Malacological survey along the intertidal zone of Las Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area

Background@#One of the eight Ramsar sites in the Philippines is the Las Piňas – Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area(LPPCHEA), and it plays a significant role in the East Asian-Australian Flyway as a stopover site. The migratory birds coming from the north of Asia and Alaska feed on the molluscs in this area. However, there is paucity of literature on the species composition of molluscs found in this critical habitat. Baseline information on these organisms is essential as they are subject to the effects of anthropogenic activities close to and in the wetland, which in turn can have an impact on the ecosystem, particularly the birds foraging in this location. @*Methodology@#The Natural Geography of in-Shore areas (NaGISA) protocol was used for the study. Transects were laid in three sampling sites in Freedom Island and Long Island. The sampling sites were GPS-referenced. A cylinder corer was used to collect mudflat soil, with the corer pushed into the sediment. Soil samples were sieved using a 0.5mm stainless mesh sieve pan, leaving shells and larger sand grains. The molluscs were sorted and identified through taxonomic keys. Sampling was done once for each site in November 2012. @*Results and Discussion@#A total of 61 molluscan species belonging to two classes, 14 orders, and 33 molluscan families were identified and recorded. There were 34 species under the Class Gastropoda that belong to 5 orders and 18 families. For Class Bivalvia, there were 27 species belonging to 8 orders and 15 families. Among the molluscs recorded, 10 species were identified as non-indigenous. It is important to monitor molluscan species as anthropogenic activities may affect these organisms, and in turn, affect the wetland's function for migratory birds. The presence of non-indigenous species may be a potential threat to the ecosystem.@*Conclusion@#Baseline information of the molluscan community in the LPPCHEA was provided by the study. These species provide diet to the endemic and migratory birds in the area. There is a need to monitor these molluscs due to the effects of the man-caused activities close to the area. Also, the non-indigenous species should be studied for their potential to be invasive.

Assessment of the marine macrofouling community in naval base Heracleo Alano, Cavite City

@#<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Ports and naval bases play a significant role in understanding marine macrofouling and the associated transport of species across boundaries. Structures on ports and piers become habitats of foulers, whether indigenous or non-indigenous. There is a paucity of literature on species composition of foulers in ports in the Philippines. Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Cavite City, formerly known as Sangley Point, is a potential habitat for non-indigenous species.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> The study assessed benthic biofoulers at four areas in close proximity at Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Cavite City, using artificial collectors. Fouler collector design was adapted from the North Pacific Marine Sciences<br />Organization (PICES). Fouler collectors were deployed in 4 sampling points from November 2015 and retrieved in February 2016. Collected fouling organisms were identified using taxonomic keys. Species diversity (H) through Shannon Wiener Index, Species Evenness (H'/H'max), and Simpson's Index were determined.</p><p><strong>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:</strong> A total of 6203 organisms belonging to 20 families was collected. Common macrofoulers were bivalves, polychaetes, decapods, amphipods, and barnacles. Shannon-Wiener index values as well as species evenness were relatively consistent. Values of the Simpson's index indicated the presence of dominant species, Balanus sp. The macrofouling community contained 7 non-indigenous species, namely, Mytella charruana, Brachidontes, Mytilopsis sallei, Hydroides, Stylochus, Sabella, and Membranipora membranacea. The macrofouling organisms present in the area may pose problems in submerged equipment and cause some financial loss to the facility; the non-indigenous could be potential threats to the local ecosystem. All seven non-indigenous species are potentially invasive, although their abundance suggests otherwise.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> A baseline listing of species was generated and showed various species of foulers in the naval base, with Balanus being the dominant species, which is the same as other studies in the Asian region. Seven nonindigenous<br />species were detected. There is a need to monitor the non-indigenous species, as Mytilopsis sallei (origin: Carribean) has been reported to in huge numbers in the Indo West Pacific region, particularly in Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand, India, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Japan, and Australia; Brachidontes (Origin: Indo- Pacific) has spread to the Mediterranean and Red Sea.</p>