ha.) Distribution by dbh Class of Top Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

36

18 Survey Stations ( ) Visited for the Macrophyte Surveys, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003. (Base map courtesy of the ENRIS subcomponent of the Project)

72

19 Bottom Cover (%, mean ± SE) and Densities of Seagrasses Determined from the Sampling Units (Nquadrat per zone inside bars) that were Allocated at Random along Transects in the Various Strata of the Meadows, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

79

20 The Relationship of Observed Densities and Bottom Cover Estimates in the Strata (A-C) of Four Seagrass Sites Proposed as Core Zones, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

80

21 Seagrass Community Structure – Composition, Distribution, Densities – across the Bed Zones in the Four Meadows examined – (a) Cheey 1, (b) Cheey 2, (c) New Quezon, and (d) Japnay, east Calauit, Busuanga,Palawan, 2003

82

22 Measure Depths (uncorrected) and Canopy Heights of the Numerically Dominant Seagrass across the Strata of the Four Meadows, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

82

23 Coral Reef Sites for Baseline Surveys, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

84

24A Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for the Shallow Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

86

24B Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for the Deep Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga Island, Palawan, 2003

88

________________________________________________________________________ xi


25A Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for the Shallow Depth at Tantangon Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

91

26A Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for Shallow Depth at Calumboyan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

95

26B Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for Deep Station at Calumboyan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

95

27 Proposed Coral Reef Core Zones (circles), Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

100

28 Coral Reef Sites for Baseline Surveys, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

102

________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Municipality of Busuanga was identified as one of the two municipalities, Busuanga and El Nido, in Palawan for detailed ECAN Zones Management Planning under the SEMP-NP Project. These two areas were the subject of detailed assessments that employed detailed methodologies following the SEMP-NP Manual on Terrestrial and Coastal Field Surveys. The selected sites in the two areas for in-depth surveys for seagrass, coral reef and reef fishes were the pre-identified potential ECAN core zones based on the results of the previously conducted Baselines Studies . The assessment of mangrove was based solely on this in-depth survey.

MANGROVE

The in-depth mangrove survey for Busuanga municipality was undertaken to characterize its species biodiversity, forest structure and condition. The generated data were used to recommend appropriate management zoning of mangroves and recommend alternative management strategies/measures to strengthen locally-based management scheme(s). The survey was conducted from April to May 2003. The Belt Transect Method was employed where 10 m x 50 m plots were located along the transect. Based on a 0.1% sampling intensity, 30 transects distributed in 7 barangays and 1 protected area were selected for the survey.

The mangrove forest in Busuanga occupies a total land area of 1298.5 has (JAFTA 1992), The average stocking for the municipality is only 591 trees/has which can be described as logged over areas/open canopy based on DENR 1998 and FAO 1996 classification. The distribution in the order from largest to smallest areas are as follows: Calauit Island 422.00 has (32.52%), Bgy Sagrada 195.5 has (15.06%), Bgy Concepcion 135 has (10.40%), Bgy Bugtong 96 has (7.40%), Bgy Old Busuanga 96 has (7.40%), Bgy New Busuanga 92 has (7.08%), Bgy Sto Nino 74 has (5.70%), Bgy San Isidro 72.00 has (5.54%), Bgy Salvacion 54 has (4.16%), Bgy Buluang 32 has (2.46%), Bgy San Rafael 14 has (1.08%), Bgy Maglalambay 11.5 has (0.88%), and Bgy Panlaitan 4.0 has (0.31%). Generally, it was observed and recorded that Busuanga mangrove areas, except Calauit Island has been heavily exploited. Mangrove stands along the road and those formed in basin and extensive depression areas, which are accessible by land, are continuously subjected to cutting for charcoal, fuel wood, poles and piles.

There were 24 true and 28 associate mangrove species identified and recorded during the survey which belongs to 19 families and 36 genera of vascular plants. The most widely distributed species in Busuanga are Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Lumnitzera littorea, Caesalpinea cristae, Bruguiera cylindrica, Heritiera littorea, Excoecaria agallocha and Rhizophora stylosa. In terms of abundance, (total individuals in 30 transects) Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum and Rhizophora stylosa are the 3 most abundant occurring species.

Busuanga has an overall 1/D index diversity of 2.789 and equitability of 0.3974, N∞ index of 2.01, H1index of 1.504 and Dmg of 4.7302. The average overall index

________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xiii

diversity and Evenness/equitability index indicate that mangroves of Busuanga have a moderately high relative value of biodiversity based on Fernando Biodiversity Scale (1998). Furthermore, almost all of the mangrove areas in Busuanga has similarity in species composition, distribution and pattern of distribution, although the degree of similarity varies in species richness, abundance and dominance based on similarity indices between transects and degree of similarity of diversity index.

Overall, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for Significant Difference of Diversity Indeces showed that at alpha=0.001, there are differences in mean diversity indices of mangrove forest across the 30 transects.. Furthermore, the cluster analysis of similarity indices showed 3 distinct and different layers or groupings of transect that support the observation that mangrove species composition and distribution form a similar homogeneous pattern or zonation notably according to ground gradient/level and substrate. The mangrove Vegetation Structural Analysis based on computed values of Relative Frequency (RF), Relative Density (RDen), Relative Dominance (RDom) and Importance Value (IV) showed that R. apiculata (Ra) followed by R. mucronata (Rm) are the physiognomically dominant and important mangrove species in Busuanga. R. apiculata is also the most frequent and dense mangrove species recorded. The computed values for Index of Dominance among species and Regeneration Count and Abundance reflected the same rankings.

The average stocking for the municipality is only 591 trees/has which can be described as logged over areas/open canopy based on DENR 1998 and FAO 1996 classification. Only transects T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) and T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) has adequate stockings of 2,096 and 1,924 trees/ha, respectively. The remaining samples has either inadequate stocked/sparse canopy or logged over areas/open canopy stockings. As to volume, the mangrove forests of Busuanga have an average volume of 215.04 m3/ha, which falls in the middle volume range.

The average basal area of mangrove forest in Busuanga is 11.67 m2/ha. Out of the

total average basal area, 8.23 m2/ha is contributed by the timber size stand while 3.43 m2/ha is shared by the pole size stand. The mangrove stand in transect T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Island) covered the largest ground area of 52.92 m2/ha, of which 75% (39.57 m2/ha) is occupied by timber size stand. Meanwhile, stand stocking by diameter class and species, and distribution of wood volume to diameter showed that mangroves in Busuanga are generally of secondary and reproduction growth and are in stage of regeneration. R. apiculata and R. mucronata contributed the highest stocking of eighty three percent (83%) and ninety two percent (92%) of the total mangrove forest volume which again supported the qualitative observations that R. apiculata is the most diverse and physiognomically dominant mangrove species in Busuanga.

In terms of species-stocking distribution by diameter at breast height (dbh) class, the top ten (10) diverse species namely: Rhizopora apiculata (Ra), R. mucronata (Rm), Xylocarpus granatum (Xg), R stylosa (Rs), Ceriops decandra (Cd), C. tagal (Ct), Heritiera littorea (Hl), Bruguiera cylindrica (Bc), Lumnitzera littorea (Ll), and B. gymnorrhiza (Bg) are abundantly distributed in 10 cm dbh class with 40%, 47%, 40%, 41%, 44%, 44%, 38%, 32%, 19%, and 28%, respectively. Seventy percent of the stocking of C. decandra (Cd) (72%) and C. tagal (Ct) (70%) are in pole size which is within the dbh class of 5 and 10 cm. These species are small size trees which usually reach an average dbh of 10 cm when matured. R. stylosa (Rs), X. granatum (Xg), B. cylindrica (Bc), and B. gymnorrhiza

________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xiv

(Bg) are medium size trees which normally attain an average dbh of 30 cm upon maturity, while R. apiculata (Ra), R. mucronata (Rm), H. littorea (Hl), and Lumnitzera littorea (Ll) are large size trees which may attain at maturity an average dbh of 50 cm.

The recommended zoning and management strategy(ies) for the mangrove areas of Busuanga are based on the ranking of the summation of ecological indices (1=highest, 30=lowest) for all of the transects and on average stocking class, forest cover class, stand volume class, biodiversity index class, threatened endemic spp., and biodiversity hotspots. These are taken to be reflective of the current habitat/forest condition and structure, land uses, biodiversity status, potential for ecological tourist destination, habitation/settlement and source of living of indigenous people. Mangrove areas similar to forest conditions and structures in Transects with ranks 1 to 10 are proposed for Core Zone for strict protection. These are areas representing transects T-3, T-4, T-5, T-7 and T- 8 in Calauit Island, T-15 and T-16 in Old Busuanga, and T-24, T-25 and T-27 in Sagrada. Those areas with similar conditions and structures to transects with ranks 11th to 20th are proposed for community based small scale management wherein small scale utilization is allowed in sustainable way through forest stand improvement as one of a silvicultural treatment to improve the quality of timber stand. These areas are represented by transects T-6, and T-12 in Calauit Island, transects T-1 and T-2 in New Busuanga, T-17 in Old Busuanga, and all transects in Salvacion, Bugtong, Sto. Nino and Concepcion. Lastly, those areas similar to condition and structure to transects with ranks 21st to 30th are proposed for immediate restoration or forestation with the active participation of stakeholders. These areas are represented by transects T-9, T-10 and T-11 in Calauit Island, transects T-13 and T-14 in New Busuanga, and T-18 in Old Busuanga.

Restoration zones are potential expansion areas for core zone or regulated multiple use zones once attained the desired structure and condition. Areas adjacent to ecotones or transition zones towards the lowland/ terrestrial areas are suggested as buffer zones. The ecotone zones (areas between mangroves and terrestrial flora) have higher diversity indices in terms of species richness and abundance. In addition, Calauit Island, New Busuanga, Old Busuanga, and Sagrada mangrove areas are suitable for promotion of ecotourism as part of the total scenery of coastal land and seascape.

The heavily exploited and degraded mangrove areas should be immediately rehabilitated. Enrichment planting and assisted natural regeneration can be adapted to rehabilitate the area using species based on species distribution and zonation. R. apiculata, R. mucronata, and R. stylosa may be considered since these are the preferred species for forestation due to their economic and ecological values. The mangrove-dependent households should be organized to undertake the responsibility of rehabilitating, managing, and protecting, the mangrove forest within their respective areas.

Community organizing (CO) should be an integral part of the development and

rehabilitation of mangrove areas, together with the other coastal resources. The CO strategies shall be more community focused than environment centered. The strategies should all be geared towards responding to socio-economic and environmental concerns. The local institutions should be developed and the capabilities of mangrove-dependent households need to be strengthened and enhanced in order for them to become effective stewards and de facto managers of the resources. Likewise, being the primary stakeholders, the mangrove-dependent households need to be involved in undertaking

________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xv

rehabilitation, and conservation of the coastal resources in order to sustain the provision of goods/services and to protect the base of their economic activities, thereby reducing poverty incidence. The CBMFM/CBRMP concept of restoring the coastal resource may be adopted to generate local participation and to ensure the sustainability of whatever intervention projects/strategies that will be implemented.

SEAGRASS The in-depth survey for seagrass conducted in 2004 was focused on the pre-identified potential high priority ECAN Core Zones based on the baselines survey. The 4 sites are located in Cheey (2 sites), New Quezon, and Japnay (east coast of Calauit Island). This in-depth survey further characterized the sites in terms of species, species densities and canopy heights in addition to the previously gathered data on measures of seagrass stands that include species, canopy cover, and species richness values. Additional information obtained from the exercise included species densities, the correlation densities in a smaller sampling unit, updates on species richness, and the distribution of the species across the gradients within the specific meadows examined, which have been proposed as candidate core zone sites The survey employed a modified methodology following the Transect Quadrat Technique described by English et al. (1994) using 50 cm x 50 cm quadrats positioned randomly in favor of the lush portions of the meadows and with reference to Duarte and Kirkman, 2001 and sensu Vermaat et al., 1995.

The meadows visited were limited by the substrate type at the seaward edges, which marked the beginning of the coral zone, and at the coastlines that were bordered by either mangroves (Cheey 1 and Japnay, E Calauit), a narrow beachfront (New Quezon), or a scatter of rocks (Cheey 2). There were two to three strata identified within the meadows, i.e., the intertidal (in all 4 sites), shallow (3 sites), and Enhalus-dominated zones (2 sites). The arrangements of these zones were not necessarily conventional, i.e., these occurred either inshore, at the mid-bed, or at the seaward sections of the meadow.

The survey recorded 9 species of seagrasses for all the 4 sites that include:

Syringodium isoetifolium, Halodule uninervis, Halodule pinifolia, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, and Halophila ovalis. The, species richness of the survey sites are revised from the baseline survey as follows: Cheey 1, as is - 8 species; Cheey 2 (Cheey 5 in the Baseline Survey Report), now 9 species; New Quezon (New Quezon 3 in the Baseline Survey Report), as is - 8 species, and Japnay, now 9 species. The data on species densities confirmed the lush condition of the meadows examined. Generally, bottom cover was average, with the Enhalus zones representing the most fragmented part of the meadows, due to bioturbation by thalassinid shrimps. The imprints of shrimp turbative activity were observed in the intertidal and shallow zones but the moderate- to huge-sized feeding tracks of the marine mammal Dugon dugon was a more conspicuous cause of fragmentation in these parts of the beds.

Overall, data from the detailed survey strengthened the information obtained from

the baseline survey and provided convincing support to the initial perception of the in-depth survey sites as lush and species-rich seagrass habitats, serving as feeding grounds to the endangered dugong and, therefore, deserve utmost protection as core zones of the near shore coastal areas of Busuanga.

________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xvi

The four sites assessed, Cheey 1, Cheey 2, New Quezon and Japnay are recommended as Core Zones for seagrass based on this in-depth survey.

CORAL REEF The in-depth survey for coral reef conducted on 2-5 September 2003 was focused

on the three pre-identified potential high priority ECAN Core Zones sites with more than 30% hard coral cover based on the baselines surveys. These sites are Calumboyan Island, Tantangon Island, and Denicolan Island

The coral reef surveys employed either the line intercept technique (LIT) or video

transect (VT) method described by Loya 1978, English et al. 1997. Transects were deployed at both shallow (3-5 m depth) and deep (7-10 m depth) whenever possible. The sites were characterized in terms of percent coral cover of the different lifeforms and, where possible, biodiversity of coral genera. Potential or actual threats to the coral reef ecosystem were also identified.

Two of the surveyed sites Calumboyan Is and Denicolan Is have live hard coral

cover greater than 50%0. Calumboyan Island registered the highest live hard coral cover of 54.6% for both shallow and deep depth. On the other hand, Denicolan Island has average live hard coral cover of 52.55% with 34 genera of corals recorded for the site, 24 at the 4m depth and 26 at the deeper transect station of 8m. Tantangon Island registered an average live hard coral cover of 44.4% although.

The number of potential core zones is limited by PCSD Resolution 99-144 . The

guidelines presently assume that intact coral reefs are still a common site. The reality is that most coral reefs in the country have been exploited and damaged to the point of being wiped out (Gomez et al. 1981, Montebon 1995). Thus, establishing coral reef core zones based on their present status may not be enough to sustain productive reef fisheries in nearby areas, as assumed by the spill-over effect. A system of protected coral reefs, regardless of coral cover, should be located at several sites (per barangay for example). Current and tidal systems usually ensure connectivity of (nearby) marine systems so that the dynamics of spawning and recruitment is almost always assured (Stoddart 1986). The identification of core zones should, therefore, not be based solely on high coral cover or the status of wildlife within but also on strategic locations that will maintain or improve ecosystem dynamics. Depauperate reefs strategically identified as protected areas will definitely recover in terms of coral cover, which, in time should meet the criterion for coral cover of a core zone area. Strategically located reefs identified to become core zones but have few corals may be candidate transplantation sites as well.

All the 3 candidate sites for coral reef Core Zones have good coral cover of >50%

and are therefore recommended to be established as such based on this in-depth survey. However, high coral cover, per se, is not a good indicator for the consideration of core zones. Furthermore, while biodiversity has its merits, its consideration for the ECAN zoning (in the marine environment) is not clear. Finally, the interconnectedness of natural habitats from the terrestrial to the marine environment is an important consideration in management initiatives

________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xvii

CORAL REEF FISH The in-depth survey for reef fish conducted in September_2003 was focused on

the pre-identified potential high priority ECAN Core Zones sites for coral reefs based on the baselines surveys. The 3 sites are Calumboyan Island (Site 1), Tantangon Island (Site 2) and Denicolan Island (Site 3).

The in-depth reef fish survey was conducted following a modification of the

Underwater Fish Visual Census Technique described by English et al. (1994). Transects were deployed at both shallow (3-5 m depth) and deep (7-10 m depth) whenever possible. Parameters recorded include the identification of reef fish at the species level, total size of each fish estimated to the nearest centimeter and abundances determined by actual counts. The fish were later categorized as target, indicator or major fish species based on the “importance” data of individual species compiled in FishBase 2000 (Froese and Pauly, 2000). Biomass of each species was also calculated.

The reef fish communities in southwestern Busuanga may be generally described

as in good condition in terms of species richness and abundance, but poor in terms of biomass. Species richness was relatively high and an undescribed blenny was recorded. Abundance was also considerable, however, small non-target species comprised the large majority of individuals. Sizes of fish were relatively small, and medium to large-sized individuals were few. This accounted for the poor biomass estimates. It is suggested that fishing pressure and habitat loss may be the primary factors affecting the fish communities in the area.

The 3 sites surveyed represented some of the highest live coral cover in the area. It is recommended that these sites be categorized as core zone sites. The inclusion of these sites in a network of core zones will have strong biological and socio-economic implications. Protection of these sites may allow the target fish species to increase in number and size, and eventually “spill-over” to adjacent fishing areas, thus benefiting the local fisheries.

_____________________________________________________________________CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 1

CHAPTER 1 – IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Palawan has an estimated mangrove area of 51,346 (Landsat Images, 1998; State of the Environment 2004, Palawan, Philippines) hectares and the whole mangrove area is declared as mangrove swamp forest reserve per Presidential Proclamation (P.P.) 2152. Almost 70% of the total conservation or mangrove reservation (74,267 has) in the country is found in Palawan. In mangrove forest reserves, small-scale sustainable utilization of forest resources is allowed but commercial and large-scale utilization and conversion to other land uses such as fishpond are strictly prohibited.

However, recent surveys and studies showed that mangrove forest even inside the reservations are continuously subjected to cutting and worst, cleared and developed into fishponds. The depletion of stocks of old growth mangrove forests is primarily due to commercial large scale cutting for timber, fuelwood, charcoal and direct conversion into fishpond. Likewise, the stock depletion in second growth is largely due to continuous cutting for sustenance/subsistence use as poles and piles and fuelwood and some local industrial requirements such as bakery, construction materials, fish trap poles and low-cost housing materials (Bennagen and Cabahug, 1991). The previously densed mangrove forests are now sparsely vegetated second growth and became reproductive-brush.

This in-depth survey of the mangrove vegetation for Busuanga is part of the initiative to characterize the mangrove resources of the municipality to generate data for the ECAN Zoning of the municipality.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The study aims to:

1. Determine the forest structure, condition and ecological diversity of mangrove in Busuanga;

2. Determine the pattern of uses and existing land uses of mangroves;

3. Determine the appropriate management zoning of mangroves; and

4. Recommend some alternative management strategies and measures to strengthen locally-based management scheme(s) for promotion of ecological tourist destinations.


3.0 EXPECTED OUTPUTS

• Characterization of the status of mangrove habitats in terms of forest conditions, structures and ecological diversity;

• Assessment on the potential of mangrove as ecological tourist destination;

• Propose management interventions considering sustainable mangrove productivity in terms of fisheries, ecotourism and forestry production; and

• Classification and zoning of mangroves for strict protection or preservation, conservation or community-based sustainable small scale utilization, and for restoration or rehabilitation.

4.0 METHODOLOGY

4.1 Date and Place of Survey and Location of Transect

The resource and Ecological Assessment (REA) of mangrove in Busuanga, Palawan was conducted from April 12 to May 18, 2003 covering 30 sampling sites/transects distributed in 7 barangays and 1 protected area (Table 1).

4.2 Sampling Procedure

Transects were laid out in the base map considering the different land uses, forest conditions and extent of mangrove areas. Mangrove areas in Busuanga were delineated and classified into 3 forest cover such as dense, sparse, and open/clear area using the SPOT 5 imageries. Reconnaissance was conducted to validate the mangrove cover.

Table 1. Location and position of belt transects surveyed, Busuanga, Palawan 2003.

Barangay/Survey Site/Transect No.

GPS Reading Length of the transect (m)c

(m)

Size of the transect

New Busuanga

T-1 N 12*16.177 and E

119*55.964' 197.5 197x10

Sitio Anibong/T-2 N 12*16.714 and E

119*55.74' 67 67x10




(m)


Calauit Island

Panlalaban River/T-3 N 12*16'19.6and E

119*54'53.7" 500 500x10

Panlalaban River/T-4 N 12*16.332and E

119*54.762 500 500x10

T-5 N 12*17'45.5"and E

119*52'38" 350 350x10

Buktot/T-6 N 12*17'44.7"and E

119*52'38.5" 400 400x10

Buktot/T-7 N 12*17.547"and E

119*52.22' 142 142x10

Buktot/*T-8 N12*17'46.62"and E

119*52'082" 250 250x10

Buktot/T-9 N 12*17.361"and E

119*52.639' 47 47x10

Buktot/T-10 N 12*17.160'and E

119*52.687' 49 49x10

Sitio Binaktalan/T-11 N 12*17.376'and E

119*52.701' 250 250x10 Sitio Binaktalan/*T-12

New Busuanga

Transect 13 N 12*12'20.2"and E

119*532.47' 450 10x450 Sitio Dipanag/T-14 350 10x350

Old Busuanga

Busuanga River/T-15 N 12*09'33.4"and E

119*55'33.1 950 10x950

Busuanga River/T-16 N 12*09'35.6"and E

119*55'13.4 450 10x450 San Nicolas, San

Isidro/T-17 400 10x400 San Isidro Islet/T-18 200 10x200

Salvacion Diniculan/T-19 100 10x100 Cabulian/T-20 100 10x100

T-21 N 12*08'20.4"and E

119*55'49" 150 10 x150




(m)


Bugtong

T-22 N 12*04'21.2"and E

119*57'04.7" 200 10 x200

T-23 N 12*04.357"and E

119*57.085 250 10x250 Sagrada Tangtanguen Island/T-

24 N 12*02.915"and E

119*57.190 200 10x200 Tangtanguen Island/T-

25 N 12*03'04.7"and E

119*57'39.6 500 10x500

Ruyocan River/T-26 N 12*04'04.33"and E

119*57'23.237" 1000 10x1000

Tapiken River/*T-27 N 12*04'29.186"and E

119*57'59.749" 200 10 x200 Sto. Nino

Sitio Bubutersa/T-28 N 12*01'41.115"and E

120*00'06.906" 400 10 x 400

Sitio Bukod/T-29 N 12*01'35.3"and E

120*00'10.8" 150 10 x150 Concepcion

Sitio Pikoy/T-30 N 12*03'04.7"and E

119*57'39.6' 250 10 x250

condition, the result of which was considered to finally select the sampling sites. The belt transect of 10 meter width traversed the different mangrove forest conditions perpendicular to the shorelines or river bank.

4.3 Field Methods

The study areas were demarcated along transects running perpendicular to the seashore up to the inland using GPS to ascertain the direction and avoid overlapping or intersection of transects toward the landward area. Each transect was divided into 10m x 50m size plot. In each transect, trees inside the plot larger than 5 cm in diameter were recorded per plot for the following data:

1. Total height and/or merchantable height; and 2. Diameter at breast height (DBH)/diameter above budroot (DAB).


Diameter measurement of trees is difficult for some shape and growth forms of mangrove trees, hence the following are used as guide for the measurement of diameter:

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

2. When the stem forks at breast height or slightly above, the diameter at breast height is measured just below the swelling caused of the fork.

3. When the stem has prop roots of fluted lower trunk, the diameter is measured above them.

4. When the stem is swelling, branches or abnormalities at the point of measurement, the diameter is measured slightly above or below the irregularity where it stops affecting normal form.

A 2m x 50m subplot was laid out for the measurement of regeneration. Saplings, (diameter smaller than 5 cm and height more than 2m) were identified and the number of individuals by species was determined. Counts of seedlings (height lower than 2m) were recorded as number of individuals of species.

With each plot in the different transects, mangrove species were identified and classified into:

1. Timber size trees ( > 15 cm DBH/DAB) 2. Pole size trees ( > 5 cm up to 15 cm in DBH/DAB) 3. Regeneration

saplings (5 cm DBH/DAB and 2 m in height)

seedlings (height below 2 m)

For timber size trees (>15 cm DBH/DAB), the following parameters were assessed:

1. Merchantable height (to the nearest 0.5 m). The height from stump (0.3 m above the budroot in Rhizophora spp. or 0.5 m above the ground in non-Rhizophora spp. up to the first major branch or 10 cm top diameter limit).

2. Total Height (to the nearest 0.5 m) 3. DAB/DBH (to the nearest 0.5 cm)

In pole-size trees, only the total height and DBH/DAB were measured. Due to difficult conditions, which hinder work, the height was measured directly using calibrated poles as guide for small to medium size trees. For large size trees (more than 10 meters high), height was estimated.

Initially, the diameter was measured accurately using a diameter tape, and as the work progressed, the diameter was estimated directly. In all species, except for Rhizophora, diameter was recorded at 1.3 m height from the ground level known as diameter breast height (DBH). In Rhizophora spp., because of the presence of stilt


roots, the diameter was recorded at height of 0.3 meter from the topmost stilt roots known as diameter above bud-root (DAB).

In the case of regeneration saplings and seedlings, the density (number present in each plot) in the different transects were recorded by species.

In addition to the above quantitative data, observations were made on the following:

1. Presence of ferns and other non-woody species; 2. Presence of crab mounds; and 3. Presence of avifauna and wildlife

4.4 Data processing and Analysis Individual tree volume of timber size trees was computed using the volume

equations or using the volume tables for each species derived by Cabahug (1986a; 1986b) for timber-producing mangrove species. Based on the computed volume, stand and stock table was constructed using the suggested format. Other tree parameter variables such as stand volume (SV), stand stock per hectare (N), diameter of the mean basal area of the tree (Dg), stand dominant height (Ho), mean diameter of dominant height (Dho), stand mean (H) and stand basal area (G) were computed using the formula /equations formulated by FAO.

Stand volume (SV) SV (m3/ha) = ΣV Plot area

Stand stock per hectare (N) N (tree/ha) = Total no. of live trees on the plot Plot area Mean Diameter (Dg) Dg (cm) = Σd2 / No. of trees on the plot

where: d = diameter

Stand dominant height (Ho) Ho (m) = ΣDh/No. of dominant trees on the plot where: Dh = height of dominant trees Mean diameter of dominant Dho (cm) = ΣDd/ No.of dominant trees on the plot height (Dho) where: Dd = diameter of dominant trees Stand mean height (H) H(m) = ΣTh/ No. of trees on the plot where: Th = tree height


Stand basal area (G) G (m2/ha)) = ΣBa/Plot area where:

Ba = 0.007854 (Dbh) 2

The dominant species for each site was determined based on the importance value (IV). The IV is the sum of the relative density, relative frequency, and relative coverage. These are computed using the following formula:

Density = Total number of individuals counted for a given species Total area sampled

Relative density Total number of individuals of a given species x 100 = Total number of individuals of all species

Coverage = Total area covered by a given species Total area sampled Relative coverage = Total coverage of a species x 100 Total coverage of all species Frequency = Number of plots where a given species occur x 100 Total number of plots in the site Relative frequency = Frequency of a given species x 100 Total frequency of all species Importance Value = Relative density + Relative coverage + Relative frequency Measures of species richness

Margalef’s index DMg = (S-1)/ln N Menhinick’s index DMn = S/√ N Shannon diversity index H’ = -Σpi ln pi where pi, the proportional abundance of the ith species = (ni/N) Evenness of the species can now be calculated using the formula: E = H’ /ln S


Simpson’s index

(n1(n1- 1)) D = Σ ___________

(N(N-1)) where n1 = the number of individuals in the ith species, and N = the total number of individuals.

Berger-Parker diversity index

The Berger-Parker index is calculated from the equation: d = Nmax/N where N = total number of individuals and Nmax = number of individuals in the most abundant species. In order to ensure that the index increases with increasing diversity the reciprocal form of the measure is usually adopted.

Similarity measures

Sorenson measure using the qualitative data, the formula: CN = 2jN / (aN + bN)

Where aN = the number of individuals in site A, bN = the number of individuals in site B, and jN = the sum of the lower of the two abundances or species which occur in the two sites.

5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

5.1 Biodiversity Assessment

5.1.1 Species Composition and Distribution

There were 24 true and 28 associate mangrove species identified and recorded during the survey which belongs to 19 families and 36 genera of vascular plants (Table 2).

Table 2. List of True and Associate Mangrove Species Identified and Recorded, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Scientific Names Code Common Name

TRUE MANGROVE Aegiceras corniculatum Ac Tinduk-tindukan Aegiceras floridum Af Saging-saging Avicennia alba Aa Bungalon-puti Avicennia marina Am Bungalon Avicennia officinalis Ao Api-api Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Bg Busain Bruguiera sexangula Bs Pototan



Bruguiera cylindrical Bc Pototan lalaki Bruguiera parviflora Bp Langarai Camptostemon philippinense Cp Gapas-gapas Ceriops tagal Ct Tangal Ceriops decandra Cd Malatangal Heritiera littorea Hl Lumnitzera littorea Ll Tabau Lumnitzera racemosa Lr Kulasi Nypa fruticans Nf Nipa Rhizophora apiculata Ra Bakauan lalaki Rhizophora mucronata Rm Bakauan babae Rhizophora stylosa Rs Bakauan bato Sonneratia alba Sal Pagatpat Sonneratia caseolaris Sc Pedada Excoecaria agallocha Ea Buta-buta Xylocarpus granatum Xg Tabigi Xylocarpus moluccensis Xm Piagau MANGROVE ASSOCIATE Acanthus ebracteatus Aeb Tigbau Acacia farnesiana Afa Aroma Acrostichum aureum Aau Lagolo Barringtonia asiatica Ba Botong Barringtonia racemosa Br Putat Brownlonia tersa Bt Brownlonia lanceolata Bl Maragomon Caesalpinia crista Cc Caesalpinia nuga Cn Sapinit Cerbera manghas Cm Baraibai Cynometra ramiflora Cr Balitbitan Derris trifoliate Dt Mangasin Hibiscus tiliaceus Ht Malubago Garcinia spp. Glochidion littorale Gl Kayong Instia bijuga Ib Ipil Morinda citrifolia Mc Bangkoro Osbornia octodonta Oo Taualis Pandanus tectorius Pt Prickly pandan Pemphis acidula Pa Bantigi Pongamia pinnata Pp Bani Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea Sh Nilad Terminalia catappa Tc Talisai



Thespesia populneoides Tp Malabanalo Thespesia populnea Tpo Banalo Dolicodendron spathedea Ds Tui Siar Siar Langalin Langalin

The most widely distributed species in Busuanga are Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Lumnitzera littorea, Caesalpinea cristae, Bruguiera cylindrica, Heritiera littorea, Excoecaria agallocha and Rhizophora stylosa which are all recorded in Transects 30 (Sitio Pikoy, Concepcion), 27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada), 17 (Old Busuanga, San Nicolas, San Isidro), 13 (New Busuanga), 12 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is), 11 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is), 9 (Buktot, Calauit Is), 8 (Buktot, Calauit Is), and 7 (Buktot, Calauit Calauit Is). In terms of abundance, (total individuals in 30 transects) Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum and Rhizophora stylosa species has 4419, 2916, 200 and 178 individuals respectively (Table 3). The enumeration of species and individual counts of species in 30 transects is presented in Appendix 1. Table 3. Distribution and Abundance of Top 11 Mangrove Species in the

Different Sampling Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Species

No. of Transect

Individual Count (N)

Ra 30 4419 Rm 27 2916 Xg 17 200 Bg 13 91 Ct 12 133 Ll 11 95 Cc 9 165 Bc 9 108 Hl 8 129 Ea 8 69 Rs 7 178

5.1.2 Ecological Diversity Indices

Species diversity measures species richness and species abundance. Species abundance is often more sensitive to environmental disturbance than species richness.


Evenness (equitability) describes how equally abundant the species are distributed. The different indices of diversity uses the formula of Margalef (Dmg),

Shannon (H1), Simpson (1/D) and Berger-Parker (N∞) are computed and presented in Table 4. The relationship between different diversity indices varies depending on species richness, abundance, dominance and sample size.The value of H1 is related to species richness and usually influenced by the species abundance distribution but is more sensitive to sample size. Simpson index is heavily weighted towards the most abundant species in the sample and less sensitive to species richness but also sensitive to sample size. Berger-Parker is independent of species richness but least influenced by sample size. Simpson index is the reciprocal form of the Berger-Parker index and is adopted as an indicator of ecological diversity because an increase in the value of the index accompanies an increase in diversity and a reduction in dominance (Maguran, 1987).

The most diverse sampling site is T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is) in terms of species richness (S and Mmg ), and species abundance ( H1 and 1/D). However, in terms of Evenness (E) and most abundant species distribution index (N∞) T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is) is the most diverse sampling site. The greater the evenness makes it more diverse. High evenness occur in top 10 sampling sites that include,transects T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga), T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino), T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada), T-5 (Calauit Is), T-10 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is), T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old Busuanga), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga)and T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), where species are equitably abundant which indicate a high diversity index (Maguran, 1987). Considering combination of indices such as S, Mmg, H1 , 1/D and E, that transect T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is) is the most diversed site, followed by transect T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-21 (Salvacion), T-1 (Bgy New Busuanga), and T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga). However, using Simpson index (1/D) the top 10 diverse sampling sites are transects T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-21 (Salvacion), T-1 (New Busuanga), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-5 (Calauit), T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada). Busuanga has an overall 1/D index diversity of 2.789 and equitability of 0.3974, N∞ index of 2.01, H1index of 1.504 and Dmg of 4.7302. The average overall index diversity of 2.7583 and 0.3974 Evenness index indicate that mangroves of Busuanga has a moderately high relative value of biodiversity based on Fernando Biodiversity Scale (1998).

Moreover, UNEP/GEF-DENR (2003) cited that there are about 41 resident and 28 migratory bird species (Appendix 2), 15 bivalve and 37 gastropods species (Appendix 3), 6 different species of crustaceans (Appendix 4), 22 residents and 18 migratory species of fishes (Appendix 5 ) particularly sighted or recorded in coastal-mangrove areas of Busuanga.

___________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 12

Table 4. The Diversity Indices of 30 Sampling Sites in the Mangrove Forest Calculated using Various Diversity Formula, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Site/Transect

Species richness

(S) Individuals

(N) Margalef

(Dmg) Shannon

(H')

Shannon evenness

(E) Simpson

(1/D)

Berger-Parker

(N) Over-all 44 8870 4.7302 1.504 0.3974 2.789 2.01

New Busuanga T-1 10 102 1.9460 1.61933 0.70327 3.71645 2.75676 T-2 4 100 0.6514 1.09439 0.78944 2.82051 2.08333

Calauit Island T-3 16 1048 2.1568 1.15828 0.41776 2.41627 2.15195 T-4 13 962 1.7470 1.09992 0.42883 1.8630 1.38417 T-5 6 432 0.8239 1.26691 0.70708 2.88921 2.16000 T-6 6 253 0.9036 0.90753 0.50650 2.19455 1.93130 T-7 6 126 1.0339 1.54123 0.86018 4.18883 2.86364 T-8 27 363 4.4110 2.16724 0.65757 4.37582 2.22699 T-9 2 43 0.2659 0.30948 0.44649 1.20884 1.10256 T-10 5 97 0.8744 0.49587 0.30810 1.29369 1.14118 T-11 8 273 1.2479 0.63606 0.30588 1.38161 1.18182 T-12 8 601 1.0940 0.78199 0.37606 1.48396 1.22403

New Busuanga T-13 6 48 1.2916 1.09275 0.60988 2.14449 1.50000 T-14 4 444 0.4921 0.30896 0.22287 1.17699 1.08824

Old Busuanga T-15 13 487 1.9392 1.57607 0.61446 3.04320 1.84470 T-16 14 212 2.4269 1.71698 0.65060 3.29202 1.92727 T-17 9 356 1.3617 0.94952 0.43215 1.85031 1.40711 T-18 7 186 1.1482 0.84193 0.43267 2.05506 1.70642

Salvacion T-19 4 216 0.5581 0.72937 0.52613 1.81704 1.45946 T-20 7 48 1.5499 0.96138 0.49405 1.88945 1.41176 T-21 4 79 0.6866 1.33231 0.96106 3.72551 2.63333

Bugtong T-22 5 264 0.7174 0.5977 0.37137 1.50422 1.25714 T-23 4 254 0.5418 0.64501 0.46528 1.68684 1.38043

Sagrada T-24 6 139 1.0133 1.24438 0.69450 3.1292 2.62264 T-25 5 405 0.6662 1.0379 0.64488 2.26464 1.65306 T-26 6 650 0.7720 0.6528 0.36433 1.72826 1.41921 T-27 5 236 0.7321 1.16043 0.72102 2.52297 1.71014

Sto Nino T-28 5 192 0.7608 0.99895 0.62068 2.29631 1.71429 T-29 5 64 0.9618 1.16116 0.72147 2.70604 1.88235

Concepcion T-30 8 190 1.3341 1.11253 0.53501 2.18484 1.58333

_____________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 13

Generally, mangrove flora has very low relative value of biodiversity but usually has moderate relative value of equitability. The true mangrove species are restricted to only thrive in areas with very adverse environmental conditions. There are only 23 vascular plant species which are strictly growing in anerobic and saline mangrove substrate while 28 associate species are growing mostly in ecotone zone. Usually, the true and associate mangrove species has predictable pattern of species composition and distribution. Based on the average index of diversity (species richness, abundance and dominance) only transects T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-21 (Salvacion) and T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) has high relative biodiversity values but in terms of evenness of distribution of species abundances, transects T-1 (New Busuanga,), T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga), T-5 (Calauit Is), T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-13 (New Busuanga), T-15 (Busuanga River,Old Busuanga), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-19 (Diniculan, Salvacion), T-21 (Salvacion), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada), T-28 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino), T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) and T-30 (Sitio Pikoy, Concepcion) has high to very high relative value of biodiversity scale based on Fernando Biodiversity Scale (Table 5). Only transect T-14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga) has low relative value of biodiversity.

Table 5. The Relative Values of the Average Overall Diversity Index and Evenness based on Fernando Biodiversity Scale (1998), Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Site/Transect Ave. Value of H', Dmg, 1/D

and N∞

Relative Values

Shannon evenness (E)

Relative Values

New Busuanga T-1 2.51 Moderate High 0.70327 High T-2 1.66 Very Low 0.78944 Very High

Calauit Island

T-3 1.97 Very Low 0.41776 Moderate High


T-5 1.785 Very Low 0.70708 High T-6 1.48 Very Low 0.50650 High T-7 2.41 Low 0.86018 Very High T-8 3.29 High 0.65757 High





Site/Transect Ave. Value of H', Dmg, 1/D

and N∞

Relative Values

Shannon evenness (E)

Relative Values


New Busuanga T-13 1.51 Very Low 0.60988 High T-14 0.767 Very Low 0.22287 Low

Old Busuanga T-15 2.101 Low 0.61446 High T-16 2.341 Low 0.65060 High



Salvacion T-19 1.141 Very Low 0.52613 High


T-21 2.094 High 0.96106 Very High Bugtong



Sagrada T-24 2 High 0.69450 High T-25 1.405 Very Low 0.64488 High


T-27 1.53 Very Low 0.72102 High Sto Nino

T-28 1.442 Very Low 0.62068 High T-29 1.68 Very Low 0.72147 High

Concepcion T-30 1.554 Very Low 0.53501 High

5.1.3 Similarity Index and Matrix

Based on Table 6 almost all of the mangrove areas in Busuanga has similarity in species composition, distribution and pattern of distribution, although the degree of similarity varies in species richness, abundance and dominance. Twenty-seven (27) percent (27%) of the possible degree of similarity between and among transects are quite similar which has below 40% degree of similarity, 23% are less similar with degree of similarity of 40-50%, 25% are likely similar with 60-79% degree of


similarity, 24% are similar with 80-99% degree of similarity and only 0.23% or two transects, transects T-13 (New Busuanga) and T-20 (Cabulian, Salvacion) are 100% similar to each other.

Table 6. Degree of Similarity based on Percent Diversity Index, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003

TRANSECT

Transect Most Similar 100%

Similar (Green) 80-99%

Likely Similar (Y.Green) 60-79%

Less Similar (Pink)

40-59%

Not QuiteSimilar

(Red) Below 40 %

New Busuanga

T-1 2, 7, 10, 21, 2413, 16, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28, 29,

30

6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 22, 23, 25

3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 26

T-2 7, 10, 21, 24 9, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29,

30

6, 8, 11, 17, 22, 23, 27

3, 4, 5, 12, 14, 15, 25, 26

Calauit Island

T-3 4 12, 15, 26 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 22, 25

6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27,

28, 29, 30

T-4 26 5, 12, 14, 15 6, 8, 11, 17, 22, 23, 25

7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29,

30

T-5 8, 12, 14, 15, 17, 25

6, 11, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26,

27, 28, 30 7, 24 9, 10, 13, 20,

21, 29

T-6 8, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23,

27, 28, 30 7, 14, 24, 25 10, 12, 21, 29 9,13, 20

T-7 10, 18, 24 11, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28,

29, 30

8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 25 12, 26

T-8 11, 14, 15, 17, 22, 23, 25

12, 16, 18, 19, 26, 27, 28, 30 10, 24 9,13, 20, 21, 29


TRANSECT




Less Similar (Pink)

40-59%

Not QuiteSimilar

(Red) Below 40 %

T-9 13, 20, 29 21, 10 24

11, 12,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26,

27, 28, 30

T-10 21, 24 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30

11, 17, 22, 23, 27

12, 14, 15, 25, 26

T-11 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27,

28, 30 12, 14, 15, 24 21, 26 13, 20, 29

T-12 14, 15, 25, 26 22, 17 16, 18, 19, 23, 27, 28, 30

13, 20, 21, 24, 29

New Busuanga

T-13 20 29 21 18, 24, 28, 30 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 25,

26, 27

T-14 15, 17, 25, 26 16, 19, 22, 23, 27, 28 18, 24, 30 15, 20, 21, 29

Old Busuanga

T-15 17, 25, 26 16, 19, 22, 23, 27 18, 24, 28, 30 20, 21, 29

T-16 18, 19, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30 17, 24, 25 21, 26, 29 20

T-17 22, 23, 25 18, 19, 26, 27, 28, 30 24 20, 21, 29

T-18 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30 25 20, 21, 26, 29

Salvacion

T-19 22, 23, 27, 28, 30 24, 25 21, 26, 29 20

T-20 29 21 24, 28, 30 22, 23, 25, 26, 27

T-21 29 24 22, 23, 27, 28, 30 25, 26,

Bugtong T-22 23, 27, 28, 30 24, 25 26 29 T-23 27, 28, 30 24, 25 26, 29

Sagrada T-24 27, 28, 30 27, 29 25 26 T-25 28, 30 26, 27, 28, 30 29 T-26 27, 28, 30 29


TRANSECT




Less Similar (Pink)

40-59%

Not QuiteSimilar

(Red) Below 40 %

T-27 28, 30 29 Sto Nino

T-28 30 29 T-29 30

Concepcion T-30

5.1.4 Analysis of Variance for Significant Difference of Diversity Index

In determining the significant difference of the index of diversity of different

sampling sites, the analysis of variance is estimated with the following premises:

Ho: The mean diversity index of mangrove forest in different transects is similar.

Ha: At least one of the mean diversity index of mangrove forest in one transect is not similar with other transects.

Decision Rule: Reject Ho if p-value < 0.001. Accept Ho otherwise. Test Statistic: One-way ANOVA SPSS output: p-value = 0.000 Decision: Since 0.000 < 0.001, reject Ho.

Conclusion: At alpha=0.001, the mean difference of diversity index of mangrove forest in different transect is significant. At least one of the mean diversity index(ices) of mangrove forest in one transect is not equal with other transects.

(p-value>=alpha=.001, insignificant….meaning the mean diversity index of a transect is similar to other transects)

(p-value<alpha=.001, significant….meaning the mean diversity index of a transect is

not similar to other transects or the transects are very different from each other).


The value of significant and non-significant mean difference of diversity index is presented in Appendix 7.

5.1.5 Cluster Analysis

The similarity indices is subjected to cluster analysis to visually detect the clustering of transects or groupings of similar sites together. There are three (3) major groupings identified. The first cluster comprises of transects T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) and T-21 (Salvacion); T-20 (Cabulian,Salvacion), T-13 (New Busuanga) and T-9 (Buktot, Calauit Is). The second cluster consists of transects T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada) and T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is); T-17 (San Nicolas, San Isidro, Old Busuanga) and T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is); T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) and T-14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga) and T-5 (Calauit Is); and T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) and T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is). The 3rd clustering is the grouping of transects T-30 (Sitio Pikoy, Concepcion), T-28 (Sitio Bubutersa, Sto Nino) and T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old Busuanga); T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada), T-19 (Diniculan, Salvacion) and T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga); T-22 (Bugtong), T-11 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is), T-23 (Bugtong) and T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is); T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) and T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is); 10 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga) and T-1 (New Busuanga). The distinct and different layers or grouping of transects supported the observarion that mangrove species composition and distribution formed a similar homogenous pattern or zonation, notably according to ground gradient/level and substrate. Figure 1 shows the clustering of transects.

Figure 1. The Cluster Analysis of 30 Transects, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003


5.2 Mangrove Forest Conditions and Structure

5.2.1 Mangrove Vegetation Structural Analysis

Relative Frequency (RF), Relative Density (RDen), Relative Dominance (RDom) and Importance Value (IV

R. apiculata (Ra) is the physiognomically dominant and important mangrove species in Busuanga. It is also the most frequent and dense mangrove species recorded. It has consistently the highest value of Relative Frequency (RF), Relative Density (RDen), Relative Dominance (RDom) and Importance Value (IV) of 26.65; 49.82; 44.90 and 121.37, respectively. R. mucronata (Rm) followed second in ranking to R. apiculata with similar consistent decreasing pattern of RF (16.56), RDen (32.87), RDom (23.21) and IV (72.64). The PCSDS (1999), MERF (2000) and CI (2001) also reported that R. apiculata and R. mucronata were the diverse mangrove species in Busuanga. The other top fifteen (15) important mangrove species in decreasing order are: Xylocarpus granatum (Xg), Bruguiera gymnorhiza (Bg), Sonneratia alba (Sal), Heritiera littoralis (Hl), Ceriops decandra (Cd), Lumnitzera littorea (Ll), Ceriops tagal (Ct), Rhizophora stylosa (Rs), Bruguiera cylindrica (Bc), Bruguiera sexangula (Bs), Bruguiera parviflora (Bp), Excoecaria agallocha (Ea), and Sonneratia caseolaris (Sc) with IV of 13.69; 9.20; 9.09; 8.36; 7.61; 7.12; 6.89; 5.36; 5.16; 4.57; 4.52; 4.37; and 2.33, respectively (Table 7). Table 7. The RF, RDen, RDom, and IV of top 15 mangrove species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Species

RF

Rden

Rdom

IV

Rank

Sc 0.6302 0.124 1.5752 2.3294 15th Ea 2.3649 0.7777 1.2213 4.3639 4th Bp 2.9951 0.5861 0.9418 4.523 13th Bs 2.0497 0.8679 1.6488 4.5664 12th Bc 2.8390 1.2173 1.1045 5.1608 11th Rs 1.8937 2.0063 1.4604 5.3604 10th Ct 4.4146 1.4991 0.9786 6.8923 9th Ll 3.4693 1.0708 2.5781 7.1182 8th Cd 3.9435 1.8598 1.8063 7.6096 7th Hl 5.3630 1.4653 1.5272 8.3555 6th Sal 2.2088 0.9468 5.9337 9.0893 5th Bg 4.8888 1.0257 3.2863 9.2008 4th Xg 7.8839 2.2543 3.5498 13.688 3rd Rm 16.5570 32.8674 23.2148 72.6392 2nd Ra 26.6497 49.8197 44.8992 121.3686 1st


Out of the top 15 mangrove species, four (4) species are commonly observed in the seaward and middleward zones and seven (7) species are frequently recorded in the landward zone. The seaward zone species are Rm, Sal, Rs, and Sc which ranked 2nd, 5th, 10th, and 15th in terms of IV. Ra (1st), Bg (4th), Bc (11th), and Bs (12th) are identified as middleward zone species while Xg (3rd), Hl (6th), Cd (7th), Ll (8th), Ct (9th) , Bp (13th), and Ea (14th) are mostly growing towards the landward area which is considered also as ecotone zone.

In terms of RF, RDen, and RDom, the order of ranking of top fifteen (15) mangrove species differ with each other except for Ra and Rm which consistently ranked to be the first and second ecologically dominant species, respectively. The other top 15 frequently (RF) recorded species in decreasing order are Xg (3rd), Hl (4th), Bg (5th), Ct (6th), Cd(7th), Ll (8th), Bp (9th), Bc (10th), Ea (11th ), Sal (12th), Bs (13th), Rs (14th), and Sc (15th). But this order is different in terms of RDen which recorded Xg (3rd), Rs (4th), Cd(5th), Ct (6th), Hl (7th), Bc (8th), Ll (9th), Bg (10th), Sal (11th), Bs (12th), Ea (13th), Bp (14th), and Sc (15th) which had relatively higher density than the other species. Likewise, the order of ranking of species relative to its basal area (RDom) includes other species which are not among the top15 frequently (RF) recorded and relative dense (RDen) mangrove species but it also has a different ranking of species --- Sal (3rd), Xg (4th), Bg (5th), Ll (6th), Cd (7th), Bs (8th), Sc (9th), Hl (10th), Rs (11th), Ea (12th), Bc (13th), Ct (14th), and Bp (15th) in terms of basal area (Figure 2).

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Sc Ea Bp Bs Bc Rs Ct Ll Cd Hl Sal Bg Xg Rm Ra

RF Rden Rdom IVSpecies

RF, RDen, RDom, IV

Figure 2. The pattern of RF, Rden, Rdom and IV of top 15 mangrove spp,

Busuanga, Palawan, 2003


Although, Sonneratia species (Sal and Sc) are recorded individually in sporadic and restricted extent of stoney and coralline substrate along the narrow coastline, they are observed to be growing in bigger trunk dimensions of up to 80 cm, hence had larger basal area. Sal and Sc occupied a larger ground cover primarily due to bigger basal areas compared with those species frequently observed in dense growth but in smaller sizes. Sal, Sc, Xg, Hl, and Ll are usually recorded with bigger trunk dimensions which are considered as old growth stand because they are the original stands which were not subjected to cutting. They were not the preferred species for cutting due to their hard and twisted wood grains.

Index of Dominance

The index of dominance (C) is expected to follow the same pattern of that of the IV since the index of dominance is generated from the IV. Thus, the index of dominance of top 15 species has similar species ranking in IV as reflected in Figure 1. Again, Ra has the highest index of dominance followed by Rm, Xg, Bg, Sal, Hl, Cd, Ll, Ct, Rs, Bc, Bs, Bp, Ea, and Sc (Figure 3).

00.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.080.09

0.10.110.120.130.140.150.16

Sc Ea Bp Bs Bc Rs Ct Ll Cd Hl Sal Bg Xg Rm Ra

C

Species

C°

Figure 3. The index (C°) of dominance of top 15 mangrove spp, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003

5.2.2 Average Stocking

DENR (1998) categorized stocking into adequate stock, inadequate stock, and logged-over areas. These stocking categorization is classified by FAO (1996) as highly dense forest cover, sparse density cover, and logged-over or cleared areas. The stocking of 1,500 timber size trees and above/ha equivalent to average minimum spacing of 6.67 m2 is considered as adequate or highly densed forest cover. Inadequate stocking or sparse density forest cover has an average stocking of 625 to


1,499 timber size trees/ha with an equivalent minimum spacing of 16.00 m2 while the logged-over or cleared/open area has an average stocking of less than 625 trees/ha. The stocking classification adopted by DENR and FAO can be used for the purpose of determining areas for preservation, conservation, rehabilitation and for determining management subzoning options. The mangrove forest structure in terms of stocking including stand volume, mean diameter and mean height serve as baseline information in delineating mangrove areas for ECAN zoning.

Transects T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) and T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) has an adequate stocking of 2,096 and 1,924 trees/ha, respectively. Inadequate stocking is exemplified by T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada) (1,300 trees/ha), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan, New Busuanga) (1,202 trees/ha), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) (974 trees/ha), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (910 trees/ha), T-14 (Sitio Dipinag, New Busuanga) (888 trees/ha), T-5 (Calauit Is) (864 trees/ha), T- 8 (Buktot, Calauit Is) (726 trees/ha), and T-17 (San Nicolas, San Isidro, Old Busuanga) (712 trees/ha). Stocking below 625 trees per hectare are located in T-11 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is) (546 trees/ha), T-22 (Bugtong) (528 trees/ha), T-23 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (508 trees/ha), T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is) (506 trees/ha), T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada) (472 trees/ha), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) (432 trees/ha), T-17 (San Nicolas, San Isidro, Old Busuanga) (442 trees/ha), T-28 (Sitio Bubutersa, Sto Nino) (384 trees/ha), T-30 (Sitio Pikoy, Bgy Concepcion) (380 trees/ha), T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old Busuanga) (372 trees/ha), and T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (278 trees/ha) (Figure 4).

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N/ha

Figure 4. Average stocking (N/ha) per transect of timber, pole and total,

Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

However, considering the stocking of timber size trees with diameter at breast height above 15 cm, the average stocking is only 165 trees/ha which fall under the logged over stocking category. The highest stocking of 744 timber size trees/ha is


located in T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) and only T-3 and T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) have stocking above the logged over stocking category which is categorized as inadequate stocking. Stocking class of all the remaining transect areas fall under the logged over forest stocking. On the other hand, the average stocking of pole size tree is 427 trees/ha. Although it is expected that after more than two decades from mangrove logging, the second growth may attain a timber size stand and the pole size stand should now have a closed density cover. However, even the stocking of pole size trees generally fall under the logged over stocking category. Out of 30 transects only 5 transects that include T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) (1,416 trees/ha), T-3 (Panlalaban River,Calauit Is) (1,352 trees/ha), T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada) (1,196 trees/ha), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is) (1,038 trees/ha), and T-14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga) (802 trees/ha) have adequate stocking. The average stocking of logged over mangrove areas is 280 trees/ha (Table 8).

Table 8. Average stocking (N/ha.) of timber and pole sizetrees per transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Transect

Timber

Pole

Total

DENR Stocking Class

New Busuanga

T-1 72 132 204 Open/Clear T-2 50 150 200 Open/Clear

Calauit Island T-3 744 1352 2096 Adequate T-4 508 1416 1924 Adequate T-5 256 608 864 Inadequate T-6 142 364 506 Open/Clear T-7 58 194 252 Open/Clear T-8 194 532 726 Inadequate T-9 8 78 86 Open/Clear T-10 42 152 194 Open/Clear T-11 68 478 546 Open/Clear T-12 164 1038 1202 Adequate

New Busuanga T-13 34 62 96 Open/Clear T-14 86 802 888 Adequate

Old Busuanga T-15 702 272 974 Inadequate T-16 324 100 424 Open/Clear T-17 144 568 712 Inadequate T-18 14 358 372 Open/Clear

Salvacion T-19 56 376 432 Open/Clear T-20 54 42 96 Open/Clear T-21 108 50 158 Open/Clear


Transect

Timber

Pole

Total

DENR Stocking Class

Bugtong

T-22 168 360 528 Open/Clear T-23 186 322 508 Open/Clear

Sagrada T-24 94 184 278 Open/Clear T-25 240 570 810 Inadequate T-26 104 1196 1300 Inadequate T-27 168 304 472 Open/Clear

Sto Nino T-28 38 346 384 Open/Clear T-29 4 124 128 Open/Clear

Concepcion T-30 112 268 380 Open/Clear Ave. 165 427 591 Open/Clear

This findings support the observation that mangrove forest in Busuanga has been continuously subjected to cutting although the scale of cutting has been reduced to local consumption level. The remaining timber size trees with diameter of 40 cm and above are remnants of the primary mangrove forest. These old growth stands are sporadically distributed and mostly comprise the mangrove species which are very difficult to cut due to their twisted hardwood grains. Almost all mangroves in Busuanga were subjected to logging or commercial cutting in the 1970s. The preferred species to cut at that time were those belonging to family Rhizophoracea such as R. apiculata, R. mucronata, B. gymnorrhiza, B. cylindrica, and Ceriops species. Sonneratia, Xylocarpus, and Lumnitzera species are usually the stands left during the commercial logging era in the 70s. Thus, they are currently the remaining old growth mangrove stands recorded or observed in Busuanga.

In terms of species stocking, Ra has the highest stocking of 4,419 trees/ha followed by Rm with 2,916 trees/ha, of which 74% comprises of pole size trees (Figure 5).


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Sc Bp Ea Bs Sal Bg Ll Bc Hl Ct Cc Rs Xg Rm Ra

Timber Pole TotalSpecies

N/ha

Figure 5. Stocking (N/ha.) of Timber, Pole and Total of top 15 Diverse Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

5.2.3 Stand Volume

The DENR and FAO categorized stand volume as high volume, middle volume, and low volume. Stand with high volume has wood volume of more than 250 m3/ha, middle volume has a range of stand volume from 60 to 250 m3/ha and low volume has wood volume of 60 m3/ha and below. The average stand volume of high volume, middle volume, and low volume class is 461.36, 145.74 and 38.02 m3/ha, respectively. The high volume class areas are located in T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit) (911.25 m3/ha), T-4 ((Panlalaban River, Calauit) (676.90 m3/ha), T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada) (513.61 m3/ha), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan) (451.87 m3/ha), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) (369.28 m3/ha), T-14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga) (349.41 m3/ha), T-5 (Calauit) (316.34 m3/ha), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (293.26 m3/ha), and T-17 (Old Busuanga, San Nicolas, San Isidro) (270.31 m3/ha). The transects with middle class volume are T-11 (Sitio Binaktalan) (223.02 m3/ha), T-22 (Bgy Bugtong) (214.68 m3/ha), T-23 (Bgy Bugtong) (207.04 m3/ha), T-6 (Buktot Calauit) (200.76 m3/ha), T-27 (Tapiken River, sagrada) (191.59 m3/ha), T-8 (Buktot, Calauit) (189.93 m3/ha), T-19 (Diniculan, Salvacion) (124.28 m3/ha), T-28 (Sitio Bubutersa, Sto Nino) (150.66 m3/ha), T-30 (150.61 m3/ha), T-18 (San Isidro inlet, Old Busuanga) (148.43 m3/ha), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) (140.99 m3/ha), T-10 (Buktot, Calauit) (79.73 m3/ha), T-1 (New Busuanga) (68.57 m3/ha), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (65.68 m3/ha), T-21 (Salvacion) (64.28 m3/ha), and T-2 (Sitio Anibong) (61.63 m3/ha). The low volume class areas are exemplified by T-7 (Buktot, Calauit) (54.99 m3/ha), T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) (43.62 m3/ha), T-9 (Buktot, Calauit) (33.72 m3/ha), T-20 (Cabulian, Salvacion) (29.99 m3/ha), and T-13 (New Busuanga) (27.78 m3/ha) (Figure 6).


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Timber PoleT l

Transect

Vol.

Figure 6. Stand Volume (m3/ha.) of Timber, Pole and Total by Transect,

Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

In terms of stand volume of timber size trees, T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit) has the highest stand volume followed by T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), and T-5 (Calauit) with 380.22 m3/ha; 298.00 m3/ha; 198.06 m3/ha; 128.00 m3/ha; and 100.26 m3/ha. On the other hand, the top 18 transects with stand volume greater than 100 m3/ha are T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit) (531.04 m3/ha), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit) (478.84 m3/ha), T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada) (471.19 m3/ha), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan) (394.60 m3/ha), T-14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga) (315.00 m3/ha), T-5 (Calauit) (216.34 m3/ha), T-17 (Old Busuanga, San Nicolas, San Isidro) (214.23 m3/ha), T-25 (Tangtangen Is, Sagrada) (206.50 m3/ha), T-11 (Sitio Binaktalan) (187.12 m3/ha), T-19 (Diniculan, Salvacion) (151.31 m3/ha), T-22 (Bugtong) (144.35 m3/ha), T-18 (Old Busuanga, San Nicolas, San Isidro) (143.67 m3/ha), T-6 (Buktot, Calauit) (141.84 m3/ha), T-8 (Buktot, calauit) (135.40 m3/ha), T-28 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) (134.74 m3/ha), T-23 (Bugtong) (128.70 m3/ha), T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada) (120.90 m3/ha), and T-30 (Sitio Pikoy, Concepcion) (107.21 m3/ha) (Table 9). Table 9. Stand Volume (m3/ha.) of Timber and Pole by Transect, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003.

Stand Volume (SV) Transect Timber Pole Total SV Classes

New Busuanga T-1 27.174 41.394 68.568 Medium T-2 17.193 44.437 61.630 Medium

Calauit Island T-3 380.215 531.037 911.252 High T-4 198.062 478.841 676.903 High T-5 100.256 216.343 316.599 High T-6 58.926 141.835 200.761 Medium T-7 19.138 35.854 54.992 Low


Stand Volume (SV) Transect Timber Pole Total SV Classes T-8 54.539 135.377 189.916 Medium T-9 3.421 30.294 33.715 Low T-10 17.910 61.815 79.725 Medium T-11 35.895 187.121 223.016 Medium T-12 57.269 394.599 451.868 High

New Busuanga T-13 12.437 15.343 27.780 Low T-14 34.446 314.966 349.412 High

Old Busuanga T-15 297.996 71.279 369.275 High T-16 127.977 13.008 140.985 Medium T-17 56.079 214.226 270.305 High T-18 4.744 143.688 148.432 Medium

Salvacion T-19 22.971 151.305 174.276 Medium T-20 19.198 10.794 29.992 Low T-21 44.227 20.053 64.280 Medium

Bugtong T-22 70.337 144.346 214.683 High T-23 78.345 128.696 207.041 High

Sagrada T-24 37.276 28.406 65.682 Medium T-25 86.792 206.469 293.261 High T-26 42.423 471.190 513.613 High T-27 70.706 120.879 191.585 Medium

Sto Nino T-28 15.920 134.743 150.663 Medium T-29 0.620 43.004 43.624 Low

Concepcion T-30 43.400 107.214 150.614 Medium Ave. 67.863 154.619 222.482 Medium

5.2.4 Average Mean Diameter

The average mean diameter of timber size mangrove forest in Busuanga is 22.80 cm but considering only the diameter of dominant mangrove stand, the average diameter is 27.40 cm with 87.33 cm as the largest average trunk dimension recorded in T-7 and the lowest average diameter size measured is 15.10 cm in T-28. On the other hand, the average mean dbh of pole size stand is 9.56 cm while the average dbh of dominant stand is only 11.69 cm. The top10 large size diameter at breast height (dbh) are located in T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), T-21 (Salvacion), T-7 (Buktot), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino), T-20 (Cabulian, Salvacion), T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old


Busuanga), T-11 (Sitio, Binaktalan), and T-28 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) while the trunk dimension at ddh of pole size stand are larger than the dbh of timber size stand which are reflected in decreasing order in T-21 (Salvacion), T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-5 (Calauit Is), T19 (Cabulian , Salvacion), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-20 (Salvacion), T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-22 (Bugtong), and T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old Busuanga) (Figure 7).

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Pole-Dg Pole-Dho Timber-Dg Timber-DhoTransect

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Figure 7. Average Mean Diameter at Breast Height (Dg) and Mean Diameter of

Dominant Stand (Dho) of Timber and Pole Size (cm), Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

5.2.5 Average Mean Height

The average mean height of timber size mangrove stand in Busuanga is 9.65 m while the average mean height of dominant stand is 12.02 m. On the other hand, the pole size stand has an average mean height of 6.77 m while the average mean height of the dominant pole size stand is 9.49 m. In timber size stand , the top 10 transects with higher mean height in decreasing order are T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-21 (Salvacion), T-23 (Bugtong), T-5 (Calauit Is), T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-9 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-11 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is),and T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga). The top 10 transects with higher mean height of pole size trees are T-22 (Bugtong), T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-5 (Calauit Is), T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-23 (Bugtong), T-10 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-19 (Diniculan, Salvacion), and T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old Busuanga) (Figure 8).


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Figure 8. Mean height (H) and mean height of dominant (Ho) stand of timber

and pole in meter per transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

5.2.6 Average Basal Area

The average basal area of mangrove forest in Busuanga is 11.67 m2/ha. Out of the total average basal area, 8.23 m2/ha is contributed by the timber size stand while 3.43 m2/ha is shared by the pole size stand. The mangrove stand in transect T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) covered the largest ground area of 52.92 m2/ha, of which 75% (39.57 m2/ha) is occupied by timber size stand. The top 10 transects with larger basal areas are T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) (48.50 m2/ha), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) (27.18 m2/ha), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) (24.84 m2/ha), T-5 (Calauit Is) (14.72 m2/ha), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is) (14.17 m2/ha), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (13.97 m2/ha), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) (12.59 m2/ha), T-26 (Tapiken River, Sagrada) (11.85 m2/ha), and T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is) (11.65 m2/ha). The lowest basal area is in T-9 (Buktot, Calauit Is) with 0.62 m2/ha followed by T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino), and T-13 (New Busuanga) with 0.92, and 1.31 m2/ha, respectively. An average of 71 % of the total basal area of 11.67 m2/ha is covered by timber size stand (Figure 9).


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Timber Pole TotalTransect

G(m2/ha)

Figure 9. Average Basal Area (G) in m2/ha of Timber and Pole by Transect, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003. 5.2.7 Regeneration Count and Abundance

As expected, R. mucronata and R. apiculata have higher regeneration counts compared to other mangrove species since they are more frequently abundant, important and dominant species in Busuanga. The total regeneration counts of an average of more than 10,000 seedlings and saplings per hectare will ensure the perpetuity or continuity of Rhizophora as ecologically diverse species in Busuanga. Saplings count is higher than seedlings count particularly of the Rhizophora species in some areas which will contribute to the density of pole size stand of Rhizophora-dominated mangrove forest in Busuanga. The other top ten species with abundant regeneration counts are Bc, Nf, Ct, Hl, Rs Bp, Xg, Bs, Cd, Bg, Aa and Ll. Although Xg is the third diverse species in Busuanga, it only ranked 9th in terms of regeneration since it is a prolific seeder. It has large rounded size fruits (look like a pomelo) with an average of 15 seeds per fruit and average of 5 fruits per tree which is reported to bear fruits utmost twice a year. Unlike Rhizophora and Bruguiera species, they bear fruits at least twice a year with abundant seeds or propagules during the onset of dry seasons or during end of rainy seasons. Rhizophora and Bruguiera species produce seeds/propagules at an average of at least 100 and 200 propagules per mother tree per fruiting season. Ceriops species likewise produce seeds abundantly which accounts for the formation of its pure stand (Figure 10).


0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

12000

Pf Ll Ae Bg Cc Bs Xg Bp Rs Hl Ct Nf Bc Ra Rm

Saplings Seedlings Total

Figure 10. Regeneration count (no./ha.) of top 15 diverse species, Busuanga, Palawan 2003.

The top five (5) species which dominated some transects in terms of regeneration count are Rm, Ra, Bg, Ll and Sal. The regeneration count of Ra is highest in almost 55% of the total sampling area (16 transects), followed by Rm with 26% (8 transects), Rs and Bs with 6% (2 transects). Regeneration of Ra is 25, 27, and 30. On the other hand, regeneration of Rm is highest in transects 1, 5, 9, 14, 22, 23, 26 and 29 (Figure 16). The diverse species in the area usually influence the abundance of the regeneration. In Busuanga, Ra is the physiognomically dominant and diverse species, hence it has the most abundant regeneration recorded in Busuanga ( Figure 11)

0250500750

1000125015001750200022502500275030003250350037504000425045004750500052505500575060006250

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Ll Bg Sal Rm Ra

Reg'n

Transect

Figure 11. Regeneration count (no./ha) of top 5 species per transect, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003.


5.2.8 Stand Stocking by Diameter Class and Species

In terms of stocking by diameter class of 5 cm interval, fifty nine percent (59%) of the total stocking belong to 5 and 10 dbh class while the remaining 40 % belongs to 15 to 75 cm dbh class. Mangroves in Busuanga are generally in the reproduction stage (59%), from 2.5 cm to 12.5 cm; while 32% of the stocking belongs to the timber size stand, mostly from 12.6 to 22.5 cm. The 8% belongs to 25 to 40 cm and the remaining 1% is distributed to 45-75 dbh class. The dbh class with highest stocking is 10 cm (42%), followed by 15 cm (21%) as the 2nd rank; 5 cm (18%) in the 3rd rank; 20 cm (11%) in the 4th rank; 25 cm (3%) in the 5th rank; 30 cm (2%) in the 6th rank; 35 cm in the 7th rank (1%); 40 cm in the 8th rank (1 %); and the remaining 1% is distributed to dbh class of 45 cm to 75 cm (Fig.12).

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

Stocking

dbh class

N/ha. 18%

21%

11%

3% 2% 1% 0.9% 0.4% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.03% 0.03%

42%

Figure 12. Stocking (N/ha.) according to dbh class of all species, Busuanga,

Palawan, 2003. R. apiculata has the highest stocking of 8,838 trees of the total mangrove forest in Busuanga which shared 50% of the total mangrove stocking in Busuanga. R. mucronata ranked second in total stocking with 5,832 trees (33%) followed by X. granatum with 394 trees (2%), R. stylosa with 344 trees (2%), C. decandra with 326 trees (2%), C. tagal with 266 trees (2%), H. littoralis with 258 trees (1%), B. cylindrica with 216 trees (1%), L. littorea with 190 trees (1%), and B. gymnorhiza with 180 trees (1%). Eighty three percent (83%) of the total stocking of mangrove forest in Busuanga is contributed by R. apiculata and R. mucronata (Figure 13).


0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Ra Rm Xg Rs Cd Others Ct Hl Bc Ll Bg Bs Sal Ea Bp

Stocking

N/ha.

Species

33%

2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%1%1%

50%

Figure 13. Stand Stocking (N/ha.) of top 15 Diverse Species in Percentage, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003. In terms of species-stocking distribution by dbh class, the top ten (10) diverse species namely: Ra, Rm, Xg, Rs, Cd, Ct, Hl, Bc, Ll, and Bg are abundantly distributed in 10 cm dbh class with 40%, 47%, 40%, 41%, 44%, 44%, 38%, 32%, 19%, and 28%, respectively. Seventy percent of the stocking of Cd (72%) and Ct (70%) are in pole size which is within the dbh class of 5 and 10 cm. These species are small size trees which usually reach an average dbh of 10 cm when matured. Rs, Xg, Bc, and Bg are medium size trees which normally attain an average dbh of 30 cm upon maturity, while Ra, Rm, Hl, and Ll are large size trees which may attain at maturity an average dbh of 50 cm. However, since the mangrove forest in Busuanga was subjected to commercial logging, the recorded large size stand of 50 cm dbh and above were remnants of old growth mangrove forest which are sporadically and individually scattered in its preferred growth zone, particularly species of Ra, Ll, Hl, Bg, Bs, Sal, Sa, Xg, and Ao. Only an insignificant average number of large size stand of 76 trees per hectare of mangrove in Busuanga are recorded as remnants of old growth forest. More than fifty percent of the vegetation extent of Rs (67 %), Rm (62 %), Ra (60 %), Xg (58 %), and Hl (58 %) are considered in reproduction stage or pole size which is mostly in dbh class of 5 and 10 cm. On the other hand, timber size stand shared 33%, 39%, 37%, 38%, and 37% of the mangrove vegetation by Rs, Rm, Ra, Xg, and Hl, respectively, which are within the dbh class from 15 to 30 cm. Most of the vegetation dominated by Bc, Ll, and Bg are distributed in dbh class from 15 to 30 cm with 63%, 47%, and 43% cover, respectively (Table 10 and Figure 14).


Table 10. Species Stocking (N/ha.) according to DBH Class with Percentage Distribution of Top Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Species

5

%

10

%

15

%

20

%

25-75

%

Ra 1810 10.84 3566 21.36 1824 10.93 868 5.20 656 3.93Rm 858 5.14 2728 16.34 1380 8.27 642 3.85 218 1.31Xg 72 0.43 156 0.93 84 0.50 44 0.26 34 0.20Cd 100 0.60 162 0.97 34 0.20 10 0.06 18 0.11Rs 84 0.50 150 0.90 56 0.34 50 0.30 14 0.08Ct 68 0.41 118 0.71 32 0.19 38 0.23 8 0.05Hl 52 0.31 98 0.59 52 0.31 28 0.17 24 0.14Bc 22 0.13 70 0.42 76 0.46 38 0.23 10 0.06Ll 20 0.12 36 0.22 30 0.18 28 0.17 64 0.38Bg 14 0.08 50 0.30 30 0.18 22 0.13 46 0.28

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

5 10 15 20 25-75

dbh class

Ra Rm Xg Cd Rs Ct Hl Bc Ll Bg

N/ha.

Figure 14. Pattern of Species Stocking (N/ha.) according to DBH Class of Top

Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

5.2.9 Stand Volume by Diameter Class and Species

In terms of distribution of wood volume to diameter class, dbh class of 10 cm has the highest volume of 2,688 m3 which comprises 41% of the total volume of Busuanga mangrove forest. Dbh classes 15 cm, 5 cm, and 20 cm has 1,443 m3, 1,089 m3, and 731 m3, respectively. The dbh class from 25 to 75 cm has an aggregate stand volume of 612 m3 which comprise only 9% of the mangrove forest volume. The pole


size stand from 2.5 cm to 12.5 cm (dbh class 5 and 10 cm) contributed 58% of the total wood volume which again supported the qualitative observation that the mangrove forest in Busuanga is secondary growth and at the stage of regeneration. Thirty three percent (33%) of the timber size stand belongs to dbh class 15 cm and 20 cm while only 9% of the total mangrove forest volume is distributed to dbh class from 25 cm to 75 cm (Figure 15).

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

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160.0

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75dbh class

1.7

12.8

17.5 17.0

9.2

11.3

8.29.2

4.7

3.0

1.11.9 1.2 0.8

Figure 15. Stand Volume (m3/ha) according to DBH Class with Percentage

Distribution of All Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003. R. apiculata stand has the highest wood volume of 3,675 m3 which contributed to 56% of the total volume of all mangrove species. R. mucronata shared 36% or 2,335 m3 of the total volume while 8% of the total volume is shared by the other mangrove species. Thus, 92% of the total mangrove forest volume is attributed to R. apiculata and R. mucronata which again supported the qualitative observations that R. apiculata is the most diverse and physiognomically dominant mangrove species in Busuanga (Figure16).

0

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150

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350

400

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Rs Ct Bc Cd Ea Sc Bp Hl Bs Xg Ll Bg Sal Rm Ra

.92 .94 .96 .97 .97 1.06 1.06 1.40 1.97 2.18 2.57 3.03 3.10

22.45

53.7

Figure 16. Stand Volume (m3/ha.) according to Species with Percentage of Top

15 Diverse Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.


In terms of volume distribution to dbh class by species, more than 50% of the stand volume of mangrove forest dominated by Ra (59%), Rm (60%), and Xg (56%) is attributed by the pole size stand with dbh class 5 and 10 cm while stand volume of other major mangrove species such as Bc, Bg, Bs, Bp, Sal, Ll, and Hl belong to timber size stand with dbh class 15 cm and above which shared 59%, 66%, 84%, 74%, 68%, 78%, and 87% of the total wood volume. The highest stand volume dominated by Ra, Rm, Xg, and Bg, belongs to dbh class 10 cm. The highest stand volume of Bc and Hl belong to15 cm dbh class; 20 cm dbh class and 40 cm dbh class contributed the highest stand volume of Bs, and Bp; Sal, and Ll (Table 11 and Figure 17 ). Table 11. Species Volume (m3/ha.) Distribution by DBH Class with Percentage of

Top Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Species

5

%

10

%

15

%

20

%

25-75

%

Ra 8.28 0.97 53.13 6.23 71.58 8.40 64.66 7.58 260.4 30.55Rm 3.8 0.45 41.83 4.91 58.01 6.80 52.33 6.14 35.48 4.16 Xg 0.34 0.04 2.11 0.25 3.14 0.37 2.8 0.33 10.24 1.20 Cd 0.44 0.05 2.21 0.26 1.03 0.12 0.77 0.09 3.79 0.44 Rs 0.28 0.03 1.64 0.19 1.77 0.21 2.54 0.30 1.61 0.19 Ct 0.31 0.04 1.58 0.19 1.37 0.16 2.76 0.32 2.02 0.24 Hl 0.2 0.02 1.33 0.16 1.87 0.22 1.83 0.21 6.68 0.78 Bc 0.13 0.02 0.86 0.10 2.92 0.34 2.59 0.30 1.69 0.20 Ll 0.09 0.01 0.52 0.06 1.02 0.12 1.89 0.22 18.39 2.16 Bg 0.06 0.01 0.68 0.08 1.06 0.12 1.4 0.16 22.67 2.66

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

180.0

200.0

220.0

240.0

260.0

5 10 15 20 25-75

Ra Rm Xg Cd Rs Ct Hl Bc Ll Bg Figure 17. Pattern Species Volume (m3/ha.) Distribution by DBH Class of Top

Ten Mangrove Species, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003


5.3 Mangrove Pattern of Uses and Existing Land Use/Forest Condition

5.3.1 Existing Mangrove Condition

Busuanga has an estimated extent of 1,298.50 has and 142 has mudflats (Table 12). Table 12. Area/Extent of Mangroves and Mudflats by Barangay (JAFTA Maps,

1992), Busuanga, Palawan

Area

Extent (Ha)

Classification

Mudflats (Ha)

1.Sto Niño 74 Reproduction 24 2. Concepcion 135 Secondary

growth 9.5

3. Sagrada 195.5 Reproduction 32.5 4. Bugtong 96 Secondary

growth 0

5. Salvacion 54 Secondary growth

7

6. Old Busuanga 96 Nipa 64 7. San Rafael 14 Reproduction 0 8. New Busuanga 92 Reproduction 5 9. Buluang 32 Reproduction 0 10. Calauit WS 156 Secondary

growth 0

11. New Quezon 266 Secondary growth

0

12. San Isidro 72 Reproduction 0 13. Panlaitan 4 Reproduction 0 14. Maglalambay 11.5 Reproduction 0 Total 1,298.50 142.00


The approximate area provides an estimate of potential area for different schemes of rehabilitation and management. The 142 has mudflat is exposed during low tides with deep clay silt substrates suitable for forestation. The reproduction stand is suitable for assisted natural regeneration, while the secondary stand is suitable for forest stand improvement. Updating the extent of mangrove areas is still on-going using the SPOT 5 and Ikonus imageries taken in 2003.

5.3.2 Pattern of Uses and Ecological State of Mangrove

Mangrove Resource and Uses

Most mangrove areas in Busuanga are fringing along coastline with an estimated average stretch of 150 m. Mangroves in Sto. Niño occur in topographic depressions of approximately 100 has. This area is connected to mangrove areas in other barangays, which formed like a strand network of swamp vegetation along rivers and creeks. New Quezon (Calauit) and Kiwit mangrove areas form along floodplains of freshwater river drainages. Mangrove forest in Sto. Nino has been continuously subjected to cutting for charcoal, poles and piles, which resulted to the stand’s low stature, open canopy and state of regeneration. The nipa stands of Bugtong and Sto. Niño has been regularly gathered by households from these barangays including households of adjacent barangays.

Mangroves in Sto. Niño, Concepcion, and Bugtong are in a state of initial regeneration with loosely distributed remnants of pole size trees. There are still intact pure stand of Bruguiera spp along the river, particularly near Kiwit bridge. Generally, mangrove forest in Busuanga is growing in mixed association of R. apiculata, R. mucronata, S. caseolaris, B. gymnorrhiza, B. sexangula, S. caseolaris, Lumnitzera littoralis, Xylocarpus granatum, Nypa fruticans, Aegiceras corniculatum, Ceriops tagal, Avicennia marina, and Excoecaria agallocha. Species distribution is in association of mixture of eleven (11) species although R. apiculata is still the standing dominant true mangrove species.

The DENR proposed the mangrove areas in Sto. Nino, Concepcion and Bugtong for CBFM project, which included heavily exploited and degraded portion for reforestation/rehabilitation.

Although all mangrove forests in Palawan are proclaimed as mangrove swamp forest reserve per Presidential Proclamation 2152, cutting had been continuously done both for household uses and for local commercial uses. It is only in New Quezon and Calauit Island that mangrove cuttings are insignificant or very minimal that enabled the logged-over areas to regenerate for almost 3 decades into thickly dense secondary growth mangrove forest.

Calauit Island mangroves grow extensively along shorelines, floodplains and in islands that are completely inundated. It is a mixed mangrove stand of five families, seven genera, and 12 species, which is dominated by a Rhizophora spp. Calauit is a protected area which is also proclaimed as Wildlife Game and Refuge area, hence, had a great potential for ecological tourist destination. Communities in barangay New


Quezon are aware of the importance of mangrove. They minimally disturbed the mangroves and traditionally used these only as fishing grounds for mud crab capture, gathering of nipa shingles and for selective cutting of pole size trees.

Mangrove Ecological State and Index of Degradation

The parameters or indicators used to describe the ecological state of mangroves are the stocking, basal area, volume, mean dbh, mean height, mean regeneration, importance value, diversity indices and presence of endemic mangrove species. The highest, median and lowest values of each indicator are considered to relate the grouping of indicators into the three categories of forest conditions of close, sparse and open mangrove vegetation. Table 13 shows the values of different ecological indicators. In terms of stocking, transects T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga) and T-9 (Buktot, Calauit Is) has the highest (2096 trees per hectare) median value of 974, and lowest stocking of 86 trees per hectare. Transects T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) and T-9 (Buktot, Caluit Is) has the highest, median and lowest basal area of 26.46, 13.59 and 0.31 m2 per ha, respectively. In terms of mean diameter at breast height, transects T-21 (Cabulian, Salvacion), T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) and T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) has the highest, median, and lowest values, respectively. Transects T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is), and T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) has the highest, median and lowest mean heights. The mean regeneration count of transects T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), and T-9 ((Buktot, Calauit Is) is the highest, median and lowest value. The importance value which represents the summation of relative frequency, relative density and relative dominance is highest, median, and lowest in transects T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) and T-14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga), respectively. In terms of diversity indices ( Dmg, H1, E, 1/D, and N∞), transect T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is) is consistent in the highest rank of Dmg, H1, 1/D, while transect T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) has the lowest value of E, 1/D, and N∞. Transects T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga), T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-20 (Cabulian, Salvacion), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), and T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) has endemic mangrove species of Rhizophora stylosa and Campostenum philippinensis. The higher the value of the different indicators means that the mangroves are still in good ecological condition and the lower the value indicates the worst ecological state of mangrove. In terms of growth parameters (stocking, basal area, volume, mean height) transect T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is) is at the best ecological state while transect T-9 (Buktot, Calauit Is) is the most degraded mangrove area (Table 13).

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 40

Table 13. Mangrove Index of Degradation and Ecological Condition Indices of Busuanga based on Forest Structure and Ecological Diversity, Busuanga, Palawan 2003

ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA

Pole and Timber Barangay/SiteTran No.

Stoc- King

Basal Area Vol Mean

DBH Mean Height Mean Reg IV Dmg H' E 1/D N∞ Endemism

New Busuanga Sitio Anibong T-1 204 1.96 68.57 15.85 7.91 992 869.8 1.946 1.619 0.703 3.72 2.7568 None

Calauit Island T-2 150 1.49 61.63 15.2 9.36 2448 1115 0.651 1.094 0.789 2.82 2.0833 Endemic species

Calauit Island Panlalaban

River T-3 2096 26.46 911.3 16.48 11.025 9832 1293 2.157 1.158 0.418 2.42 2.15195 Endemic

Panlalaban River T-4 1924 13.59 676.9 14.54 8.27 610 6575 1.747 1.1 0.429 1.86 1.3842 Endemic

T-5 864 7.37 316.6 15.29 10.33 1885 641 0.824 1.267 0.707 2.89 2.16000 None Buktot T-6 506 3.444 200.8 14.15 10.13 4280 107.7 0.904 0.908 0.507 2.19 1.93130 None Buktot T-7 252 4.4 54.99 20.23 5.9 3507 4028 1.034 1.541 0.86 4.19 2.86364 Endemic Buktot T-8 726 5.82 189.9 15.51 7.94 5630 777 4.411 2.167 0.658 4.38 2.22699 Endemic Buktot T-9 86 0.31 33.72 13 8.87 0 987.3 0.266 0.309 0.446 1.21 1.10256 None Buktot T-10 194 1.18 79.73 14.19 8.91 1633 957.5 0.874 0.496 0.308 1.29 1.14118 None

Sitio Binaktalan T-11 546 3.67 223 16.11 8.72 2976 396.2 1.248 0.636 0.306 1.38 1.18182 None Sitio Binaktalan T-12 1202 7.09 451.9 15.3 8.22 69 6506 1.094 0.782 0.376 1.48 1.22403 None New Busuanga

T-13 96 0.66 27.78 13.39 6.81 1813 723.6 1.292 1.093 0.61 2.14 1.50000 None Sitio Dipanag T-14 888 4.72 349.4 15.16 6.71 4451 346.9 0.492 0.309 0.223 1.18 1.08824 None


ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA Pole and Timber Barangay/Site

Tran No.

Stoc- King

Basal Area Vol Mean


Old Busuanga Busuanga

River T-15 974 24.25 369.3 18.74 9.97 4625 11088 1.939 1.576 0.614 3.04 1.84470 None

Busuanga River T-16 424 12.42 141 19.71 10.51 1747 1966 2.427 1.717 0.651 3.29 1.92727 None

San Nicolas, San Isidro T-17 712 5.6 270.3 16.57 6.58 1775 1659 1.362 0.95 0.432 1.85 1.40711 None

San Isidro Islet T-18 372 1.88 148.4 17.53 8.36 4550 618.1 1.148 0.842 0.433 2.06 1.70642 None

Salvacion Diniculan T-19 432 3.26 174.3 16.81 7.38 5260 683.8 0.558 0.729 0.526 1.82 1.45946 None Cabulian T-20 96 1.69 29.99 17.91 5.95 4240 1489 1.55 0.961 0.494 1.89 1.41176 Endemic

T-21 158 4.87 64.28 21.14 9.25 1120 1287 0.687 1.332 0.961 3.73 2.63333 None Bugtong

T-22 528 4.09 214.7 14.73 10.18 8380 1816 0.717 0.598 0.371 1.5 1.25714 None T-23 508 4.94 207 15.81 10.16 1576 1312 0.542 0.645 0.465 1.69 1.38043 None

Sagrada Tangtangen Is T-24 278 6.99 65.68 20.84 5.4 1830 5739 1.244 1.244 0.695 3.13 2.62264 Endemic Tangtangen

Is T-25 810 6.29 293.3 14.86 7.31 9540 4010 1.038 1.038 0.645 2.26 1.65306 Endemic

Ruyocan River T-26 1300 5.93 513.6 13.72 6.43 19227 11445 0.653 0.653 0.364 1.73 1.41921 None

Tapiken River T-27 472 3.61 191.6 14.19 7.71 6140 3192 1.16 1.16 0.721 2.52 1.71014 None


ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA Pole and Timber Barangay/Site

Tran No.

Stoc- King

Basal Area Vol Mean


Sto Nino Sitio Bubutersa T-28 384 2.95 150.7 15.36 6.82 2360 7897 0.999 0.999 0.621 2.3 1.71429 None

Sitio Bukod T-29 128 0.46 43.62 17.27 6.7 4627 426.2 1.161 1.161 0.721 2.71 1.88235 Endemic Concepcion

T-30 380 3.62 150.6 15.9 8.6 2952 670.6 1.113 1.113 0.535 2.18 1.58333 None

______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 43

Generally, it is observed and recorded that Busuanga mangrove areas, except Calauit Island has been heavily exploited. Mangrove stands along the road and those formed in basin and extensive depression areas, which are accessible by land, are continuously subjected to cutting for charcoal, fuel wood, poles and piles. Mangroves in barangay Sto. Niño and Concepcion and along Busuanga rivers are characterized as reproduction growth (small size, shrubs form branching, stunted and with extensive prop roots) and sparsely distributed in low stature and open canopy. At present, according to a key informant (former Barangay Chairman of Sto. Niño), there are 50 households in Sto. Niño that are primarily dependent on mangrove as source of livelihood. These mangrove-dependent families are charcoal makers/producers, nipa shingle gatherers, nipa thatching makers, and capturers of mud crabs in mangrove areas and estuaries. Some of them have been gathering nipa shingles for almost 20 years now.

The cutting/harvesting of mangrove has been going on continuously due to accessibility, ready market, high demand and preference of charcoal from mangrove trees and very lax enforcement of mangrove cutting ban. Mangrove-dependent families are basically fishermen but heavily dependent on mangrove for livelihood because they have no capital to invest in deep-sea fishing. They have low comparative advantage to other fishermen who have motorized banca. Most of them have only small non-motorized bancas for fishing along estuaries and rivers. Sagrada mangrove stand is threatened for conversion to agriculture or reclamation to pave way for road widening. The other half of the mangrove in landward portion, which are cut/divided by road, is in danger of extinction since the free flow of exchange of saline and fresh waters are obstructed/impeded. Mangroves thrive in areas where there is daily unobstructed/free flow of brackish water. 5.4 Mangrove Management Zoning and Proposed Strategy

5.4.1 Ranking of Mangrove Sites for ECAN Zoning The forest structure and ecological diversity indices are used in ranking potential sites for strictly protected areas, conservation sites for community small-scale management and sites for restoration or forestation. Ranks 1 to 10 are proposed as strict protection areas, ranks 11 to 20 are proposed for community based small scale management wherein small scale utilization is allowed in sustainable way through forest stand improvement as one of a silvicultural treatment to improve the quality of timber stand while ranks 21 to 30 are proposed for immediate restoration or forestation with the active participation of stakeholders. The strict protection or preservation areas are proposed to be delineated as core zone while the conservation areas are to be considered as regulated multiple use zone. Restoration zones are potential expansion areas for core zone or regulated multiple use zones once attained the desired structure and condition. Areas adjacent to ecotones or transition zones towards the lowland/ terrestrial areas are suggested as buffer zones. The ecotone zones (areas between mangroves and terrestrial flora) has higher diversity indices in terms of species richness and abundance.

______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 44

In Calauit Island, transects T-3, T-4, T-5, T-7 and T- 8 are proposed for preservation or strictly protected areas while areas with similar forest condition of transects T-6, and T-12 are suitable for community small scale management. Meanwhile, transects T-9,T-10 and T-11 are proposed for restoration, either through assisted natural regeneration or forestation. Mangrove areas in New Busuanga with similar forest structure and vegetation condition of transects T-1 and T-2 are recommended for forest stand improvement while those areas with similar structure and condition with transects T-13 and T-14 need an immediate rehabilitation. Transects T-15 and T-16 of Old Busuanga are for preservation, transect T-17 is for community based mangrove forest management (CBMFM) and transect T-18 for restoration. Most mangrove areas in Salvacion, Bugtong, Sto. Nino and Concepcion are suitable for CBMFM, either for forestation or forest stand improvement. Most mangrove areas in Sagrada, particularly those of similar structure and condition with transects T-24, T-25 and T-27 are proposed for strict protection and no utilization is allowed except for research and scientific studies; gene bank and biodiversity reservoir of both plants and animals including aquatic organisms for spawning, breeding, and nursery; non-invasive or non- aggressive fishing; and non-intruder, non-aggressive and ecologically-friendly tourism destination. Calauit Island, New Busuanga, Old Busuanga, and Sagrada mangrove areas are suitable for promotion of ecotourism as part of the total scenery of coastal land and seascape. Table 14 shows the ranking of mangrove for ECAN zoning.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 45

Table 14. Ranking of Mangrove for ECAN Zoning and Potential for Sustainable Uses, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Endemism Stoc- king Mean

Height Mean DBH

Basal Area Vol Mean

Reg IV Dmg H' E 1/D N∞ Total Over all Ranking

New Busuanga T-1 30 23 18 14 23 22 27 20 4 3 7 4 2 197 11th T-2 1 26 8 20 26 25 17 17 26 14 3 9 8 200 13th

Calauit Island T-3 1 1 1 11 1 1 2 15 3 11 24 12 7 90 1st T-4 1 2 15 24 3 2 28 4 6 13 23 20 23 164 8th T-5 30 7 3 19 5 7 19 25 22 7 6 8 6 164 9th T-6 30 14 6 27 20 13 12 30 20 20 17 15 9 233 20th T-7 1 22 29 3 15 26 14 7 18 5 2 2 1 145 5th T-8 1 9 17 16 10 15 6 21 1 1 9 1 5 112 3rd T-9 30 30 11 30 30 28 30 18 30 29 20 29 29 344 29th T-10 30 24 10 26 27 21 24 19 21 28 28 28 28 314 28th T-11 30 11 12 12 17 10 15 28 10 26 29 27 27 254 25th T-12 30 4 16 18 6 4 29 5 16 22 25 26 26 227 19th

New Busuanga T-13 30 29 23 29 28 30 21 22 9 15 14 17 18 285 26th T-14 30 6 24 21 14 6 11 29 29 30 30 30 30 290 27th

Old Busuanga T-15 30 5 7 5 2 5 9 2 5 4 13 7 12 106 2nd T-16 30 17 2 4 4 20 23 10 2 2 10 5 10 139 4th T-17 30 10 26 10 11 9 22 12 8 19 22 21 22 222 16th T-18 30 20 14 7 24 19 10 26 14 21 21 18 15 239 22nd

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 46

Endemism Stoc- king Mean

Height Mean DBH

Basal Area Vol Mean

Reg IV Dmg H' E 1/D N∞ Total Over all Ranking

Salvacion T-19 30 16 20 9 21 16 7 23 27 23 16 22 19 249 24th T-20 1 28 28 6 25 29 13 13 7 18 18 19 21 226 18th T-21 30 25 9 1 13 24 26 16 24 6 1 3 3 181 19th

Bugtong T-22 30 12 4 23 16 11 4 11 23 27 26 25 25 237 21st T-23 30 13 5 15 12 12 25 14 28 25 19 24 24 246 23rd

Sagrada T-24 1 21 30 2 7 23 20 6 11 8 8 6 4 147 6th T-25 1 8 21 22 8 8 3 8 17 16 11 14 16 153 7th T-26 30 3 27 28 9 3 1 1 25 24 27 23 20 221 15th T-27 30 15 19 25 19 14 5 9 13 10 5 11 14 189 10th

Sto Nino T-28 30 18 22 17 22 17 18 3 19 17 12 13 13 221 14th T-29 1 27 25 8 29 27 8 27 12 9 4 10 11 198 12th

Concepcion T-30 30 19 13 13 18 18 16 24 15 12 15 16 17 226 17th


Rank 1 means lowest level of degradation and highest potential for sustainable

use while 30 means highest level of degradation and lowest potential sustainable use.

5.4.2 Proposed Management Strategy

The classification of the ranking above serves as guide in determining the appropriate management strategy. The scoring is translated to qualitative descriptions and the sites or transects are grouped according to the proposed management strategy. Table 15 shows the factors considered in choosing management strategy for Busuanga. Mangrove sites which passed the criteria for strict protection and for preservation are: Transects T-3 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-4 (Panlalaban River, Calauit Is), T-5 (Calauit Is), T-7 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-8 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-15 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-16 (Busuanga River, Old Busuanga), T-24 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada), T-25 (Tangtanguen Is, Sagrada) and T-27 (Tapiken River, Sagrada). The conservation mangrove areas proposed to be managed by an organized community are those of similar structure and conditions to transects T-1 (New Busuanga), T-2 (Sitio Anibong, New Busuanga), T-12 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is), T-17 (San Nicolas, San Isidro) , T-20 (Cabulian, Salvacion) , T-21 (Salvacion), T-26 (Ruyocan River, Sagrada), T-28 (Sitio Bubutersa, Sto Nino), T-29 (Sitio Bukod, Sto Nino) and T-30 (Sitio Pikoy, Concepcion). The heavily degraded and exploited mangrove areas need an immediate rehabilitation. Mangrove areas with similar structure and condition to transects T-6 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-9 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-10 (Buktot, Calauit Is), T-11 (Sitio Binaktalan, Calauit Is), T-13 (New Busuanga), 14 (Sitio Dipanag, New Busuanga), T-18 (San Isidro Islet, Old Busuanga), T-19 (Diniculan, Salvacion), T-22 (Bugtong) and T-23 (Bugtong) are proposed for reforestation, with the direct involvement of the stakeholders.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 1. IN-DEPTH MANGROVE SURVEY 48

Table 15. Factors Considered in Choosing Appropriate Management Strategy(ies) of Mangrove Area, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Barangay/Site Transect No. Coordinates

Average Stocking

Class

Forest Cover Class

Stand Volume

Class

Biodi Index Class

Threatened Endemic species

Biodiversity Hotspots

Management Strategy

Management Measures

New Busuanga

T-1 N 12*16.177 and E 119*55.964'

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Moderate Moderate

High none

Hotspot Area

CBMFM-Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR)

Rehabilitation

Sitio Anibong T-2 N 12*16.714 and E 119*55.74'

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Moderate Very Low


Extremely High Hotspot

Area

CBMFM-ANR

Rehabilitation/ Restoration

Calauit island

Panlalaban River T-3

N 12*16'19.6and E 119*54'53.7"

Adequate Stock

Highly Densed Forest Cover

High Very Low Threatened Endemic species

CB- Ecotourism Preservation

Panlalaban River T-4

N 12*16.332and E 119*54.762

Adequate Stock

Highly Densed Forest Cover

High Very Low Threatened Endemic spp

CB- Ecotourism Preservation




Average Stocking

Class

Forest Cover Class

Stand Volume

Class

Biodi Index Class



Management Strategy

Management Measures

T-5 N 12*17'45.5"and E 119*52'38"

Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Very Low none

CB-Ecotourism Restoration

Buktot, T-6 N 12*17'44.7"and E 119*52'38.5"

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Medium Very Low none

Hotspot Area

CBMFM- Forestation Rehabilitation

Buktot T-7 N 12*17.547"and E 119*52.22'

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Low Low Threatened

Endemic spp


Area CB- Ecotourism Rehabilitation

Buktot T-8 N12*17'46.62"and E 119*52'082"

Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

Medium High Threatened Endemic spp

CB-Ecotourism Rehabilitation

Buktot T-9 N 12*17.361"and E 119*52.639'

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Low Very Low none

Hotspot Area


Buktot T-10 N 12*17.160'and E 119*52.687'

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Moderate Very Low none

Hotspot Area


Sitio Binaktalan T-11 N 12*17.376'and E 119*52.701'

Logged Over Area


Hotspot Area


Sitio Binaktalan T-12 N 12*17.376'and E 119*52.701'

Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Very Low none

CBMFM-ANR Restoration/ Preservation




Average Stocking

Class

Forest Cover Class

Stand Volume

Class

Biodi Index Class



Management Strategy

Management Measures

New Busuanga

T-13 N 12*12'20.2"and E 119*532.47'

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Low Very Low none

Hotspot Area


Sitio Dipanag T-14 Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Very Low none Hotspot Area

CBMFM- Forestation Restoration

Busuanga River T-15 N 12*09'33.4"and E 119*55'33.2

Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Low none

CB-Ecotourism Restoration/ Preservation

Busuanga River T-16 N 12*09'35.6"and E 119*55'13.5

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Moderate Low none

Hotspot AreaCB-Ecotourism Rehabilitation

San Nicolas, San Isidro T-17 Inadequat

e Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Very Low none

CBMFM-ANR Restoration




Average Stocking

Class

Forest Cover Class

Stand Volume

Class

Biodi Index Class



Management Strategy

Management Measures

San Isidro Islet T-18 Logged Over Area


Hotspot Area


Salvacion

Diniculan T-19 Logged Over Area


Hotspot AreaCBMFM- Forestation Rehabilitation

Cabulian T-20 N 12*08.191and E 119*58.884

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Low Very Low Threatened

Endemic spp


Area CBMFM-ANR Rehabilitation

T-21 N 12*08'20.4"and E 119*55'49"

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Moderate High none

Hotspot AreaCBMFM-ANR Rehabilitation

Bugtong

T-22 N 12*04'21.2"and E 119*57'04.7"

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Most Very Low none

Hotspot Area

CBMFM- Forestation

Restoration/ Rehabilitation

T-23

N 12*04.357"and E 119*57.085

Logged Over Area


Hotspot Area

CBMFM- Forestation

Restoration/ Rehabilitation




Average Stocking

Class

Forest Cover Class

Stand Volume

Class

Biodi Index Class



Management Strategy

Management Measures

Sagrada

Tangtanguen Island

T-24 N 12*02.915"and E 119*57.190

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Moderate High Threatened

Endemic sppExtremely

High Hotspot Area

CB-Ecotourism Restoration/ Rehabilitation

Tangtanguen Island

T-25 N 12*03'04.7"and E 119*57'39.6'

Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Very Low Threatened Endemic spp

CB-Ecotourism Restoration/

Preservation

Ruyocan River

T-26

N 12*04'04.33"and E 119*57'23.237"

Inadequate Stock

Sparse Forest Cover

High Very Low none

CBMFM-ANR Restoration/ Preservation

Tapiken River

T-27

N 12*04'29.186"and E 119*57'59.749"

Logged Over Area


Hotspot Area

CB-Ecotourism Rehabilitation

Sto Nino




Average Stocking

Class

Forest Cover Class

Stand Volume

Class

Biodi Index Class



Management Strategy

Management Measures

Sitio Bubutersa

T-28

N 12*01'41.115"and E 120*00'06.906"

Logged Over Area


Hotspot Area

CB-Forestation Rehabilitation

Sitio Bukod T-29

N 12*01'35.3"and E 120*00'10.8"

Logged Over Area

Cleared Area Low Very Low Threatened

endemic spp


Area CBMFM-ANR Rehabilitation

Concepcion

Sitio Pikoy T-30

N 12*03'04.7"and E 119*57'39.6'

Logged Over Area


Hotspot AreaCBMFM-ANR Rehabilitation


The scoring and ranking is based on qualitative description of the mangrove areas such as stand growth, density, stature and existing pattern of utilization which are supported quantitatively based on stand volume, stocking, mean diameter, mean height, mean basal area, stand and stock and mean regeneration (seedlings and saplings). This qualitative and quantitative information provided us the basis for recommendation on the effective scheme of rehabilitating and sustaining the mangrove ecosystem as a renewable resource.

Heavily exploited and degraded mangrove areas should be immediately rehabilitated. Enrichment planting and assisted natural regeneration can be adapted to rehabilitate the area using species based on species distribution and zonation. In most mangrove reforestation initiatives of the country, R. apiculata, R. mucronata, and R. stylosa are the preferred species for planting due to their economic, ecological values and ease in establishment of the plantation. The mangrove-dependent households should be organized to undertake the rehabilitation, management, and protection of mangrove forest.

Community Organizing (CO) should be an integral part of the development and rehabilitation of mangrove areas, together with the other coastal resources. The CO strategies shall be more community focused than environmental centered. The strategies should all be geared towards responding to socio-economic and environmental concerns. The local institutions should be developed and the capabilities of mangrove-dependent households should be strengthened and enhanced for them to become effective stewards and de facto managers of the resources. Likewise, for them, particularly the mangrove-dependent households to undertake rehabilitation, and conservation of the coastal resources in order to sustain the provision of goods and services and protect the base of their economic activities, thereby reducing poverty incidence. The CBMFM/CBRMP concept of restoring the coastal resource may be adopted to generate local participation and to ensure the sustainability of whatever interventions implemented.

6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

The scoring and ranking is primarily based on qualitative description of the mangrove areas such as stand growth, density, stature and existing pattern of utilization which are supported quantitatively based on stand volume, stocking, mean diameter, mean height, mean basal area, stand and stock and mean regeneration (seedlings and saplings). This qualitative and quantitative information provided us the basis for recommendation on the effective scheme of rehabilitating and sustaining the mangrove ecosystem as a renewable resource.

Heavily exploited and degraded mangrove areas should be immediately rehabilitated. Enrichment planting and assisted natural regeneration can be adapted to rehabilitate the area using species based on species distribution and zonation. In most mangrove reforestation in the country, R. apiculata, R. mucronata, and R. stylosa are the preferred species for forestation due to their economic and ecological values. The


mangrove-dependent households should be organized to undertake the rehabilitation, management, and protection, of mangrove forest.

Community organizing (CO) should be an integral part of the development and rehabilitation of mangrove areas, together with the other coastal resources. The CO strategies shall be more community focused than environmental centered. The strategies should all be geared towards responding to socio-economic and environmental concerns. The local institutions should be developed and the capabilities of mangrove-dependent households should be strengthened and enhanced to be for them to become effective stewards and de facto managers of the resources. Likewise, for them, particularly the mangrove-dependent households to undertake rehabilitation, and conservation of the coastal resources in order to sustain the provision of goods and services and protect the base of their economic activities, thereby reducing poverty incidence. The CBMFM/CBRMP concept of restoring the coastal resource may be adopted to generate local participation and to ensure the sustainability of whatever interventions implemented.

_________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 56

APPENDICES

Appendix 1. Review of Related Assessment

The area still supports a high level of biodiversity inspite of intense pressure

brought about by destructive anthropogenic activities like dynamite and cyanide fishing, illegal hunting, slash and burn farming among others. Compared to other areas in Northern Palawan, Busuanga has the most extensive and diverse marine and coastal environment, which include mangrove forests, seagrass beds, coral reefs that comprises about 36% of the nation’s total coral reef area (ECAN Zoning Project, 2003). There are about six (6) different species of crustaceans, 22 residents fishes and 41 resident and 28 migratory bird species present particularly sighted or recorded in coastal-mangrove areas. Additionally, as an indicator of high level biodiversity and a balance ecosystem, its tropic level almost represents each of every level. From floristic down to avifauna and macrobentic level, represent the richness of the area (Appendix 2, 3, 4, and 5). Appendix 2. List of Birds reportedly Sighted in Coastal-Mangrove, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Species

Tropic Level

Status

Nectariniidae Purple-Throated Sunbird Nectarinia sperata Pipit(Tag); Pipit-mayaman(Pil)

Resident - Common

Olive-Backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugulars race auroraPipit-puso(Tag); Pipit-parang(Pil); Tamsi(Vis)

Nectivore Resident w/ endemic race -Common

Plain-Throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis Pipit (Pil) Resident - Common

Sturnidae Hill Myna Gracula religiosa iyaw(Tagbanua, Palawan, Batak)

Resident-Uncommon

Motacillidae Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea race robustaIwad-iwad, Payug-yug(Pil); Bangkiyod, Ananakyod, Tambayugyug(Vis)

Insectivore Endemic

Pachycephalidae Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala grisola

Resident-Rarely common

_________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 57

Species

Tropic Level

Status

Muscicopidae Pied Fantail Rhipidora javanica Pandangera(Ilocos); Maria Kapra(Tag); Bilad-Bilad(Vis)

Insectivore Resident-Common

Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina Endemic-Uncommon and Local

Sylviidae Ashy Tailord Orthotomus ruficeps Resident-Common

Rufous-Tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus

Insectivore Resident-Common

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Migrant-Rare

Golden-Bellied Fleater Gerygone sulphurea Pipit-bakaw(Pil); Pipit(Tag)

Resident-Common

Ardeidae Great Egret Egretta alba Tagak, Talabong(Pil)

Migrant-Uncommon

Eastern Reef-Egret Egratta sacra Tagak-latian(Pil) Resident-Uncommon

Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes Migrant-Rare

Little Egret Egreta garzetta Tagak(Tag); Talabong(Vis)

Migrant-Common

Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophusBakaw-gabi(Pil)

Resident-Uncommon

Japanese Night-Heron Gorsachius goisagi Bakaw-gabi(Pil)

Migrant-Rare

Little Heron Butorides striatus Bakaw(Pil); Bakaw Itim(Tag); Yoho(Vis)

Resident-Fairly common

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Migrant-Uncommon

Great-Billed Heron Ardea sumatrana Dangkawan, Dugwak(Pil)

Resident-Uncommon

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea race manilensisKandangaho(Pil); Tagak(Tag); Dugwak(Vis)

Resident-Common

Cattle Heron Bubulcus ibis Talaud(Pil); Tagak Kalabao(Tag); Talabong, Tabong(Vis)

Resident/Migrant-common

_________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 58

Species

Tropic Level

Status

Black-Crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Lipay(Pil)

Migrant-Uncommon

Rufous Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus Lapay-dagat(Pil); Bakaw gabi(Tag); Lapay(Vis)

Resident-Uncommon

Schrenck's Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus Migrant-Rare

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Bakaw-tumana Resident-Common

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomcus Bakaw-kanela, lapay(Pil); Yohong Pula(Vis)

Resident-Common

Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis Mangansile(Pil) Resident-Uncommon

Anatidae Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuataPato, Baliwis(Pil); Baliuis(Tag); Gakit(vis)

Resident-Common

Rostratulidae Greater Painted-Snipe Rostratula benghalensis Pakobo,Kawok(Pil); Pacobo(Tag); Dasak(Vis)

Resident-Uncommon

Asian Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva Matang-baka(Tag); Tohil(Vis)

Migrant-Common

Little Ringed-Plover Charadrius dubius Taringting(Pil); Matang-baka de collar(Tag); Talingting(Vis)

Resident

Little Ringed-Plover Charadrius dubius race curonicus Taringting(Pil); Matang-baka de collar(Tag); Talingting(Vis)

Migrant

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus race dealbatus Taringting (Pil)

Migrtant-Common

Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii Taringting(Pil) Resident-Uncommon

Lesser Sand-Plover Charadrius mongolusTaringting(Pil)

Migrant-Common

Greater Sand-Plover Charadrius leschenaultii Taringting(Pil)

Migrant-Common

_________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 59

Species

Tropic Level

Status

Scolopacidae Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata race orientalisBalangkawitan (Pil)

Migrant-Uncommon

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Migrant-Uncommon

Black-Tailed Godwit Limosa limosa race melanuroides

Migrant-Rare

Common Redshank Tringa totanus race eurhinus Migrant-Common

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Migrant-Uncommon

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Migrant-Common

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Migrant-Uncommon

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Migrant-Common

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Migrant-Common

Grey-Tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes Migrant-Common

Rufous-Necked Stint Calidris ruficollis Migrant-Common

Long-Toed Stint Calidris subminuta Migrant-Common

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Migrant-Common

Broad-Billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus race sibirica

Migrant-Uncommon

Burhinidae Beach Thick-Knee Esacus magnirostris Resident-Rare

Recurvirostridae Himantopus himantupos Migrant-Uncommon

Laridae Black-Headed Gull Larus ridibundus Kanaway(Pil) Migrant-Uncommon

Sternidae Black-Naped Tern Sterna sumatrana Kanaway(Pil) Resident-Uncommon

Columbidae Thick-Billed Green-Pigeon Treron curvirostra Punay(Pil)

Resident-Uncommon

_________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 60

Species

Tropic Level

Status

Pied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula bicolor Balud Puti, Kamaso(Pil)

Resident-Common

Cuculidae Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus Ibong Maysakit(Pil)

Resident-Common

Caprimulgidae Large-Tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus race johnsoni Kandarapa(Pil)

Endemic-Common

Apodidae Island Swiftlet Collocalia vanikorensis race amelis Resident-Common

Island Swiftlet Collocalia vanikorensis race palawanensis

Endemic-Common

Alcedinidae Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Susulbot(Tag); Uwak Bata(Vis)

Migrant-Common

Blue-Eared Kingfisher Alcedo Meninting race amadoni Susulbot(Tag)

Endemic

Stork-Billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis races gouldiand gigantea Bakag(Pil); Bakaka(Vis)

Endemic-Uncommon

Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda race linae Endemic

White-Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chlorisSalaksak(Pil); Kasaykasay(Tag); Tikarol(Vis)

Resident

Eurylaimidae Blue-Winged Pitta Pitta moluccensis Migrant-Rare

Campephagidae Pied Triller Lalage nigra race chilensis Pari(Pil); Ibon-pare(Tag); Bugaungon or Salaksak(Vis)

Resident

Chloropseidae Common Iora Aegithina tiphia race aequanimis Resident

Anhingidae Anhingidae Anhinga melanogaster Kasili(Tag); Sili-sili(Vis)

Resident-Uncommon

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 61

Appendix 3. List of Bivalve and Gastropods Recorded in Coastal-Mangrove, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Mollusks

Busuanga

No. of Bivalve 15 Anadara antiquata Barbatia fusca Crassostrea echinata Crassostrea lugubrious Crassostrea tuberculata Dosinia cretacea Dosinia sp. Gafrarium tumidum Isognomon ephippium Marcia sp. Ostrea amasa Ostrea imbricata Ostrea iridalei Ostrea malabonensis Ostrea palmipes No.of Gastropods 37 Bittium zebrum Cantharus cecillei Cassidula anguillefera Cassidula nucleus Cerithium patulum Cerithium pfefferi Clypeomorus bifaciatus Clypeomorus chemnitzianus Clypeomorus granosum Clypeomorus moniliferus Clypeomorus traillei Clypeomorus zonatus Ellobium aurisjudae Imbricaria conularis Littorina brevicula Littorina coccinea Lophiotoma polytrona Melampus castaneus Melampus flavus Melampus striatus Melongena galeodes Melongena pugilinae

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 62

Mollusks

Busuanga

Monodonta labio Nassarius acutidens Nassarius festivus Nassarius olivaceus Nassarius sp. Nerita chamaeleon Nerita planospira Planaxis sulcatus Planaris virgatus Pupa alveola Smaragdinella viridis Telescopium mauritsi Telescopium telescopium Terebralia sulcata

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 63

Appendix 4. List of Crustaceans recorded in coasta-mangrove of Busuanga, Palawan Crustaceans 6 Acetes intermedius Alpheus lobidens Caridina propinqua Clibanarius longispinosus Clibanarius sp. Macrophthalmus sp.

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 64

Appendix 5. List of Fishes Recorded in Coastal-Mangrove of Busuanga, Palawan

Family Fish Species

Acanthuridae Acanthurus dussumieri Monacanthidae Alutera monoceros Serranidae Anyperodon leucogramicus Arridae Arius maculatus Arridae Arius venosus Carangidae Caranx ignobilis Carangidae Caranx oblongus Chanidae Chanos chanos Serranidae Epinephelus areolatus Serranidae Epinephelus malabaricus Gerridae Gerres filamentosus Gerridae Gerres poieti Carangidae Gnathanodon speciosus Hemiramphidae Hemiramphus far Leiognathidae Leiognathus dussumieri Leiognathidae Leiognathus equulus Leiognathidae Leiognathus splendens Lethrinidae Lethrinus nematacanthus Mugilidae Liza ceramensis Mugilidae Liza melinoptera Mugilidae Liza subvirides Lutjanidae Lutjanus fulvus Lutjanidae Lutjanus sp. Megalopidae Megalops cyprinoides Mugilidae Mugil cephalus Teraponidae Pelates quadrilineatus Plotosidae Plotosus canius Scatophagidae Scatophagus argus Scombridae Scomberomorus commersoni Leiognathidae Secutor ruconius Siganidae Siganus guttatus Siganidae Siganus spinus Siganidae Siganus vermiculatus Sphyraenidae Sphyraena jello Synanceiidae Stolephorus tri Engraulidae Thrissocles kammalensis Triacanthidae Triacanthus biaculeatus Mugilidae Valamugil seheli

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 65

Appendix 6. Benefits Generated from Mangrove

The direct income derived from non-extractive and destructive utilization of

mangrove is much greater and sustainable than the benefits/income generated from cutting of mangroves for charcoal and poles and piles as shown in Table 16. This supports the argument to use the mangrove in a sustainable manner than extractive or destructive uses such as cutting. The estimated total direct benefits derived from non-extractive uses of mangrove is P26,350/mo while the generated income from destructive/extractive harvest is only P12,321/mo. Nipa shingle gathering is considered as non-destructive because harvesting can be done 3 to 4 times a year in the similar stand/frond and can replenish very fast while cutting of poles and piles or cutting mangrove for charcoal will certainly decrease/decline stocking and quality of mangrove vegetation.

It needs 1.11 trees with diameter of 10 to 15 cm to produce 5 sacks of charcoal

(45kg/sack). To produce 292.50 sacks per month, one household with 5 to 7 members need 65 trees/mo with an average diameter of 12 cm.

In Sto. Niño, there are 30 households which produce charcoal with an average production of 32,400 sacks/yr. Hence, they need to cut 6,480 trees annually. Each household has an average of 3 kilns with a production capacity of 350 sacks/kiln. They can produce 3 cycles of charcoal per month.

The average stocking in Sto. Niño is 980 trees/ha (20 timber size and 960 pole size trees). The cutting rate in Sto. Niño per year is 6.61 hectares, and it has 74 hectares of mangrove-forested area. Considering the 30 households producing charcoal in Sto. Niño, the pressure of utilization and extraction still remains high in Busuanga, particularly in the said area.

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 66

Appendix 7. Potential of Mangrove as Ecological Tourist Destination

The attraction of mangroves as an ecological destination is more on the ecosystem in general, rather than on a particular focal species and habitat. Hence, what is required is a skilled interpretation and education to attract and satisfy eco-tourists. In this case, the resource must be assessed to determine the attributes of the area that are of potential interest to eco-tourists. The mangroves in Palawan, particularly in Busuanga can be described as the last mangrove frontier in the Philippines. For a skilled interpreter, a mangrove and its nearby ecosystems can be the focal point around which a web of attributes and stories can be woven. Information on the nature of tourists is likewise important. There are hardcore eco-tourists as well as casual, less committed eco-tourists. Eco-tourists are heterogeneous depending on their interest, intensity of interest and their willingness and ability to pay to satisfy their interest. A social marketing survey is necessary to understand these different market segments and their relationship to the range of ecotourism opportunities available. The promotion of mangroves as ecotourism sites should focus on their high ecological value, which to the extent possible, should be translated into a tangible monetary value to easily facilitate the understanding of the public, decision-makers, planners, managers, hotel and resort operators as well as tourists on the importance of mangroves. Thus, the design and production of the information, education and communication (IEC) materials to promote mangroves as an ecological tourist attraction may not be sufficient from the point of view of infusing behavioral changes and motivating stakeholders’ involvement and commitment in the conservation of mangroves, through ecotourism promotion and development. An effective and sustained social marketing strategy should be carefully designed and implemented to specific target audience such as tourists (in each nationality), the local people and the general public, particularly school children from the primary level. In addition to the 4Ps of commercial marketing (product, place, price and promotion), social marketing considers people as the focal goal of the development strategy in changing the knowledge, attitude, skills and practices (KASP) of the specific target audience. The mangrove areas in Busuanga, including their immediate interrelated environment and ecosystem such as sea grass beds, coral reef, beach, coastline and nearshore shallow areas, are unique ecotourism destination sites. The promotion may focus on the biophysical attraction and the unique scenery. Mangroves should be included as an added value of the coastal ecosystem.

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 67

Environmental Considerations The tourism industry is the principal force in the development of ecotourism. There are, however, environmental costs and benefits and to ensure that the benefits exceed the costs, management structures should be in place. Environmental benefits may be attained through the following:

Enhanced biodiversity conservation once local people commits to the changes in ways of utilizing the resource when they have benefited from ecotourism;

Increased environmental awareness of visitors and locals; and Supportive of biodiversity knowledge and protection

However, in order to realize these benefits, it is necessary to have a thorough

understanding of the proposed sites to determine their attributes and ability to withstand the influx of visitors. There is also a need to formulate a strategic ecotourism plan that considers the different perspectives of the ecotourism opportunity spectrum (EOS). Towards this end, inputs must be drawn, in a participatory-integrative manner, from various local, national and regional stakeholders, as well as the LGU.

Based on the definition and concept of ecotourism, environmental and social

values should be mutually inclusive –– that is, ecotourism development should result in net economic and social benefits for local communities as well as net environmental benefits to assure its sustainability. Early on, the potential cost and benefits of any proposed ecotourism development must be clearly identified.

Ecotourism may provide the following benefits (Dearden, 1997):

1. Providing Economic and Conservation Benefits Ecotourism may play a role in changing the way local communities benefit

from their local environment. The major underlying cause of the destructive ways of utilizing resources is poverty. The desire to improve one’s standard of living leads to the overexploitation of commonly accessed resources such as mangroves.

Ecotourism should link directly to the local people’s needs. Conservation

activities through ecotourism should provide long-term economic benefits to the local people. The accrued benefits from conservation have to be greater than the short-term, intermediate and personal benefits. It is necessary to provide alternative source of income to reduce the dependency of the local people to the natural resources, which have greater potential to provide long-term community welfare. The immediate individual gain from consumptive exploitation of the resources be set aside in favor of the accrued benefits that the resources could provide in a sustainable manner.

For instance, the over cutting and clearing of mangrove areas is not only an issue of what is more important, the people or the mangrove, but the problem has deeper socioeconomic and socio-cultural implications. The local people can play a

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 68

key role in restoring the mangroves. The establishment of a community-based nursery, involving the local people in rehabilitation, will augment their income and build up their commitment to conserve the resources.

2. Raising Environmental Consciousness and Changing Behaviors

Local people’s involvement and participation in ecotourism development and

management provide them the opportunity to have direct contact with their natural environments. As it has often been said, “to care we must understand, to understand we must know, and to know we must have met.” The consciousness-raising should be done not only for local people, but for tourists as well. Training local people as ecotourism guides can supplement their incomes and develop a local body of conservation advocates.

Hands-on and on-the-job/field work increases their level of awareness and

understanding and strengthens their capability to manage their resources sustainably.

3. Support of Research and Conservation Activities Eco-tourists may contribute directly and indirectly to research and

conservation activities in the area by donating their time, expertise or other resources.

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Appendix 8. Environmental Aspects of Ecotourism Planning: Determination of the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC)

The focus of LAC analysis is to determine what the management objectives are in a particular area and the amount of change in the conditions of that area that is acceptable, and to select the indicators of change that can be monitored. Monitoring ensures that management prescriptions are successful in maintaining impacts below the LAC. The environmental impact of ecotourism is not only that of the ecotourism activities but also that of the infrastructure and service facilities. The facilities should be non-intrusive, have low impact waste disposal, be of low density but of high quality, eco-friendly, provide energy and be self-contained. Relationships between Mangrove and Fisheries and Other Nearshore Ecosystems

Mangrove communities have a variety of recognized roles in the larger ecosystem in which they occur. The most prominent role is the production of leaf litter and detritus matter, which is exported, during the flushing process, to the nearshore marine environment. Through a process of microbial breakdown and enrichment, the detritus particles become a nutritious food resource for a variety of marine animals. In addition, the soluble organic materials, which result from decomposition within the forest, also enter the nearshore environment where they become available to a variety of marine and estuarine filter feeders and benthic scavengers. The organic matter exported from the mangrove habitat is utilized in one form or another, including utilization by inhabitants of seagrass beds and coral reefs, which may occur in the area.

In mangrove swamps, leaf fall forms an appreciable annual net production. The leaf material is utilized by bacteria and fungi and forms the basis of an aquatic food web (Odum and Heald, 1975). This is why productive fishing grounds (Odum and Heald, 1975) are adjacent to large mangrove swamps. Local shrimp yields are correlated with the area of the mangrove as there are not only phytoplanktons present in the water, but also particulate and soluble organic matter from the productive mangrove forests (Snedaker, 1978).

Production in the mangrove ecosystem also includes wood, bark and roots which fall into the water and are consumed by fungi and wood-boring isopods that are, in turn, consumed by other organisms. (Snedaker, 1978).

The general pattern of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem involves a recycling of nutrients between litterfall and absorption of nutrients from the decomposed litter. In the mangrove ecosystem, however, litter fall seldom accumulates on the forest floor but is instead swept away by tidal flushing and seasonal flushing during wet seasons. This system is considered to be ‘open’ as the primary source of nutrients lies outside of the system and nutrients are removed from the system in the form of detritus (Snedaker, 1978).

______________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 70

As a result of the ‘open’ system of nutrient cycling, the productivity of the mangroves depends almost entirely on the re-supply of nutrients from the incoming water (Snedaker, 1978). Two factors, which regulate mangrove productivity, are tidal fluctuation and water chemistry (Lugo and Snedaker, 1974).

The food web of a fish community in one of the offshore islands of Malaysia was studied. About 1,127 fishes belonging to 55 species were dissected to analyze the food components. The feeding habit of the fish was diverse. Nearly 9% were detrivores, 89% carnivores, and 2% were omnivores. Both detritus and benthos form major components of the food chain of fishes (Thong and Sasekkumar, 1984).

The estuarine benthos is intimately associated with coastal fisheries through the food chain. The roots and stems of mangrove trees, fields of seagrasses and benthic algae provide shelter for the juvenile stages of marine animals. The intertidal ecosystem is a spawning ground for a number of species and feeding ground for juveniles.

Many economic species occur on mangrove shores. Penaeid shrimps in the genera Penaeus, Metapenuaes and Parapeneopsis occur commonly in coastal tropical waters. The zoeal stage of Macrobrachium occurs in estuarine waters, but in later stages they migrate upstream into freshwater. The dependence of many species of penaeid shrimp on mangrove estuaries has been demonstrated in a number of studies (MacNae, 1974; Turner, 197; Martosubroto and Naamin, 1977).

While the role of mangroves in the production and maintenance of nearshore fisheries is an accepted fact, mangroves have other roles ---- they are recognized as buffers against storm-tide surges that would otherwise have a damaging effect on lying land areas. Elsewhere, mangroves are noted for their ability to stabilize coastal shorelines that would otherwise be subjected to erosion and loss. Probably one of their more important roles is the preservation of water quality. Because of their ability to extract nutrients from circulating waters, the eutrophication (excess nutrient enrichment) potential of seashore waters is minimized. Also, the saline and anaerobic (no oxygen) mangrove sediments have a limited ability to sequester and/or detoxify common pollutants. For example, some heavy metals are sequestered as insoluble sulfides, and certain organic pollutants are oxidized or decomposed through microbial activity.

_____________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 2. IN-DEPTH SEAGRASS SURVEY 71

CHAPTER 2 – IN-DEPTH SEAGRASS SURVEY 7.0 INTRODUCTION

The in-depth survey for seagrass was conducted in August 2003 for the selected sites from among the candidate ECAN core zones for the municipality of Busuanga. These were seagrass meadows with mean bottom cover of at least 50% selected from the extensive baseline survey of macrophyte resources in May 2003 (Fig. 18) .The seagrass communities of these sites were composed of 7 to 9 species and harbored graze marks of the marine mammal Dugon dugon (see Busuanga Baseline Report: Seagrasses – Seaweeds, 2003). Four of these candidate sites, located northeast of the municipality (hence, relatively protected during the southwest monsoon), were chosen as representative sites for detailed seagrass assessments in August 2003. Seaweeds were excluded from this in-depth exercise mainly because these contributed minimally to overall bottom cover (see Busuanga Baseline Report, Seagrasses – Seaweeds, 2003). 8.0 OBJECTIVES

The seagrass in-depth survey was carried out to gather additional meadow and bottom parameters of candidate core zone sites, which will be used to complement the primary data from the baseline survey. The activities focused on identifying gradients (= strata) within the meadow and, afterwards, obtaining bottom cover, composition, densities, and canopy heights of the most abundant species for each stratum. Data from both surveys are deemed useful in further discriminating the various ECAN zones, and, secondarily, in serving as comprehensive habitat information base should future monitoring activities be carried out. 9.0 METHODOLOGY

The four sites assessed in August 2003 were Cheey (2), New Quezon, and Japnay (east coast of Calauit Island) (Table 16), and detailed observations were conducted along gradients within each meadow (see Duarte and Kirkman, 2001). Boat passes from the shore then out to sea were made in each site to distinguish these gradients (“strata”, as reflected by differences in seagrass assemblages, n=3). In each stratum, a 100-m transect was laid parallel to the shore, intercepts of which were used to identify the random positions of the sampling quadrats (size 50 x 50 cm; n = 10) where data was obtained. Coordinates of the ends of the transects were taken with a GPS configured to the Luzon datum, and were used in subsequent interpolations of the positions of the sampling units. Data recorded per quadrat included bottom cover, species composition, density of each species, and the canopy heights of the most abundant species (Duarte and Kirkman, 2001); depth (and time), substrate type, the plants’ reproductive status, associated macroinvertebrates and macroalgae were also noted. Each quadrat was photo-documented for future reference; sediment cores were

_____________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 2. IN-DEPTH SEAGRASS SURVEY 72

collected for subsequent analysis of grain size structure. Seagrass biomass was estimated as the product of observed densities and of published module weights (sensu Vermaat et al., 1995), then altogether pooled and standardized to represent meadow-scale values.

Figure 18. Survey stations ( ) visited for the macrophyte surveys, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003. (Base map courtesy of the ENRIS subcomponent of the Project).

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 2. IN-DEPTH SEAGRASS SURVEY 73

Table 16. Seagrass In-Depth Survey Site Location and Description, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Site Station N Latitude E Longitude Nstrata Nquadrats Bed width*, m Associated habitat Substrate type Brgy. Panlaitan Talampulan Island 1 1 12.13322 119.84589 TBD TBD 152 CR S-R Talampulan Island 2 2 12.12642 119.84058 - - 220 B, CR S Brgy. Calauit Kalatan 3 12.30258 119.86580 TBD TBD 413 B, CR S-RCK Dequera 4 12.30258 119.86581 - - 207 B, CR S-RCK

Binalayan II 5 12.32014 119.87325 TBD TBD 279 B, CR S-RCK Dibulok 6 12.32959 119.89024 - - 279 B, CR S-RCK

Japnay 8 12.29122 119.93094 3 30 510 MN, CR S-DC-RCK-M Brgy. New Quezon New Quezon, mainland 2 2 12.26808 119.95381 393 CR S New Quezon, mainland 3 3 12.26842 119.94014 3 26 489 B, CR S-RCK

Brgy. Cheey Cheey, mainland 1 1 12.19444 120.06389 3 30 517 MN, CR S Cheey, mainland 5 5 12.23394 120.03428 2 17 145 CR S Cheey, mainland 8 8 12.25361 120.01167 - - 282 CR S-R Cheey, mainland 10 10 12.26096 119.99858 - - 289 CR S-R

Cheey, mainland 13 13 12.25509 119.97221 - - 117 CR S-R Legend: . Seagrass sites proposed as ECAN core zones in Busuanga: locations blocked in color are the selected representative sites for the in-depth survey (green – re-visited in August 2003, yellow – still to be visited). Legend: N = sample size; * = estimated distance from incidence at shore to seaward edge; S = sand; M = mud; R = rubble; RCK = rock; DC = dead coral; B = beach; CR = coral reef; MN = mangroves; TBD = to be determined.

______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 2. IN-DEPTH SEAGRASS SURVEY 74

10.0 RESULTS

The limits of the meadows visited were imposed by the shift in substrate type at the seaward edges, which marked the beginning of the coral zone, and at coastlines that were bordered by either mangroves (Cheey 1 and Japnay, E Calauit), a narrow beachfront (New Quezon), or a scatter of rocks (Cheey 2) (Table 16). There were two to three strata identified within the meadows, i.e., the intertidal (in all 4 sites), shallow (3 sites), and Enhalus-dominated zones (2 sites) (Table 17). The arrangement of these zones were not necessarily conventional, i.e., these occurred either inshore, at the mid-bed, or at the seaward sections of the meadow. The Enhalus zones were found in only two sites and occupied depths between 78 ± 3.2 SE (Japnay) and 132 ± 32 cm (Cheey 1). The intertidal and shallow zones, present in all four sites, had depths of 44 ± 4 and 70 ± 4 cm, respectively.

Bottom cover in both the intertidal and shallow zones of the meadows were at

least 50% and reduced to half in the Enhalus – dominated zones (Fig. 2). Cover in the intertidal zones of Cheey 2 and New Quezon was at least twice that in Japnay or Cheey 1 (Table 17); high over was also characteristic of the shallow zones of Cheey 1 and New Quezon, and low in Japnay (Table 17). It is important to note that bottom cover estimates do not necessarily compare with the baseline data, as the latter have been gauged from a bigger sampling unit (~10 m2). This pattern was also apparent when pooled densities of seagrasses were considered, i.e., high bottom cover was attributed to high numbers of seagrasses and, conversely, low cover is accounted for by the presence of less numbers of Enhalus and of Thalassia, when present (Fig. 19). There was huge variance associated with the measured bottom cover estimates and the pooled densities counted within the quadrats (from r2, Fig. 20A-C). In the Enhalus zone, modal densities of up to 40 shoots represented ~ 25% bottom cover (r2=0.27, Fig. 3A) and the range of densities in the intertidal and shallow zones appeared to subsequently increase the estimates of bottom cover (r2=0.48 and 0.25, respectively, Fig. 20B,C).

There were 6 – 8 species recorded within the quadrats (Fig. 21). Comparisons with baseline data (see Busuanga Baseline Report, Seagrasses – Seaweeds) indicate that some species were added to the list: Halodule uninervis and H. pinifolia were added to previously recorded 7 species in Cheey 2, and in Japnay, Cymodocea serrulata was added. Conversely, some species were also missed during the second survey, due to their patchy distribution in the meadow and the small size of the sampling quadrat: Halophila ovalis and Halophila sp. were missed in Cheey 1, Halophila sp. was not recorded in New Quezon, and H. pinifolia was missed in Japnay. Most multi-species assemblages were located on the middle and seaward parts of the meadows (except in Cheey 1); the inshore assemblages were usually made up of 2 – 3 species (except in Cheey 2). In terms of densities, Syringodium isoetifolium dominated the assemblages in Cheey and New Quezon, while Thalassia hemprichii dominated in Japnay (Table 17, Fig. 21). Biomass, on the other hand, was contributed the most by the structurally-dominant Enhalus acoroides (Table 17); the input of the small species to biomass was commensurate to their respective densities. Canopy heights of these dominant species expectedly followed the prevailing depths at the time of sampling (Table 17, Fig. 22).


11.0 DISCUSSION

Additional information obtained from the exercise included species densities, the correlation densities in a smaller sampling unit, updates on species richness, and the distribution of the species across the gradients within the specific meadows examined, which have been proposed as candidate core zone sites (Busuanga Baseline Survey Report, Seagrasses - Seaweeds). Data on species densities confirms the lush condition of the meadows examined - seagrass densities and estimated biomass were relatively high, and compared well with observations in other lush meadows influenced by the South China Sea (e.g., Bolinao - Vermaat et al., 1995; Salita, 2000). Bottom cover appeared average, in general, with the Enhalus zones representing the most fragmented part of the meadows, due to bioturbation by thalassinid shrimps. The imprints of shrimp turbative activity were also observed in the intertidal and shallow zones but the moderate- to huge-sized feeding tracks of the marine mammal Dugon dugon was a more conspicuous cause of fragmentation in these parts of the beds.

The number of seagrass species occurring within the meadows was fine-tuned, since considerable time was spent at specific areas on the beds. Thus, species richness is revised as follows: Cheey 1, as is - 8 species; Cheey 2 (Cheey 5 in the Baseline Survey Report), now 9 species; New Quezon (New Quezon 3 in the Baseline Survey Report), as is - 8 species, and Japnay, now 9 species.

12.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Overall, data from the detailed survey strengthened the information obtained

from the baseline survey and provided convincing support to the initial perception of the in-depth survey sites as lush and species-rich seagrass habitats, serving as feeding grounds to the endangered dugong and, therefore, deserve utmost protection as core zones of the nearshore coastal areas of Busuanga.

The four sites assessed, Cheey 1, Cheey 2, New Quezon and Japnay are

recommended as Core Zones for seagrass based on this in-depth survey.

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Table 17. Seagrass Description in the Proposed High Priority ECAN Core Zones, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Stations Attributes / zones Cheey 1 Cheey 2 New Quezon Japnay, E Calauit

mean SE n mean SE n mean SE n mean SE n A. Depth, cm 77 (7) 15 21 (3) 17 76 (3) 20 61 (4) 30 Intertidal 54 (3) 4 21 (3) 17 67 (4) 10 54 (7) 10 Shallow 74 (1) 9 - - - 83 (3) 10 51 (9) 10 Enhalus-dominated 132 (33) 2 - - - - - - 78 (3) 10 B. Bottom cover, % 27 (5) 28 72 (6) 17 61 (4) 20 33 (4) 30 Intertidal 14 (4) 9 72 (6) 17 56 (6) 10 43 (9) 10 Shallow 58 (9) 9 - - - 65 (5) 10 24 (3) 10 Enhalus-dominated 12 (2) 10 - - - - - - 32 (6) 10 C. Densities, nos / m2 Intertidal 59 (5) 10 1906 (65) 17 1295 (51) 10 705 (33) 10 Syringodium isoetifolium - - 10 622 (0) 17 471 (96) 10 143 (49) 10 Halodule uninervis - - 10 329 (156) 17 103 (49) 10 58 (21) 10 Halodule pinifolia - - 10 309 (193) 17 - - 10 101 (63) 10 Cymodocea rotundata - - 10 294 (103) 17 190 (51) 10 70 (25) 10 Cymodocea serrulata - - 10 34 (20) 17 - - 10 - - 10 Enhalus acoroides 16 (3) 10 37 (11) 17 163 (75) 10 29 (9) 10 Thalassia hemprichii 43 (21) 10 182 (119) 17 344 (77) 10 257 (68) 10 Halophila ovalis - - 10 111 (48) 17 24 (11) 10 47 (35) 10



mean SE n mean SE n mean SE n mean SE n Shallow 2692 (180) 9 - - - 826 10 940 10 Syringodium isoetifolium 1433 (431) 9 - - - 386 (170) 10 177 (101) 10 Halodule uninervis 362 (144) 9 - - - 21 (22) 10 289 (171) 10 Halodule pinifolia - - 9 - - - - - 10 - - 10 Cymodocea rotundata 327 (139) 9 - - - 50 (19) 10 93 (31) 10 Cymodocea serrulata 23 (23) 9 - - - 22 (21) 10 - - 10 Enhalus acoroides 95 (35) 9 - - - 15 (3) 10 13 (9) 10 Thalassia hemprichii 452 (79) 9 - - - 322 (44) 10 337 (65) 10 Halophila ovalis - - 9 - - - 12 (8) 10 31 (21)

Enhalus-dominated 66 (12) 10 - - - - - - 159 (12) 20 Enhalus acoroides 66 (12) 10 - - - - - - 68 (18) 10 Thalassia hemprichii - - 10 - - - - - - 91 (21) 10 D. Biomass, g DW / m2 Intertidal 18.9 542.0 383.4 178.7 Syringodium isoetifolium - 36.8 27.9 8.5 Halodule uninervis - 5.7 3.4 1.9 Halodule pinifolia na na na na Cymodocea rotundata - 8.8 9.3 3.4 Cymodocea serrulata - 0.9 - - Enhalus acoroides 14.1 32.6 143.6 25.5 Thalassia hemprichii 3.8 26.9 30.8 23.0 Halophila ovalis - 0.4 0.2 0.3



mean SE n mean SE n mean SE n mean SE n Shallow 238.3 80.7 69.3 66.1 Syringodium isoetifolium 84.8 36.8 22.8 10.5 Halodule uninervis 11.8 15.8 0.7 9.5 Halodule pinifolia na na na na Cymodocea rotundata 16.0 18.8 2.4 4.5 Cymodocea serrulata 1.5 3.5 1.4 - Enhalus acoroides 83.7 - 13.2 11.5 Thalassia hemprichii 40.5 5.6 28.8 30.2 Halophila ovalis - 1.0 0.1 0.2 Enhalus-dominated 58.1 0.0 0.0 68.1 Enhalus acoroides 58.1 - - 59.9 Thalassia hemprichii - - - 8.1 E. Canopy height, cm 42 (5) 28 11 (1) 17 11 (0) 20 34 (5) 30 Intertidal 37 (6) 9 11 (1) 17 11 (1) 10 10 (2) 10 Shallow 15 (2) 9 - - - 12 (1) 10 55 (7) 10 Enhalus-dominated 71 (5) 10 - - - - - - 37 (6) 10


Figure 19. Bottom Cover (%, mean ± SE) and Densities of Seagrasses Determined from the Sampling Units (Nadat per zone inside bars) that were Allocated at Random along Transects in the Various Strata of the Meadows, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

0

20

40

60

intertidal shallow Enhalus

stratum

%

0

200

400

600nos / 0.250 m

2

bottom cover

density

46 31 20


Figure 20. The relationship of observed densities and bottom cover estimates in the strata (A-C) of four seagrass sites proposed as core zones, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

A. Enhalus zone

y = 0.20x + 11.76

r2 = 0.27

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

% b

otto

m c

over

Cheey 1

Japnay

B. intertidal

y = 0.08x + 27.72

r2 = 0.48

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 200 400 600 800

Cheey 2

New Quezon

C. shallow

y = 0.035x + 37.09

r2 = 0.25

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 400 800 1200 1600

num bers / m 2


(a) Cheey 1

0

500

1000

1500

2000

intertidal, inshore Enhalus, mid-bed shallow, seaward

nos

/ m2

S. isoetifolium

T. hemprichii

H. uninervisC. rotundata

E. acoroides

C. serrulata

(b) Cheey 2

0

500

1000

1500

2000

intertidal, inshore intertidal, seaward

bed zone

S. isoetifoliumH. uninervisH. pinifoliaC. rotundataT. hemprichiiH. ovalisC. serrulataE. acoroides


Figure 21. Seagrass community structure – composition, distribution, densities – across the bed zones in the four meadows examined – (a) Cheey 1, (b) Cheey 2, (c) New Quezon, and (d) Japnay, east Calauit, Busuanga,Palawan, 2003 Note: The species are arranged in decreasing order of abundance (mean ± SE).

Figure 22. Measure depths (uncorrected) and canopy heights of the numerically dominant seagrass across the strata of the four meadows, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

(d) Japnay, east Calauit

0

500

1000

1500

2000

Enhalus, inshore intertidal, mid-bed shallow, seaward

bed zone

T. hemprichiiS. isoetifoliumC. rotundataE. acroidesH. uninervisH. ovalisH. pinifolia

(c) New Quezon

0

500

1000

1500

2000

shallow, inshore intertidal, mid-bed shallow, seaward

nos

/ m2

S. isoetifolium

T. hemprichii

C. rotundata

E. acoroides

H. uninervis

H. ovalis

C. serrulata

0

25

50

75

100

intertidal shallow Enhalus

stratum

cm

depth

canopy height

______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 3. IN-DEPTH CORAL REEF SURVEY 83

CHAPTER 3 – IN-DEPTH CORAL REEF SURVEY 13.0 INTRODUCTION The municipality of Busuanga was one of the two municipalities identified as priority sites of the ECAN Zoning Component Project. A detailed profile of its natural resources, both marine and terrestrial, was carried out together with the socio-economic conditions and needs of the municipality. This final survey report for Busuanga municipality details the in-depth survey done in selected coral reef areas, particularly those identified previously that have high coral cover. 14.0 OBJECTIVES The in-depth survey was conducted on 2-5 September 2003 as a follow-on activity from the baseline surveys of the ECAN Zoning Component, particularly for Busuanga as a first priority site. Selected coral reef sites that were candidate core zones will be characterized in terms of percent coral cover of the different lifeforms and biodiversity of coral genera. Potential or actual threats to the coral reef ecosystem were also identified. This report also proposes alternative delineation schemes to maintain or improve the ecology of core zone areas. Recreation sites were identified based on the popularly visited areas by tourists and the general perception of the team. 15.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE Transect data for selected sites in Busuanga municipality are available from the surveys of PCSD (1999). However, these are not the same sites surveyed in the present work. A listing of coral species is also generalized for the entire municipality (Werner & Allen 2000, CI 2003). Contents of these work are also reviewed in a separate report (see Review of Literature on Marine/Coastal Ecosystems, Municipality of Busuanga, Palawan, ECAN 2003). 16.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS Sites were selected based on the results of the baseline survey of the area . Coral reefs with more than 30% hard coral cover were identified from the manta tow surveys of Busuanga municipality (Fig. 23). These were Calumboyan Island, Tantangon Island, and Denicolan Island, all visited between 2-5 September 2003.


Legend: The arrows, top to bottom are Denicolan Is., Tantangon Is. and Calumboyan Is Figure 23. Coral reef sites for baseline surveys, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

After locations were re-established using a GPS (Garmin GPSMap 168), a pair of divers went down to lay transects at two depth stations, 4m and 8m (usually the deeper one first). The transects followed the depth contour of each depth station to ensure that the same zone of the reef community was being surveyed. The transect length used was 100m although the actual survey was on 5 10m segments on it, spaced 10m apart. This is illustrated on the figure below (note that the actual line may meander along a depth contour). The entire length represents the 100m


transect and the solid lines (segments 0-10, 20-30, 40-50, 60-70 and 80-90m) are the surveyed segments, each is 10m from each other (dotted line).

The optimum transect length for coral reef survey has been evaluated by

Licuanan & Montebon (1991) and a standard transect length cannot be prescribed for the array of reefs surveyed in the study. However, using 10m transect segments is a manageable scheme that has been popular and effective in several programs (CARICOMP 1997, Hughes et al. 2000). An important consideration is replication (e.g., Montebon 1992).

Having appropriately considered the actual survey stations, length of transect

and replication, coding and measuring each benthic lifeform intercepted in each of the transect segment—the line intercept technique or LIT (Loya 1978, English et al. 1997, see also Technical Manual) was undertaken. The variety of organisms and substrate type inherent on coral reefs has been reduced to 30 kinds of attributes (English et al. 1997). The importance of lifeforms is that it can represent particular ecological conditions that prevail over a reef. For example, reefs dominated by branching or fragile forms of corals suggest that the area is quite protected from battering waves. High wave energy areas, on the other hand, are characterized by massive to encrusting forms of corals (Veron 1986).

Since LIT is not sensitive to account for diversity of organisms, corals in this

case, a listing of coral genera was made while swimming along the transect. This was done for both transect depths at Denicolan Island and Tantangon Island. On the other hand, for Calumboyan Island, the LIT was supplemented by a video record of the transects and the surrounding reef. Videography (SONY TRV350 handycam, IkeliteTM housing) for the other 2 sites was not done because there was no electricity at barangay Salvacion during the entire stay, preventing battery recharge. 17.0 RESULTS

Denicolan Island is generally characterized by a narrow reef at the western side where corals grow mostly at the shallow area (2-3m). The reef edge is at about 10m depth and corals thin out even at shallower depths (6m). Rubbles of branching Acropora was scattered about and the water was very turbid during the time of survey. Visibility was less than a meter at the surface which improves to about 3 meters below 3m depth. At the reef crest (4m), hard corals contribute to almost 50% of the cover and is dominated by the branching Acropora. A few encrusting forms were found with some branching non-Acropora corals. The remaining half of the cover, 51.5%, was primarily contributed by abiotic components ( see Fig. 24A and Table 18).

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 m


The slopes located at 8 m depth were covered by hard corals of more than 50%. Branching Acropora still dominated the corals but other forms, especially encrusting ones, were also encountered (Fig. 24B and Table 19). There were 34 genera of corals found in this site, 24 at the 4m depth and 26 at the deeper transect station of 8m (Table 20).

Note: Error bars are standard deviations (n=5)

Figure 24A. Mean percent cover of lifeform groups for the shallow station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

The coral reef at Tantangon Island is narrow with a moderate slope similar to Denicolan Island. Corals also thin out after 6 m depth and ends at about 10 m depth. More hard corals were found here which generally had a cover of over 60%. Half of the cover at the shallow station (4m) was almost entirely contributed by the genus Acropora, mostly branching (Fig. 25A, Table 21). A variety of other coral forms were also observed. Table 22 show the reef condition at 8 m depth. Here, coral cover considerably decreased and was predominantly the non-Acropora. On the individual lifeform level, however, the branching Acropora was still dominant among the hard corals. Abiotic components, chiefly rubble and sand, gave the highest cover (>60%). The variety of lifeforms encountered in this site also resulted in more genera of corals. Table 20 lists 32 and 27 genera of corals at 4m and 8m, respectively, with an overall count of 38 unique coral genera for the site.

Of the three sites visited, Calumboyan Island had the highest coral cover

averaging about 54% for both depths. Branching Acropora still dominated the coral cover at 4m depth (Fig. 26A, Table 23) while the cover of non-Acropora corals were contributed by a diversity of forms. At the deeper station of 8 m, the branching type

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still dominated the Acropora group but overall, the non-Acropora group had higher cover, 28% as compared to about 20% (Table 24, Fig. 26B). Abiotic components increased twice as much (to about 20%) at this depth while the dead corals remained relatively the same at about 20%.

Table 18. Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Shallow Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Location: Busuanga, Palawan Date: 5 September 2003Reef/Island: Denicolan Island Data: LIT (10m x 5)Reef Zone: Crest Position: 12.0124oN, 119.938oEDepth: 4 meters Collector: JGarcia, JMaentz

Replicate1 2 3 4 5

Hard Coral:

Dead Coral DCDead Coral with Algae DCA 8.0%

Subtotals 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8.0% 0.0% 1.6% 3.6%Acropora Branching ACB 37.0% 16.0% 41.0% 41.0% 51.0%

Encrusting ACESubmassive ACS 3.0% 10.0%Digitate ACDTabulate ACT 1.0%

Subtotals 41.0% 26.0% 41.0% 41.0% 51.0% 40.0% 8.9%Non-Acropora Branching CB 2.0% 6.0% 2.0% 5.0%

Encrusting CE 6.0% 1.0% 18.0% 1.0%Foliose CFMassive CM 1.0%Submassive CSMushroom CMRMillepora CMEHeliopora CHLTubipora CTU

Subtotals 8.0% 8.0% 20.0% 1.0% 5.0% 8.4% 7.1%Other Fauna:

Soft Coral SCSponges SPZoanthids ZOOthers OT 2.0%

Subtotals 0.0% 0.0% 2.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.4% 0.9%Algae Algal Assemblage AA

Coralline Algae CAHalimeda HAMacroalgae MA 8.0%Turf Algae TA

Subtotals 0.0% 0.0% 8.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.6% 3.6%Abiotic Sand S

Rubble RSilt SIWater WARock RCK 51.0% 66.0% 29.0% 50.0% 44.0%

Subtotals 51.0% 66.0% 29.0% 50.0% 44.0% 48.0% 13.4%

Categories Code Mean S.D.


Note: Error bars are standard deviations, n=5

Figure 24B. Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for the Deep Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan 2003

18.0 DISCUSSION The selected potential coral reef core zones in Busuanga municipality are limited to 3 sites based on the present surveys. According to the criteria set for the delineation of core zones (PCSD Resolution 99-144), most of the reefs may fall under Multiple Use Zone, which is disconcerting. It is understood that this is just the first layer. When other data (reef fish, seagrass-seaweed, marine mammals and sea turtles, mangroves, socio-economic factors, etc.) are superimposed on this layer, the entire zoning scheme will take another picture. Physical factors and potential threats to the system should likewise be superimposed. For example, the site at Denicolan Island is most prone to pollution effects and sediment loading if land-based activities are not properly regulated (e.g. Arcamo 1994). Should this site be finally placed under protection, the mangroves bordering the nearby river system including the upland vegetation should be protected as well. Otherwise, the resulting scenario is easily foreseen. Everything eventually find itsr way downstream and ends up on the reefs—garbage, sewage, sediment, chemicals, etc. (Van-Katwijk et al. 1993).

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Furthermore, PCSD Resolution 99-144 presently assumes that intact coral reefs are still a common site. The reality is that most coral reefs in the country have been exploited and damaged to the point of being wiped out (Gomez et al. 1981, Montebon 1995). Thus, establishing coral reef core zones based on their present status may not be enough to sustain productive reef fisheries in nearby areas, as assumed by the spill-over effect. The available core zones may simply be not enough. In fact, other areas

Table 19. Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Deep Station at Denicolan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Location: Busuanga, Palawan D ate: 5 Septem ber 2003R eef/Is land: D enico lan Is land D ata: LIT (10m x 5)R eef Zone: C rest Position: 12.0124oN , 119.938oED epth: 8 m eters C ollector: JG arcia, JM aentz

R eplicate1 2 3 4 5

H ard C oral:

D ead C ora l D CD ead C ora l w ith A lgae D C A 2.0% 2.0%

Subtotals 2.0% 2.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 1.1%Acropora Branching AC B 41.0% 4.0% 19.0% 56.0% 67.0%

Encrusting AC ESubm assive AC S 8.0%D igitate AC DT abulate AC T

Subtotals 41.0% 4.0% 27.0% 56.0% 67.0% 39.0% 24.7%N on-Acropora Branching C B 2.5% 2.0% 7.0%

Encrusting C E 16.7% 21.0% 13.0% 5.0%Foliose C F 1.0%M assive C M 5.0%Subm assive C S 12.0%M ushroom C M R 1.5% 2.0%M illepora C M EH eliopora C H LTubipora CTU

Subtotals 16.7% 31.0% 12.0% 15.0% 14.0% 17.7% 7.6%O ther Fauna:

Soft C oral SC 6.3% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0%Sponges SP 19.0%Zoanth ids ZOO thers O T

Subtotals 25.3% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 0.0% 6.6% 10.5%Algae Algal Assem blage AA

C oralline A lgae C AH alim eda H AM acroalgae M AT urf A lgae TA

Subtotals 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%Abiotic Sand S 4.0% 6.0%

R ubble R 30.5%Silt S IW ater W A 17.0% 3.0%R ock R C K 15.0% 44.0% 24.0% 17.0% 19.0%

Subtotals 15.0% 61.0% 58.5% 26.0% 19.0% 35.9% 22.1%

C ategories C ode M ean S.D .


Table 20. List of Coral Genera Found at the Survey Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

4m 8m 4m 8m

Acropora Acropora 1 Acropora AcanthastreaAnacropora Astreopora 2 Anacropora AcroporaAstreopora Caulastrea 3 Astreopora AnacrporaCoeloseris Coeloseris 4 Coeloseris AstreoporaCyphastrea Cyphastrea 5 Ctenactis CynarinaEchinophyllia Euphyllia 6 Cyphastrea DiploastreaEchinopora Favia 7 Echinophyllia EchinophylliaFavia Favites 8 Echinopora FungiaFavites Fungia 9 Favia GalaxeaFungia Galaxea 10 Fungia GoniastreaGalaxea Goniopora 11 Galaxea GonioporaGoniastrea Heliofungia 12 Goniastrea HelioporaGoniopora Heliopora 13 Heliopora HydnophoraHeliofungia Lobophyllia 14 Merulina LobophylliaHydnophora Merulina 15 Montipora MerulinaLepastrea Montipora 16 Mycedium MontiporaLobophyllia Moseleya? 17 Oxypora MycediumMerulina Oulophyllia 18 Pachyseris OxyporaMontipora Pachyseris 19 Pavona PachyserisMycedium Pavona 20 Platygyra PectiniaOulastrea Pectinia 21 Plesiastrea PhysogyraOulophyllia Platygyra 22 Pocillopora PlatygyraPachyseris Plerogyra 23 Porites PoritesPavona Porites 24 Seriatopora SeriatoporaPectinia Scolymia 25 SymphylliaPlatygyra Seriatopora 26 TrachyphylliaPlerogyra Turbinaria 27Pocillopora 28Porites 29Seriatopora 30Stylophora 31Symphyllia 32

Tantangon Island Denicolan Island


Figure 25A. Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for the Shallow Depth at Tantangon Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Note: Error bars are standard deviations, n=5 may not have potential core zones based on the present criteria of the resolution (J. Pontillas, PCSD, pers. comm.).

A system of protected coral reefs, regardless of coral cover, should be located at several sites (per barangay for example). Current and tidal systems usually ensure connectivity of (nearby) marine systems so that the dynamics of spawning and recruitment is almost always assured (Stoddart 1986). A system of protected areas or core zones will further promote this dynamics and spill-over effects may be more pronounced. This strategy is presently advocated in a recent review (Hughes et al. 2003). An example of this initiative was promoted in Negros Oriental, central Visayas by the Centre for the Establishment of Marine Reserves in Negros Oriental (Vogt 1998). The increase in reef fish abundance and sizes were noticeable in a period of 1 year (personal observation).

Identification of core zones should, therefore, not be based solely on high coral

cover or the status of wildlife within but also on strategic locations that will maintain or improve ecosystem dynamics. Depauperate reefs strategically identified as protected areas will definitely recover in terms of coral cover, which, in time should meet the criterion for coral cover of a core zone area.

It should also be noted, however, that the notion of a good and healthy reef as having high coral cover may not be true for all cases. Coral reefs fronting high energy

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areas are constantly battered by waves and therefore cannot attain high coral cover. In its condition of low or moderate coral cover, it could already be in perfect reef health. Thus, reef health is not simply the percentage coral cover of the area, and categorizing coral cover from poor to excellent can easily lead to misjudgments and therefore, unsound management plans.

Table 21. Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Shallow Station at Tantangon Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Location: Busuanga, Palawan Date: 4 September 2003Reef/Island: Tantangon Island Data: LIT (10m x 5)Reef Zone: Crest Position:12.0124oN, 119.938oEDepth: 4 meters Collector: ARF Montebon

Replicate1 2 3 4 5

Hard Coral:

Dead Coral DCDead Coral with Algae DCA

Subtotals 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%Acropora Branching ACB 52.5% 42.4% 20.0% 46.0% 37.8%

Encrusting ACESubmassive ACS 7.5% 9.1% 5.9% 2.8% 6.5%Digitate ACDTabulate ACT 11.5% 2.0% 1.7%

Subtotals 60.0% 63.0% 25.9% 50.8% 46.0% 49.1% 14.7%Non-Acropora Branching CB 1.9% 17.0% 1.0%

Encrusting CE 1.0% 5.0% 2.3%Foliose CF 3.6% 11.0% 5.5%Massive CM 1.5% 7.1% 2.0% 1.0%Submassive CS 4.0% 1.0% 5.0%Mushroom CMR 3.6% 1.5% 2.8%Millepora CMEHeliopora CHLTubipora CTU


Soft Coral SC 0.7%Sponges SP 2.8% 7.0% 1.8%Zoanthids ZOOthers OT 2.5%

Subtotals 3.2% 2.8% 0.0% 7.0% 1.8% 3.0% 2.6%Algae Algal Assemblage AA 3.0%

Coralline Algae CAHalimeda HAMacroalgae MATurf Algae TA


Rubble R 4.3% 12.8%Silt SI 0.8%W ater W A 29.5% 1.7% 37.0% 14.7% 16.0%Rock RCK 5.8% 7.0% 15.1% 9.0% 5.0%

Subtotals 35.3% 13.0% 52.1% 23.7% 34.6% 31.7% 14.6%



Biodiversity is another aspect that needs a clear foundation. Not only does the criteria for ECAN zoning of core zones require high coral cover, it also calls for high biodiversity of the area. Theoretically, both conditions are mutually exclusive. Reefs with high coral cover usually have a dominant species and the presence of a dominant species usually precludes many other species, thus biodiversity is less. Conversely, areas with high biodiversity suggest that no species is dominant and that cover is often not very high (see Maguire & Porter 1977, Hughes 1989).

If it is intended to protect coral reefs with high coral cover separately from those with high biodiversity, then delineation will be feasible. The present resolution, however, states that a reef will be considered a core zone if “all coral genera found in the Management Unit” is in the area. Again, this assumes that the Management Unit has been surveyed for its coral fauna exhaustively, a situation that may never be achieved. A listing compiled by CI (2003) for the northern Palawan is available. An authoritative list of coral species for the country is also listed by Veron and Fenner (in Werner & Allen 2000). The required number of genera present in an area for consideration into core zones may be based on the count (or the percentage thereof, e.g., 50%) given in either of the above-mentioned work.

The IUCN status of coral species found in Busuanga can be extracted from the

database of CI (2003). This is tabulated in the Review of Literature on Marine/Coastal Ecosystems for Busuanga (see separate report). Endangered coral species, however, cannot be cross-referenced since most of the present data are on the genus level.


Table 22. Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Deep Station at Tantangon Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Location: Busuanga, Palawan Date: 4 September 2003Reef/Island: Tantangon Island Data: LIT (10m x 5)Reef Zone: Slope Position:12.0124oN, 119.938oEDepth: 8 meters Collector: J Maentz, J Garcia

Replicate1 2 3 4 5

Hard Coral:

Dead Coral DCDead Coral with Algae DCA

Subtotals 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%Acropora Branching ACB 33.0% 8.8%

Encrusting ACE 4.0%Submassive ACS 2.0%Digitate ACDTabulate ACT 2.0% 2.0%

Subtotals 2.0% 35.0% 0.0% 8.8% 6.0% 10.4% 14.2%Non-Acropora Branching CB

Encrusting CE 2.0% 15.0% 15.9% 8.0%Foliose CFMassive CM 2.0% 6.6% 6.0%Submassive CS 3.0% 6.0%Mushroom CMR 1.0% 3.0%Millepora CMEHeliopora CHLTubipora CTU


Soft Coral SC 2.2%Sponges SP 15.0% 23.0% 5.0% 4.4% 6.0%Zoanthids ZO 2.0% 2.0%Others OT 3.0%

Subtotals 17.0% 23.0% 8.0% 6.6% 8.0% 12.5% 7.2%Algae Algal Assemblage AA 1.0%


Subtotals 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.0% 1.0% 1.7%Abiotic Sand S 16.0% 4.0% 5.0% 18.1% 7.0%

Rubble R 58.0% 6.0% 82.0% 30.8% 52.0%Silt SIWater WA 8.0% 3.3% 4.0%Rock RCK 3.0% 9.9% 5.0%

Subtotals 74.0% 21.0% 87.0% 62.1% 68.0% 62.4% 24.9%



Figure 26A. Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for Shallow Depth at Calumboyan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Note: Error bars are standard deviations, n=5

Figure 26B. Mean Percent Cover of Lifeform Groups for Deep Station at

Calumboyan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003 Note: Error bars are standard deviations,n=5

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An alternative to protecting areas where endangered coral species are encountered is to transplant them to appropriate protected areas. Coral transplantation is also a viable means of rehabilitating damaged reefs (Harriot & Fisk 1988). Corals may either be reared as small pieces first in an aquarium setup (e.g. Montebon & Yap 1995) or whole colonies may be transplanted directly to the management site (Clark & Edwards 1995).

Strategically located reefs identified to become core zones but have few corals

may be candidate transplantation sites as well.

19.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

• All the 3 candidate sites for coral reef Core Zones have good coral cover of >50% and are therefore recommended to be established as such based on this in-depth survey

• However, high coral cover, per se, is not a good indicator for the

consideration of core zones

• Biodiversity has its merits, but its consideration for the ECAN zoning (in the marine environment) is not clear. A coral species list has been compiled for Busuanga but may not be entirely complete. To require the presence of all coral genera (found in the Management Unit) in an area to become a core zone may not be realistic

• The interconnectedness of natural habitats from the terrestrial to the marine

environment is an important consideration in management initiatives

_______________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 3. IN-DEPTH CORAL REEF SURVEY 97

Table 23. Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Composition for the Shallow Station at Calumboyan Island

Location: Busuanga, Palawan Date: 4 September 2003Reef/Island: Calumboyan Island Data: LIT (10m x 5)Reef Zone: Crest Position: 12.0124oN, 119.938oEDepth: 4 meters Collector: JGarcia, JMaentz

Replicate1 2 3 4 5

Hard Coral:

Dead Coral DCDead Coral with Algae DCA 7.8% 64.8% 11.0% 24.0%

Subtotals 7.8% 64.8% 11.0% 0.0% 24.0% 21.5% 25.7%Acropora Branching ACB 39.0% 5.5% 57.0% 48.0%

Encrusting ACE 1.0%Submassive ACS 1.0% 4.0%Digitate ACD 20.9% 1.0% 11.0% 13.0% 23.0%Tabulate ACT

Subtotals 60.9% 7.5% 68.0% 61.0% 27.0% 44.9% 26.3%Non-Acropora Branching CB 10.0%

Encrusting CE 2.0% 9.0% 9.0%Foliose CF 3.0% 3.0% 2.0% 8.0%Massive CM 0.2% 3.0%Submassive CS 8.0% 6.4%Mushroom CMR 12.7% 2.0%Millepora CMEHeliopora CHLTubipora CTU


Soft Coral SCSponges SP 1.5% 3.6%Zoanthids ZOOthers OT


Coralline Algae CAHalimeda HAMacroalgae MA 18.8% 6.5% 1.0% 3.0%Turf Algae TA


Rubble RSilt SI 8.0%Water WA 1.5% 1.8% 4.0% 5.0%Rock RCK 16.0% 5.0% 14.0%

Subtotals 1.5% 1.8% 16.0% 9.0% 27.0% 11.1% 10.7%

CodeCategories Mean S.D.


Table 24. Coral Reef Benthic Lifeform Compostion for the Deep Station at Calumboyan Island

Location: Busuanga, Palawan Date: 4 September 2003Reef/Island: Calumboyan Island Data: LIT (10m x 5)Reef Zone: Slope Position: 12.0124oN, 119.938oEDepth: 8 meters Collector: JGarcia, JMaentz

Replicate1 2 3 4 5

Hard Coral:

Dead Coral DCDead Coral with Algae DCA 17.0% 10.0% 12.0% 39.0% 20.5%

Subtotals 17.0% 10.0% 12.0% 39.0% 20.5% 19.7% 11.6%Acropora Branching ACB 13.0% 6.0% 4.0% 19.0%

Encrusting ACE 11.0%Submassive ACS 3.0% 10.0% 4.0%Digitate ACD 2.0% 8.0% 3.0%Tabulate ACT 6.0% 14.0%

Subtotals 35.0% 24.0% 8.0% 14.0% 22.0% 20.6% 10.3%Non-Acropora Branching CB 3.0%

Encrusting CE 6.0% 4.0% 10.0% 15.0% 11.0%Foliose CF 8.0% 15.0% 20.0% 2.0% 9.0%Massive CM 5.0% 7.0% 10.0% 5.0% 4.0%Submassive CS 4.0%Mushroom CMR 2.0%Millepora CMEHeliopora CHLTubipora CTU


Soft Coral SC 1.0% 5.0%Sponges SP 3.0% 10.0% 4.0% 1.0% 6.5%Zoanthids ZOOthers OT 10.0% 7.0%




Rubble R 4.0%Silt SI 3.0% 3.0% 4.0%Water WA 23.0% 13.0% 12.0% 4.0% 15.0%Rock RCK 5.0% 12.0% 8.0% 3.0%

Subtotals 26.0% 18.0% 27.0% 20.0% 18.0% 21.8% 4.4%



20.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

• Figure 27 shows some of the proposed core zones and visitation or recreation areas

Calumboyan Island, Tantangon Island and Denicolan Island should be considered as coral reef core zones due to their high coral cover

Coastal barangays having tracts of coral reef should protect a portion of it (one each for Bugtong, New Busuanga, Buluang, Cheey, and 3 in Caluit Island)

Coral reefs of small islands and those strategically located around the areas identified above should also be established as core zones regardless of coral cover

The identified visitation sites have good diving spots and white sandy beaches. Moreover, a cave and a shipwreck are located in Malajon (Black) Island. Caution must be exercised if infrastructures will be built here (Ahmad 1990)

• The biodiversity criterion should be based on published work and the

presence of all genera in the Management Unit should not be required, otherwise none of the reefs might meet this criterion

• Coral transplantation is a viable solution in protecting endangered coral

species. This approach may also be used to rehabilitate reefs


Figure 27. Proposed Coral Reef Core Zones (circles), Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Note: Blue circles are based on high coral cover while red circles are areas identified to achieve a network of protected areas that will serve as sources and/or sinks of marine organisms. Green squares are the recommended visitation or recreation sites

______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 4. IN-DEPTH REEF FISHES SURVEY 101

CHAPTER 4 – IN-DEPTH REEF FISHES SURVEY 21.0 INTRODUCTION The reef-associated fishes in conjunction with the coral reef of the Municipality of Busuanga, Northern Palawan were surveyed for the Marine and Coastal Resources Survey and Research Component of the SEMP-ECAN Zoning Project. Data and information generated by these surveys are essential in assessing the current status and condition of reef fishes in the area and are integral as bases in the formulation of protective and management strategies.

The baseline surveys of the coral reefs and reef fishes in Busuanga were conducted prior to in-depths surveys. Baseline surveys are rapid and qualitative in nature, the results of which provide a broad perspective of the status of coral reefs and reef fishes in the area and are useful in selecting sampling stations for the in-depth surveys. This report present the results of the in-depth survey conducted on September 2003 of coral reef fishes in selected sites in Busuanga.

22.0 OBJECTIVES The survey is a quantitative survey of the reef fish assemblages. It involves the

identification of fish species, quantification of species richness as well as estimation of abundances and biomass. Data and information generated from the in-depth survey will better describe the existing fish fauna in the survey sites, its possible contribution to the local fisheries in the area, and the identification of sites as potential coastal and marine core zones. 23.0 METHODOLOGY

Three in-depth survey sites were selected based on baseline surveys. Survey sites were mainly selected based on high scores of live coral cover (Figure 28). Exact locations of survey sites (coordinates) are also given in the coral reef survey section.

Four replicate belt transects, 20m long and 5m wide, were deployed at each site

at two depths. Shallow transects were deployed between 3 to 4 meters while deep transects were set between 5 to 8 meters. A total survey corridor of 2,000 cubic meters was effectively censused for each transect (5m width x 5m height x 20 meters length x 4 replicates). For ease of handling data, fish data were recorded every 5 x 5 x 5 meter corridor (5m of forward distance, 5 meters of width, and 5 meters of vertical distance). The fish survey was conducted on the same transect line as the coral reef survey. However, fish census started 10 to 15 minutes after the transect line was deployed in order to minimize the disturbance effects of divers and allow the fish to settle and resume normal activity.


Figure 28. Coral reef sites for baseline surveys, Busuanga,Palawan, 2003 Note: Arrows, top to bottom are Denicolan Is., Tantangon Is. and Calumboyan Is.


Coral reef fish were surveyed using the fish visual census technique following English et al. (1997). Fish observed within the specified survey corridor were identified to species level. Fish identification was standardized and references used included: Allen, G.R. (1991, 1997), Allen and Steene (1996), Kuiter and Debelius (1997), Randall et al. (1997), Lieske and Myers (1999), Froese and Pauly (2002). The total lengths of fish were estimated to the nearest centimeter, and abundances per species and size class were estimated by actual counts. Biomass of fish were determined by the formula: W = aLb, where W is the weight (grams), a the multiplicative factor, L the estimated length of the fish, and b the exponent. The specific values for the constants a and b are those listed by Kulbicki et al. (1993), Letourneur (1998), Letourneur et al. (1998), Gonzales et al. (2000) and those compiled in Froese and Pauly (2002). For fish with no known a and b constants in the above references, the constants of the closest relative with a similar body shape were used. 24.0 RESULTS

24.1 General Results

Three reef sites in Busuanga were selected based on the coral reef baseline survey. Sites selected were reefs with relatively high live coral cover. The sites selected were small coastal islands, namely: Calumboyan Island (Site 1), Tantangon Island (Site 2) and Denicolan Island (Site 3). The islands are located in relatively sheltered lagoons and close to river systems. Heavy rains and the proximity of rivers considerably limited underwater visibility during the survey.

From the 3 in-depth survey sites, a combined total of 135 species from 27 families were recorded. Total combined fish abundance was 6,053 individuals, and biomass was 68,984 grams (Table 25). The most specious families were Pomacentridae (damselfish) with 32 species, Labridae (wrasse) with 22, Scaridae (parrotfish) with 13, Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish) with 10 and Apogonidae (cardinalfish) with 9 species. Numerically dominant families were Pomacentridae (4,018 individuals), Apogonidae (594), Caesionidae (fusiliers) with 442, Labridae (326), and Siganidae (rabbitfish), Scaridae and Chaetodontidae with 145, 116 and 107 individuals, respectively (Table 25). Pomacentridae dominated the combined biomass estimates with 17,685g, together with 6 target fish families, including Caesionidae, Labridae, Nemipteridae (breams), Siganidae, Lujanidae (snapper) and Scaridae (Table 25). These six families contributed 56% of the total biomass estimated for the 3 survey stations combined.

The dominance of Pomacentridae and Labridae in terms of species richness was consistent for all sites (Table 26). Pomacentridae was the most numerically abundant family in Calumbuyan Island with 2,254 individuals and Tantangon Island with 1,442 individuals (Table 27). At Denicolan Island, Apogonidae was the most abundant family (364 individuals) and Pomacentridae was second (322 individuals). Other numerically dominant families were Caesionidae in Calumbuyan Island (383 individuals), and Labridae (142 individuals) and Apogonidae (130 individuals) in Tantangon Island.


In terms of biomass, the dominant families in each site were largely influenced by the relative size and abundance of species observed. In Calumbuyan Island, Pomacentridae was dominant (8,565 grams) due to the sheer number of individuals observed (Table 28), followed by Caesionidae (8,539 grams). At Tantangon Island, Pomacentridae (7,595 grams) was dominant followed by Nemipteridae (5,607 grams). At Denicolan Island, Siganidae was the most dominant family with 5,315 grams of biomass. Pomacentridae and Caesionidae followed with 1,523 grams and 1,190 grams, respectively (Table 28).

Fish observed were categorized into one of 6 feeding guilds, namely: benthic carnivores, corallivores, herbivores, omnivores, piscivores and planktivores. The fish assemblages in the 3 survey sites were numerically dominated by planktivores which comprised 41% of the total abundance (Table 29). This was composed of 2,517 individuals from 15 species of Pomacentridae, Labridae and Caesionidae (Appendix 9). Omnivores comprised 27% and benthic carnivores 20% of the total abundance (Table 29). The remaining 12% of the fish abundance were corallivores, herbivores, and piscivores.

Table 25. Total Species (number of species), Abundnace (individuals) and Biomass (grams) of coral reef fish from 3 sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Family Species Abundance BiomassAcanthuridae 4 18 302.22Apogonidae 9 594 1,406.57Aulostomidae 1 2 13.91Blenniidae 4 18 177.49Caesionidae 5 442 10,392.07Carangidae 1 4 188.74Chaetodontidae 10 107 2,493.12Ephippidae 2 4 400.62Haemulidae 2 3 47.13Holocentridae 3 22 995.85Labridae 22 326 7,558.68Lethrinidae 1 1 143.89Lutjanidae 3 72 4,807.34Monacanthidae 2 7 66.66Mullidae 2 5 203.87Nemipteridae 2 21 6,439.69Pomacanthidae 1 18 595.81Pomacentridae 32 4018 17,677.71Pseudochromidae 1 3 8.54Scaridae 13 116 4,320.87Scorpaenidae 1 1 47.09Serranidae 6 26 680.01Siganidae 2 145 5,358.16Sphyraenidae 1 55 1,759.99Synodontidae 1 1 72.69Tetraodontidae 3 12 2,375.63Zanclidae 1 12 442.71TOTAL 135 6053 68,977.07


Table 26. Total Number of Species per Family for Each Station, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Family Calumbuyan Tantangon Denicolan TotalAcanthuridae 3 1 4Apogonidae 5 7 6 18Aulostomidae 1 1Blenniidae 2 2 1 5Caesionidae 5 2 1 8Carangidae 1 1Chaetodontidae 8 6 3 17Ephippidae 1 1 2Haemulidae 1 1 2Holocentridae 1 1 2 4Labridae 18 16 10 44Lethrinidae 1 1Lutjanidae 2 3 5Monacanthidae 1 1 2Mullidae 1 2 1 4Nemipteridae 1 2 1 4Pomacanthidae 1 1 2Pomacentridae 31 21 15 67Pseudochromidae 1 1 1 3Scaridae 11 6 4 21Scorpaenidae 1 1Serranidae 4 3 2 9Siganidae 1 2 3Sphyraenidae 1 1Synodontidae 1 1Tetraodontidae 3 2 5Zanclidae 1 1 1 3GRAND TOTAL 103 79 56 238


Table 27. Total Abundance (individuals) per Family for Each Station, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003

Family Calumbuyan Tantangon Denicolan TotalAcanthuridae 15 3 18Apogonidae 100 130 364 594Aulostomidae 2 2Blenniidae 5 12 1 18Caesionidae 383 41 18 442Carangidae 4 4Chaetodontidae 45 33 29 107Ephippidae 2 2 4Haemulidae 2 1 3Holocentridae 2 5 15 22Labridae 134 142 50 326Lethrinidae 1 1Lutjanidae 55 17 72Monacanthidae 6 1 7Mullidae 1 3 1 5Nemipteridae 3 17 1 21Pomacanthidae 13 5 18Pomacentridae 2254 1442 322 4018Pseudochromidae 1 1 1 3Scaridae 84 15 17 116Scorpaenidae 1 1Serranidae 7 6 13 26Siganidae 2 143 145Sphyraenidae 55 55Synodontidae 1 1Tetraodontidae 9 3 12Zanclidae 4 3 5 12

Grand Total 3128 1933 992 6053


Table 28. Total Biomass (grams) per Family for Each Station, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

Family Calumbuyan Tantangon Denicolan TotalAcanthuridae 243.28 58.95 302.22Apogonidae 321.39 543.27 541.91 1,406.57Aulostomidae 13.91 13.91Blenniidae 163.52 11.97 2.00 177.49Caesionidae 8,539.02 662.96 1,190.10 10,392.07Carangidae 188.74 188.74Chaetodontidae 930.41 1,097.02 465.69 2,493.12Ephippidae 291.48 109.14 400.62Haemulidae 15.69 31.43 47.13Holocentridae 150.87 398.99 446.00 995.85Labridae 4,156.33 2,718.32 684.04 7,558.68Lethrinidae 143.89 143.89Lutjanidae 3,609.12 1,198.21 4,807.34Monacanthidae 52.35 14.30 66.66Mullidae 45.08 156.18 2.62 203.87Nemipteridae 818.98 5,607.93 12.78 6,439.69Pomacanthidae 354.27 241.55 595.81Pomacentridae 8,565.54 7,595.62 1,523.87 17,685.03Pseudochromidae 3.28 3.28 1.99 8.54Scaridae 2,448.29 1,380.63 491.94 4,320.87Scorpaenidae 47.09 47.09Serranidae 175.87 187.75 316.39 680.01Siganidae 41.72 5,316.44 5,358.16Sphyraenidae 1,759.99 1,759.99Synodontidae 72.69 72.69Tetraodontidae 1,085.74 1,289.89 2,375.63Zanclidae 234.91 116.42 91.39 442.71

Grand Total 32,363.20 25,026.01 11,595.19 68,984.39


Table 29. Total Abundance (individuals) of Different Feeding Guilds of Reef Fishes from 3 Sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

The same compositional proportions were observed among individual survey sites except in Denicolan Island, where benthic carnivores (486) were the most abundant followed by herbivores and omnivores with 204 and 179 individuals, respectively (Table 29).

Fish were also grouped as indicator, major or target species (Table 30). The

Table 30. Total abundance of reef fish categories at 3 sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

total fish assemblage was dominated by major species such as pomacentrids and labrids (81%). Indicator species (i.e. chaetodontids) and target species (i.e. serranids and lutjanids) comprised 2% and 17%, respectively. Among the target species observed were the snappers Lutjanus biguttats, L. carpanotatus, and L. decussates, and the groupers Cephalopholis boenak, C. cyanostigma, C. microprion, Epinephelus fasciatus and Cromileptes altivelis (Appendix 9). Numbers of groupers per site ranged from 6 to 13 individuals. However, estimated total lengths only ranged from 8 to 14 cm.

24.1.1 Calumbuyan Island (Site 1), 12.0124oN and 119.938oE

Calumbuyan Island had the highest number of species (103 species from 22 families), abundance (3,128 individuals) and estimated biomass (32,355.87 g) among the 3 survey sites (Table 31). It is also shown that the deep transect had a greater

Feeding Guild Calumbuyan Tantangon Denicolan Total %Benthic Carnivore 343 366 486 1195 20Corallivore 30 23 10 63 1Herbivore 171 107 204 482 8Omnivore 954 502 179 1635 27Piscivore 62 81 18 161 3Planktivore 1568 854 95 2517 41

Grand Total 3128 1933 992 6053 100

Category Calumbuyan Tantangon Denicolan Total %Indicator 45 33 29 107 2Major 2482 1696 735 4913 81Target 601 204 228 1033 17Grand Total 3128 204 992 6053 100


Table 31. Total Fish Species, Abundance and Biomass per Station and per Depth at 3 stations, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

contribution than the shallow transect for all parameters. Pomacentridae and Labridae had the most number of species with 31 and 18, respectively (Table 26). In terms of abundance, however, Pomacentridae and Caesionidae dominated with 2,254 and 383 individuals, respectively (Tables 27). Consequently, Pomacentridae and Caesionidae contributed considerably to the total biomass of the site with 8,565.54 grams and 8,539.02 grams, respectively (Table 28). Though Labridae was numerically abundant at this site (Table 27), Caesionidae was dominant in terms of biomass due to the relatively large sizes of fusiliers observed. Contributions on abundance and biomass by each species for each survey site are enumerated in Appendices 9 and 10, respectively.

24.1.2 Tantangon Island (Site 2) , 12.0124oN and 119.938oE

Tantangon Island yielded the second highest number of species, abundance and biomass of reef fish among the 3 sites with a total of 79 species from 19 families, 1,933 individuals and 25,026.01 grams of biomass (Table 31). Between the shallow and deep transects, however, the shallow transect yielded the higher values for these parameters. Similar with Calumbuyan, pomacentrids and labrids dominated the fish assemblage with 21 and 16 species, respectively (Table 26). Pomacentridae dominated fish abundance with 1,442 individuals, while Labridae and Apogonidae only contributed 142 and 130 individuals, respectively (Table 27). Biomass estimates show that Pomacentridae was dominant with 7,595.62 grams. Nemipteridae also contributed a considerable biomass of 5,607.93 grams (Table 28). Although Labridae and Apogonidae were more abundant, the majority of these were small individuals (<10cm), while more medium to large sized nemipterids (10-18cm) were observed in the site.

Station Family (number) Species (number)

Abundance (individuals)

Biomass (grams)

CALUMBUYAN ISLAND Shallow 14 66 1,286 9,871.03Deep 23 74 1,842 22,484.85

Sub-total 22 103 3,128 32,355.87

TANTANGON ISLAND Shallow 14 61 1,436 16,233.99Deep 13 45 497 8,792.02

Sub-total 19 79 1,933 25,026.01

DENICOLAN ISLAND Shallow 18 79 474 8,887.94Deep 12 35 518 2,707.25

Sub-total 20 56 992 11,595.19


24.1.3 Denicolan Island (Site 3) , 12.0124oN and 119.938oE (?)

Denicolan Island yielded the lowest number of species, abundance and biomass among the 3 sites surveyed (Table 31). A total of 56 species from 20 families was recorded with Pomacentridae (15 species) and Labridae (10 species) as the dominant families (Table 26). The total abundance was estimated to be 992 individuals (Table 31), and Apogonidae and Pomacentridae dominated this with 364 and 332 individuals, respectively (Table 27). In terms of biomass, the estimated total of 11,595.19 grams for the site was dominated by at least 3 families. Siganidae contributed majority of the biomass with 5,316.44 (Table 28). This was brought about by the occurrence of a large school of Siganus virgatus in the shallow transect (140 individuals; Appendix 1). Pomacentridae and Caesionidae also contributed much of the total biomass with 1,523.87 and 1,190.10 grams, respectively. A complete list of species and their corresponding estimated abundance and biomass for each survey site is enumerated in Appendices 9 and 10, respectively. 25.0 DISCUSSION

Based on the fish status categories of Hilomen et al. (2000), the fish assemblages in the 3 survey sites were in relatively good condition (Appendix 3). Estimates of species richness and abundance fell under either the high or very high categories. However, biomass estimates were at the very poor category for all stations.

It is not surprising if actual fish species richness and abundance was higher than estimated during the survey. Turbulence and water visibility are factors that may affect the fish visual census technique. Low visibility such as those experienced in Denicolan Island may make identification and abundance estimation of fishes difficult. Low visibility in the area may have been brought about by the re-suspension of sediments during heavy rains a few days prior to the survey as well as land-based run-off carried by the river systems in the area.

The reef fish assemblages observed in the 3 sites in southwestern Busuanga are characteristic of silty, sheltered lagoons. Fish species commonly observed in clear waters with good circulation were absent or rare at these sites (i.e. Pseudanthias sp., and Chromis sp.). The planktivorous Chromis viridis was only observed in Calumbuyan Island (Appendix 1). This observation is consistent with the general findings and description of Allen (2000 in Werner and Allen, 2000) of the fish fauna for the whole of the Calamianes Groups of Islands.

The target species such as groupers and snappers observed were few and small (8-14 cm and 12-19 cm, respectively). This may be indicative of the effects of fishing pressure in the area (PDT, 1990). Continuous selective fishing for larger individuals of target species may cause the loss of genetic diversity within species in a locale resulting in undesirable stock characteristics (i.e. small size).


Three undescribed species of fish from the Calamianes were reported by Allen (2000). These included a dottyback (Pseudochromis), a damselfish (Altrichthys), and a blenny (Ecsenius). During the present study, it was suspected that the undescribed blenny may have been sighted at the deep transect in Calumbuyan Island. The blenny was initially drawn in the underwater slate and later verified in a photograph of the unidentified fish in the final report of Werner and Allen (2000). Species such as these, and the other possibly unrecorded species in the area, may be in high risk of extinction. High fishing pressure and habitat loss are some of the reasons that threaten restricted-range coral reef fishes in the Philippines (Hawkins et al., 2000). Possible signs of cyanide fishing (bleached corals) and dynamite blasts (broken corals) were observed throughout Busuanga during the baseline survey. Though little coastal development were observed in the in-depth survey sites, silt carried by river systems from land-based activities reduce water visibility and may smother corals. 26.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The reef fish communities in southwestern Busuanga may be generally described as in good condition in terms of species richness and abundance, but poor in terms if biomass. Species richness was relatively high and an undescribed blenny was recorded. Abundance was also considerable, however, small non-target species comprised the large majority of individuals. Sizes of fish were relatively small, and medium to large-sized individuals were few. This accounted for the poor biomass estimates. It is suggested that fishing pressure and habitat loss may be the primary factors affecting the fish communities in the area.

The 3 sites surveyed represented some of the highest live coral cover in the area. It is recommended that these sites be categorized as core zone sites. The inclusion of these sites in a network of core zones will have strong biological and socio-economic implications. Protection of these sites may allow the target fish species to increase in number and size, and eventually “spill-over” to adjacent fishing areas, thus benefiting the local fisheries.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 112

Appendix 9. Occurrence and abundance (individuals) of reef fishes from 3 sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundanceAcanthuridae Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2 2

Acanthurus sp. 12 12Ctenochaetus striatus 3 3Zebrasoma veliferum 1 1

Acanthuridae Sub-total 15 3 18Apogonidae Apogon aureus 1 1

Apogon compressus 9 3 12 24Apogon sp. (orange fins; A. griffini) 8 5 13Apogon trimaculatus 1 4 5Archamia zosterophora 6 6Cheilodipterus macrodon 7 1 12 20Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus 74 87 181 342Rhabdamia gracilis 150 150Sphaeramia nematoptera 9 24 33

Apogonidae Sub-total 100 130 364 594Aulostomidae Aulostomus chinensis 2 2

Aulostomidae Sub-total 2 2Blenniidae Cirripectes sp. (very large, brown) 4 4

Ecsenius sp. 11 11Ecsenius sp. (unidentified in Allen and Werner, 2000) 1 1Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos 1 1 2

Blenniidae Sub-total 5 12 1 18Caesionidae Caesio caerulaurea 40 40

Caesio teres 213 34 18 265Pterocaesio chrysozona 45 45Pterocaesio pisang 60 7 67Pterocaesio tile 25 25

Caesionidae Sub-total 383 41 18 442

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 113

Appendix 9. Continued.

FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundanceCarangidae Decapterus sp. 4 4

Carangidae Sub-total 4 4Chaetodontidae Chaetodon kleinii 2 2

Chaetodon melannotus 2 1 3Chaetodon octofasciatus 27 18 22 67Chaetodon trifascialis 2 2Chaetodon trifasciatus 4 3 7Chelmon rostratus 4 6 6 16Coradion altivelis 1 1Coradion chrysozonus 3 4 7Heniochus acuminatus 1 1Heniochus chrysostomus 1 1

Chaetodontidae Sub-total 45 33 29 107Ephippidae Platax pinnatus 2 2

Platax teira 2 2Ephippidae Sub-total 2 2 4

Haemulidae Plectorhinchus chaetodontoides 1 1Plectorhinchus polytaenia 2 2

Haemulidae Sub-total 2 1 3Holocentridae Myripristis murdjan 2 11 13

Neoniphon sammara 4 4Sargocentron rubrum 5 5

Holocentridae Sub-total 2 5 15 22Labridae Anampses sp. (brown with ocellus on D) 3 3

Bodianus mesothorax 1 1Cheilinus fasciatus 10 9 1 20Choerodon anchorago 1 17 18Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura 12 22 34Coris batuensis 1 1

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 114

Appendix 9. Continued. FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total Abundance

Diproctacanthus xanthurus 16 20 10 46Epibulus insidiator 7 1 2 10Halichoeres chloropterus 3 3Halichoeres leucurus 12 15 8 35Halichoeres marginatus 2 1 3Halichoeres melanurus 3 4 7Halichoeres sp. 20 21 9 50Hemigymnus melapterus 1 1Labrichthys unilineatus 3 3Labroides dimidiatus 5 4 4 13Labropsis australis 4 4Oxycheilinus arenatus 1 1Oxycheilinus celebicus 19 11 8 38Oxycheilinus digrammus 6 1 7Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 5 5 10Thalassoma lunare 7 8 3 18

Labridae Sub-total 134 142 50 326Lethrinidae Monotaxis grandoculis 1 1

Lethrinidae Sub-total 1 1Lutjanidae Lutjanus biguttatus 54 5 59

Lutjanus carpanotatus 9 9Lutjanus decussatus 1 3 4

Lutjanidae Sub-total 55 17 72Monacanthidae Amanses scopas 1 1

Pervagor melanocephalus 6 6Monacanthidae Sub-total 6 1 7

Mullidae Parupeneus barberinus 2 2Parupeneus multifasciatus 1 1 1 3

Mullidae Sub-total 1 3 1 5

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 115


FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundanceNemipteridae Scolopsis ciliatus 3 3

Scolopsis margaritifer 3 14 1 18Nemipteridae Sub-total 3 17 1 21

Pomacanthidae Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus 13 5 18Pomacanthidae Sub-total 13 5 18

Pomacentridae Abudefduf bengalensis 1Abudefduf lorenzi 1Abudefduf sexfasciatus 18Acanthochromis polyacanthus 469 124 24 617Amblyglyphidodon aureus 1 1Amblyglyphidodon curacao 45 42 5 92Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster 87 72 58 217Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis 3 11 14Chromis viridis 135 135Chrysiptera parasema 49 136 71 256Chrysiptera rollandi 27 16 1 44Chrysiptera springeri 154 30 5 189Chrysiptera unimaculata 1 2 1 4Damsel sp. (C. unimaculata; 1/2) 11 11Dascyllus reticulatus 4 4Dascyllus trimaculatus 7 7Dischistodus prosopotaenia 1 25 2 28Dischistodus pseudochrysopoecilus 1 3 6 10Neoglyphidodon melas 9 9Neoglyphidodon nigroris 20 3 35 58Neopomacentrus anabatoides 545 603 1148Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 3 3 6Pomacentrus alexanderae 339 302 82 723Pomacentrus amboinensis 7 4 11

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 116


FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundancePomacentrus burroughi 14 4 12 30Pomacentrus chrysurus 41 30 7 78Pomacentrus lepidogenys 1 1Pomacentrus muloccensis 2 2Pomacentrus philippinus 8 2 10Pomacentrus smithi 243 6 249Pomacentrus stigma 7 1 8Stegastes lividus 11 23 2 36

Pomacentridae Sub-total 2254 1442 322 4018Pseudochromidae Pseudochromis paranox 1 1 1 3

Pseudochromidae Sub-total 1 1 1 3Scaridae Cetoscarus bicolor 1

Chlorurus bleekeri 1 1Hipposcarus longiceps 27 5 5 37Scarus ghobban 3 2 5Scarus hypselopterus 2 1 3Scarus niger 4 4 1 9Scarus quoyi 11 2 6 19Scarus sordidus 1 1Scarus sp. (stripe with crossgrains) 5 5Scarus sp. (yellow) 5 5Scarus sp.1 27 27Scarus sp.2 1 1Scarus spinus 2 2

Scaridae Sub-total 84 15 17 116Scorpaenidae Dendrochirus zebra 1 1

Scorpaenidae Sub-total 1 1

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 117


FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundanceSerranidae Cephalopholis boenak 1 4 5

Cephalopholis cyanostigma 1 1Cephalopholis microprion 4 3 9 16Cephalopholis sp. (miniata?) 1 1Cromileptes altivelis 2 2Epinephelus fasciatus 1 1

Serrnidae Sub-total 7 6 13 26Siganidae Siganus virgatus 2 140 142

Siganus vulpinus 3 3Siganidae Sub-total 2 143 145

Sphyraenidae Sphyraena flavicauda 55 55Sphyraenidae Sub-total 55 55

Synodontidae Synodus variegatus 1 1Synodontidae Sub-total 1 1

Tetraodontidae Arothron nigropunctatus 4 4Arothron stellatus 1 2 3Canthigaster solandri 4 1 5

Tetraodontidae Sub-total 9 3 12Zanclidae Zanclus cornutus 4 3 5 12

Zanclidae Sub-total 4 3 5 12GRAND TOTAL 3128 1933 992 6053

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 118

Appendix 10. Occurrence and Biomass (grams) of Reef Fishes from 3 sites, Busuanga, Palawan, 2003.

FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundanceAcanthuridae Acanthurus nigrofuscus 95.84 95.84

Acanthurus sp. 106.58 106.58Ctenochaetus striatus 58.95 58.95Zebrasoma veliferum 40.86 40.86

Acanthuridae Sub-total 243.28 58.95 302.22Apogonidae Apogon aureus 6.16 6.16

Apogon compressus 58.40 12.65 150.38 221.43Apogon sp. (orange fins; A. griffini) 132.44 105.54 237.99Apogon trimaculatus 46.45 58.00 104.45Archamia zosterophora 23.57 23.57Cheilodipterus macrodon 88.55 15.48 120.29 224.33Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus 155.32 284.79 77.25 517.36Rhabdamia gracilis 30.44 30.44Sphaeramia nematoptera 12.96 27.88 40.84

Apogonidae Sub-total 321.39 543.27 541.91 1,406.57Aulostomidae Aulostomus chinensis 13.91 13.91

Aulostomidae Sub-total 13.91 13.91Blenniidae Cirripectes sp. (very large, brown) 162.54 162.54

Ecsenius sp. 10.82 10.82Ecsenius sp. (unidentified in Allen and We 0.98 0.98Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos 1.16 2.00 3.15

Blenniidae Sub-total 163.52 11.97 2.00 177.49Caesionidae Caesio caerulaurea 567.51 567.51

Caesio teres 5,964.63 657.02 1,190.10 7,811.75Pterocaesio chrysozona 1,902.31 1,902.31Pterocaesio pisang 22.72 5.94 28.66Pterocaesio tile 81.84 81.84

Caesionidae Sub-total 8,539.02 662.96 1,190.10 10,392.07Carangidae Decapterus sp. 188.74 188.74

Carangidae Sub-total 188.74 188.74

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 119


Chaetodontidae Chaetodon kleinii 22.35 22.35Chaetodon melannotus 33.02 53.96 86.98Chaetodon octofasciatus 354.47 198.46 200.50 753.43Chaetodon trifascialis 28.97 28.97Chaetodon trifasciatus 76.84 206.65 283.49Chelmon rostratus 235.45 429.87 254.72 920.03Coradion chrysozonus 157.66 133.36 291.02Heniochus acuminatus 10.47 10.47Heniochus chrysostomus 21.65 21.65Parachaetodon ocellatus 74.72 74.72

Chaetodontidae Sub-total 930.41 1,097.02 465.69 2,493.12Ephippidae Platax pinnatus 291.48 291.48

Platax teira 109.14 109.14Ephippidae Sub-total 291.48 109.14 400.62

Haemulidae Plectorhinchus chaetodontoides 31.43 31.43Plectorhinchus polytaenia 15.69 15.69

Haemulidae Sub-total 15.69 31.43 47.13Holocentridae Myripristis murdjan 150.87 382.12 532.98

Neoniphon sammara 63.88 63.88Sargocentron rubrum 398.99 398.99

Holocentridae Sub-total 150.87 398.99 446.00 995.85Labridae Anampses sp. (brown with ocellus on D) 65.71 65.71

Bodianus mesothorax 42.09 42.09Cheilinus fasciatus 575.86 275.63 10.96 862.44Choerodon anchorago 43.90 1,034.16 1,078.06Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura 10.30 78.16 88.46Coris batuensis 3.05 3.05Diproctacanthus xanthurus 16.32 29.42 6.55 52.29Epibulus insidiator 284.33 20.70 31.65 336.68Halichoeres chloropterus 105.59 105.59

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 120


Halichoeres leucurus 345.75 327.14 158.66 831.54Halichoeres marginatus 30.66 0.49 31.15Halichoeres melanurus 23.22 18.02 41.24Halichoeres sp. 145.85 76.36 7.61 229.82Hemigymnus melapterus 53.97 53.97Labrichthys unilineatus 100.02 100.02Labroides dimidiatus 30.01 14.43 6.30 50.75Labropsis australis 1.49 1.49Oxycheilinus arenatus 4.83 4.83Oxycheilinus celebicus 1,524.84 328.34 362.10 2,215.27Oxycheilinus digrammus 364.12 0.67 364.79Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 424.65 240.02 664.67Thalassoma lunare 145.60 107.64 81.53 334.77

Labridae Sub-total 4,156.33 2,718.32 684.04 7,558.68Lethrinidae Monotaxis grandoculis 143.89 143.89

Lethrinidae Sub-total 143.89 143.89Lutjanidae Lutjanus biguttatus 3,576.43 328.65 3,905.08

Lutjanus carpanotatus 625.37 625.37Lutjanus decussatus 32.70 244.19 276.89

Lutjanidae Sub-total 3,609.12 1,198.21 4,807.34Monacanthidae Amanses scopas 14.30 14.30

Pervagor melanocephalus 52.35 52.35Monacanthidae Sub-total 52.35 14.30 66.66

Mullidae Parupeneus barberinus 153.56 153.56Parupeneus multifasciatus 45.08 2.62 2.62 50.31

Mullidae Sub-total 45.08 156.18 2.62 203.87Nemipteridae Scolopsis ciliatus 109.65 109.65

Scolopsis margaritifer 818.98 5,498.28 12.78 6,330.04Nemipteridae Sub-total 818.98 5,607.93 12.78 6,439.69

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 121


Pomacanthidae Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus 354.27 241.55 595.81Pomacanthidae Sub-total 354.27 241.55 595.81

Pomacentridae Abudefduf bengalensis 18.93 18.93Abudefduf lorenzi 18.93 18.93Abudefduf sexfasciatus 86.28 86.28Acanthochromis polyacanthus 2,786.83 785.63 80.27 3,652.73Amblyglyphidodon aureus 11.35 11.35Amblyglyphidodon curacao 241.93 289.67 21.15 552.74Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster 418.02 182.43 154.06 754.51Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis 21.82 10.82 32.64Chromis viridis 789.32 789.32Chrysiptera parasema 18.25 63.77 14.89 96.91Chrysiptera rollandi 6.22 4.205819863 0.245315166 10.67Chrysiptera springeri 82.62 12.96 1.23 96.81Chrysiptera unimaculata 7.24 12.02 7.24 26.50Damsel sp. 50.63 50.63Dascyllus reticulatus 5.01 5.01Dascyllus trimaculatus 51.12 51.12Dischistodus prosopotaenia 60.25 1,944.39 133.08 2,137.72Dischistodus pseudochrysopoecilus 39.14 313.97 107.19 460.30Neoglyphidodon melas 219.92 219.92Neoglyphidodon nigroris 257.09 15.55 309.62 582.27Neopomacentrus anabatoides 1,243.82 687.50 1,931.32Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 4.17 1.36 5.53Pomacentrus alexanderae 844.24 1,128.13 344.20 2,316.57Pomacentrus amboinensis 3.68 1.11 4.79Pomacentrus burroughi 140.92 46.72 109.37 297.02Pomacentrus chrysurus 109.50 79.52 17.12 206.14Pomacentrus lepidogenys 0.24 0.24Pomacentrus muloccensis 0.12 0.12

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 122


Pomacentrus philippinus 34.23 12.98 47.21Pomacentrus smithi 350.18 5.21 355.39Pomacentrus stigma 5.33 0.76 6.09Stegastes lividus 688.85 1,996.91 173.57 2,859.33

Pomacentridae Sub-total 8,565.54 7,595.62 1,523.87 17,685.03Pseudochromidae Pseudochromis paranox 3.28 3.28 1.99 8.54

Pseudochromidae Sub-total 3.28 3.28 1.99 8.54Scaridae Cetoscarus bicolor 52.78 52.78

Chlorurus bleekeri 348.45 348.45Hipposcarus longiceps 937.38 182.41 89.98 1,209.77Scarus ghobban 232.12 130.26 362.38Scarus hypselopterus 322.94 309.18 632.11Scarus niger 73.86 280.08 56.38 410.31Scarus quoyi 73.21 130.26 343.17 546.65Scarus sordidus 9.58 9.58Scarus sp. (stripe with crossgrains) 2.41 2.41

Scarus sp. (yellow) 2.4076836 2.41Scarus sp.1 345.07 345.07Scarus sp.2 32.98 32.98Scarus spinus 365.96 365.96

Scaridae Sub-total 2,448.29 1,380.63 491.94 4,320.87Scorpaenidae Dendrochirus zebra 47.09 47.09

Scorpaenidae Sub-total 47.09 47.09Serranidae Cephalopholis boenak 9.63 137.10 146.72

Cephalopholis cyanostigma 28.15 28.15Cephalopholis microprion 129.72 89.41 179.29 398.42Cephalopholis sp. (miniata?) 8.37 8.37Cromileptes altivelis 89.26 89.26Epinephelus fasciatus 9.08 9.08

Serranidae Sub-total 175.87 187.75 316.39 680.01

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES 123


Appendix 11. Fish Status Categories from Hilomen et al. (2000), Busuanga,Palawan, 2003.

FAMILY SPECIES Calumbuyan Tantangong Denicolan Total AbundanceSiganidae Siganus virgatus 41.72 5,199.88 5,241.60

Siganus vulpinus 116.55 116.55Siganidae Sub-total 41.72 5,316.44 5,358.16

Sphyraenidae Sphyraena flavicauda 1,759.99 1,759.99Sphyraenidae Sub-total 1,759.99 1,759.99

Synodontidae Synodus variegatus 72.69 72.69Synodontidae Sub-total 72.69 72.69

Tetraodontidae Arothron nigropunctatus 576.04 576.04Arothron stellatus 450.02 1,266.84 1,716.86Canthigaster solandri 59.67 23.05 82.72

Tetraodontidae Sub-total 1,085.74 1,289.89 2,375.63Zanclidae Zanclus cornutus 234.91 116.42 91.39 442.71

Zanclidae Sub-total 234.91 116.42 91.39 442.71GRAND TOTAL 32,363.20 25,026.01 11,595.19 68,984.39

CategorySpecies Richness

(sp/1000 sqm)Abundance

(individuals/1000 sqm)Biomass (mt/sqkm)

Very Poor < 26 < 201 < 5.0Poor 27 - 47 202 - 676 5.1 - 20Moderate 48 - 74 677 - 2,267 20.1 - 35.0High 75 - 100 2,268 - 7,592 35.1 - 75Very High > 100 >7,592 > 75

___________________________________________________________________________LIST OF REFERENCES 124

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