ASSOCIATED MACRO INVERTEBRATES IN SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEM IN THE

COASTAL WATERS OF VINCENZO SAGUN ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

Ruel S. Lasagas, Edgardo H. Rosales

0000-0001-5657-2591
[email protected]
J.H. Cerilles State College – Main Capus
Mati, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur

Abstract

Many macro-invertebrate species are dependent of seagrasses and would

become extinct or greatly reduced in abundance if the seagrasses disappear. These
organisms play a number of hugely important roles in their ecosystems, such as food,
pollination and decomposition. But despite of these good reputations they are not also
excuse of overexploitation same with other marine organisms due habitat degradations
resulting a declining trend of their population. The study was conducted to identify the
different species of economically important marine macro invertebrates and determine
its abundance and diversity in seagrass ecosystem in the coastal waters of Vincenzo
Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur.
The descriptive-comparative design was employed in this study. The three (3)
sampling stations were established within the seagrass ecosystem in the coastal waters
of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur. Every station three (3) transect line were laid.
The 5x1000 meter belt transect was used to determine the abundance and diversity of
associated macro invertebrate species.
A total 18 marine macro invertebrates species found in sea grass ecosystem in
the coastal water of Vincenzo Sagun. Sixteen (16) species were observed in station 1,
and (9) species in both station 2 and 3. Six (6) species were common in three (3)
stations these were Protoreaster nodosus, Diadema setosom, Linkia lavigata, Mycale
grandis, Pectin coruscans and Echinotrix calamaris. The most abundant marine
invertebrates species in station 1 was Protoreaster nodosus while in station 2 and 3 was
the Diadema setosum. Station 1 and 3 were considered diverse except station 2.
Statistical analysis reveals that the abundance of associated marine macro
invertebrates did not differ significantly.

Keywords: Diversity, Abundance, Macro-invertebrates, seagrass ecosystem and

Coastal waters

Introduction
Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers
because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. These modifications
not only make coastal habitats more suitable for the seagrasses themselves, but also
have important effects on other animals and provide ecological functions and a variety
of services for humans.(Duarte, 2002). It also stabilizes sediments and produce large
quantities of organic carbon. However, seagrasses and these associated ecosystem
services are under direct threat from a host of anthropogenic influences.
Sea grass ecosystems provide habitats for a wide variety of marine organisms,
both plant and animal. They serve as important nursery areas for juvenile marine
animals, as well as providing food and shelter. In the dense seagrass meadows, a wide
variety of organisms are fouling such as hydroids, sponges, bryozoa and seaweeds.
These organisms mainly attach on older leaves.

Many invertebrate species are dependent of seagrasses and would become

extinct or greatly reduced in abundance if the seagrasses disappear. These organisms
play a number of hugely important roles in their ecosystems, such as food, pollination
and decomposition. But despite of these good reputations they are not also excuse of
overexploitation same with other marine organisms due habitat degradations resulting a
declining trend of their population.

The study was conducted to identify the different species of economically

important marine macro invertebrates and determine its abundance in seagrasses
ecosystem in the coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur. It is then
imperative to obtain baseline information and knowledge about marine macro
invertebrates’ species diversity that will serve as a basis for effective marine resource
protection and conservation.

Objectives

The main purpose of this study was to determine the status of macro
invertebrates associated in seagrass ecosystem in the coastal waters of Vincenzo
Sagun Zamboanga del Sur. Specifically, the study aimed to:

1. Identify different marine macro invertebrates found in sea grass ecosystem in the
coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun Zamboanga del Sur;

2. Determine the abundance of marine macro invertebrates species in the area;

3. Determine its significant difference among stations in terms of abundance.

Methodology

Research Design

The descriptive-comparative design was employed in this study. This method

showed accurate result in describing macro invertebrate species, enumerating the
present number of individual of associated macro invertebrate species, and recording
the species with proper documentation and collation purposes. Comparative, hence the
abundance of every station was compared.

Data Gathering Procedure

The three (3) sampling stations were established within the seagrass ecosystem
in the coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur. Every station three (3)
transect line were laid. The 5x100 meter belt transect was used to determine the
abundance and diversity of associated macro invertebrate species. The species found
inside the belt transect were identified and its abundance was recorded.

The associated macro invertebrates’ species were identified according to its

local, English and scientific name with the aide of books and other marine invertebrates
field guide. For further species identification, the researcher took photos of every
species.

The collected data were analyzed using different statistical tools based on the
objectives of the study.

Results and Discussion

Table 1. Associated invertebrates found in sea grass ecosystem in the coastal area Vincenzo
Sagun Zamboanga del Sur in the three(3) sampling sites

STATIONS
Invertebrates species

English name Local/common name Scientific name S1 S2 S3

Banded sea urchin Bakiki Echinotrix calamaris √ √ √
Blue linkia Blue starfish Linckia laevigata √ √ √
Brittle star Brittle star Ophionereis sp. x √ √
Harp shell Harpa-harpa Harpa amouretta √ x x
Hawking conch Sa-ang Strombos ranius x x √
Horned sea star Horned starfish Protoreaster nodosus √ √ √
Keeled heart urchin Heart urchin Brissus latecarinatus √ x x
Long spine Tuyom Diadema setosom √ √ √
Medussa spaghetti worm Spaghetti worm Loimia medusa √ √ X
Mycale sponge Yellow sponge Mycale grandis √ √ √
 Ornate sap Ornate elysa Elysa ornata √ x √
Pincushion sea urchin Swaki Tripneustes gratilla √ x x
Red starfish Black spotted starfish Callopatria granifera √ √ x
Sand Dollar Dapaw-dapaw Echinarachnius parma √ x x
Scallop Tikod-tikod Pectin coruscans √ √ √
Scorpion conch Scorpion spider conch Lambis scorpius x x √
Spotted sea cucumber Balat Actinopyga mauritiana √ x x
Rock boring urchin Dapaw Echinometra mathaei √ x x

There were eighteen (18) associated marine invertebrates species found in the
coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun, Zaamboanga del Sur. Two (2) species belong to the
family Diadematidae. These were Echinotrix calamaris, Tripneutes gratilla . Furthermore
two(2) species belong to the family Strombidae. These were Strombus ranius, and
Lambus scorpius, and Linkia lavigata belong to ophidiasterida, Ophionereis sp. Belong
to ophiodermatida, Brissus latecarinatus belong to the family brisside, Loimia medusa
belong to the family terebellidae, Mycale grandis belong to the family mycalidae, Elysa
ornata belong to the family plakobranchidae, Protoreaster nodosus belong to the family
oreasteride, Tripneustes gratilla belong to the family toxopneustidae, Callopatria
granifera belong to the family asterinidae, Echinarachnius parma belong to the family
echinarachniidae, Pectin coruscans belong to the family pectinoidea, Echinometra
mathaei belong to the family echinometridae, Actinopyga mauritiana belong to the
family holothoridea.

Table 2. Relative Abundance of associated macro invertebrates species found in

seagrass ecosystem in the coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del
Sur.

Invertebrates species Relative Abundance (%)

Scientific name English name Station 1 Station 2 Station 3

Echinotrix calamaris Banded sea urchin 1.01 5.13 19.32

Linckia laevigata Blue linkia 3.70 2.56 1.61
Ophionereis sp. Brittle star 2.36 1.28 3.02
Harpa amouretta Harp shell 11.78 - -
Protoreaster nodosus Horned sea star 46.80 39.32 30.38
Brissus latecarinatus Keeled heart urchin 10.11 - -
Diadema setosum Long spine 3.03 44.03 37.42
Loimia medusa Medussa spaghetti worm 0.67 0.85
Mycale grandis Mycale sponge 5.05 2.56 1.81
Elysia ornate Ornate sap 3.37 - -
Tripneustes gratilla Pincushion sea urchin 4.04 - -
Callopatria granifera Red starfish 0.67 0.85
Echinometra mathaei Rock-boring urchin 2.02 - -
Echinarachnius parma Sand dollar 2.02 - -
Pectin coruscans Scallop 2.36 3.42 3.42
Actinopyga mauritiana Spotted sea cucumber 1.01 - -
Strombos ranius Hawking conch - - 1.610
Lambis scorpius Scorpion conch - - 1.41
Total Spp. = 18 100 100 100

The results showed that Protoreaster nodosus was the most abundant among
the invertebrates species with 46.80% in terms of relative abundance followed by Harpa
amouretta accounts 11.78%, Brissus latecarinatus with 10.10%, Mycale grandis with
5.05%, Tripneustes gratilla with 4.04%, Linkia lavigata with 3.70%, Elysia ornata with
3.37%, Diadema setosum with 3.03%, Ophionereis sp. with 2.36%, Pectin coruscans
with 2.36%, Echinarachnius parma with 2.02%, Echinotrix calamaris with1.01%,
Actinopyga mauritiana with 1.01%, and the least was Loimia medusa accounts 0.67%,
red starfish with 0.67% relative abundance respectively. The station 1 showed that
there were 16 species which accounts 80% in the total number of species in the coastal
water of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur. While station 2 revealed that
Protoreaster nodosus is the most abundant with 39.32%, followed by Echinotrix
calamaris with 5.13%, Diadema setosum with 4.70%, Pectin coruscans with 3.42%
and the least was smallest respectively. And the relative abundance of associated
marine invertebrates in station 3 revealed that the Diadema setosum is the most
abundant with 37.42% followed by Protoreaster nodosus with 30.38%, Echinometrix
calamaris with 19.32%, scallop with 3.42%, Ophionereis sp. with 3.02 and the least
was smallest respectively.

Statistical analysis revealed that the abundance of associated marine macro

invertebrates in seagrass ecosystem among stations were not significantly different
since, P< 0.05 level of significance. This indicates that the mean of the species
abundance of associated marine invertebrates among the three (3) stations were
significantly the same.
There were only eighteen (18) associated marine invertebrates species found in
the sea grass ecosystem of the coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboangadel Sur.
Among the 18 species only six (6) or 33.3% were considered edible species, this
indicates that the area are overexploited due to overfishing and other forms of
destructive fishing methods. These results conformed to Worm et al., 2006 that many
marine invertebrates’ species are experiencing population declines. In addition to
overfishing, habitat changes may potentially be involved to a large extent in these
declines.
CONCLUSIONS

The coastal waters of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur found to have 18
associated marine invertebrates in sea grass ecosystem. Most organisms belonged to
family Diadematidae. The most abundant marine invertebrates species in staion 1 was
protoreaster nodosus which accounts 46.80% and also in staion 2 with 39.32% and in
station 3 was the Diadema setosum with 37.42%. Among the three (3) stations,
statistical analysis reveals that there is no significant difference in terms of the
abundance of associated marine invertebrates.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Similar study should be conducted annually to further monitor the marine

invertebrates species found in Vincenzo, Sagun Zamboanga del Sur, to have a more
comprehensive result as to what are the economically important marine invertebrates
species present in the municipality. The concern agencies should intensify and
effectively implement their programs on marine conservation by regulating the fishing
activities especially within the municipal waters.
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