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Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2013, 3(3): 247-256
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Article

Chlorophyll content, productivities and biomass allocations of seagrasses in Talim Bay, Lian, Batangas, Philippines

Michael A. Clores1, Jose Santos Carandang VI2
1Department of Natural Sciences, Ateneo de Naga University, 4400, Naga City, Philippines
2Department of Biology, De La Salle University University-Manila, 2401 Taft Avenue, 1004 Manila, Philippines

Received 20 April 2013;Accepted 20 May 2013;Published online 1 September 2013
IAEES

Abstract
This study determined the chlorophyll content, productivities and biomass allocations of three abundant species of seagrasses in Talim Bay, Lian, Batangas. Philippines: Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea rotundata, and Thalassia hemprichii. Four seagrass meadows in the bay were selected based on their terrestrial sources of nutrient loads. Results reveal that seagrasses at South Matuod (a site which receives nutrient load drained mostly from corn- and cane-fields), yields the highest GPP (Gross Primary Productivity), but R (Respiration) is higher than GPP, and therefore NPP (Net Primary Productivity) was negative. The same pattern of productivity values were observed in the other sites implying that seagrasses were not making enough oxygen for their life processes at the time of the study (October to November 2010). Although the NPP of seagrasses was negative in Talim Point, (a site which does not receive nutrient load from terrestrial area serving as the control site), they had the highest chlorophyll a and b content with the other sites. R in this site is the lowest despite its low GPP, suggesting a more efficient primary production. Seagrasses in Kayreyna (which receives nutrient load from primarily from sewerage as well as farmland, i.e., near one creek that drains houses) had the highest total average Wet weight (WW), Dry Weight (DW) and Ash-Free Dry Weight (AFDW) while those seagrasses collected in South Matuod had the lowest biomass. The low biomass of seagrasses in Matuod could be related to their very low productivity and low chlorophyll content needed for such production. Kayreyna is characterized by seagrasses with second highest chlorophyll content after Talim point, and in terms of productivity, two of seagrass species in this site E. acoroides and T. hemprichii are among those with the lowest R. Evidently, seagrasses in Talim Point, Shields Marine Station (the site which receives primarily agriculture run-off, i.e., near a creek that drains mostly the hillside), and South Matuod, allocated the more biomass in their leaves than their roots. Based on the results, implications for further studies particularly on ascertaining the impact of nutrient loads to the seagrass meadows were highlighted.

Keywords seagrass productivity;biomass allocation;chlorophyll content;Batangas Philippines.


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