BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NIPA PALM ECOSYSTEM

Lorena F. Aquino¹, Raul V. Dela Peña², Jennie B. Fernandez³, Emmanuel Federico C. Capinpin, Jr.⁴

College of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences,

Pangasinan State University-Binmaley Campus, Binmaley, Pangasinan, Philippines

*Corresponding author: lorenaaquino38@yahoo.com

Biophysical characterization is an essential factor that contributes to the condition of any valuable ecosystem and natural resources. This study described the current biological and physical conditions of Nipa ecosystems in barangays Balococ and Bantayan, Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines. The biological characteristics involved the density, number of dead or cut and live petioles, number of leaflets per frond, the size of fronds’ girth, height, new leaflets and their height, and the fruit and flowers of Nipa palm. The physical characteristics of soil substrate such as soil pH, moisture content, and organic matter, and the river's water quality includes dissolved oxygen, temperature, water pH, depth and salinity. A descriptive statistic was employed to analyze the gathered data and in the presentation of the information gathered. The biological and physical characteristics have direct influence and are very relevant to the growth and distribution of Nipa palm. The results gained from the biological and physical characteristics were good indicators to sustain growth of Nipa palm in both study areas. It was found out that Nipa palm stand are high dense in Barangay Bantayan than Barangay Balococ. This is manifested through active harvesting and selling by residents of cutting Nipa fronds/leaf. This is also manifested through observations that there were more evidenced of cut or dead rhizomes in Barangay Bantayan than Barangay Balococ. The parameters used in soil substrate were pH, moisture content and organic matter and were known to be essential in order to determine the soil substrate preferable for the growth of Nipa palm stand.

Keywords: Biophysical characteristics, Nipa palm, Growth, Distribution, Ecosystem

INVESTIGATION ON THE OCCURRENCE OF POLYCHAETE LARVAE IN CA MAU MANGROVE HABITATS

Phung Ly^2*, Ut .N. Vu ¹

¹: College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Cantho University

²: Graduated student in Aquaculture (K44)

^*Corresponding author: phungb1800929@student.ctu.edu.vn

This study was conducted to assess the occurrence of polychaetes larvae in mangrove habitats in Ca Mau to serve as a basic for determination of polychaetes reproduction period. The study was implemented with 8 sampling times from January to August 2022 at 9 sites in Dam Doi, Nam Can, and Ngoc Hien districts, Ca Mau province. The zooplankton samples including Polychaetes larvae were collected at three points of each site (beginning, middle and end of the site) using zooplankton nets with a mesh size of 60 µm. Samples were preserved in formaline 4 %. The result showed that three stages of larvae occurred in all sampling sites including Trochophora, Metatrochophora, and Nectochaeta. The polychaete larvae density fluctuated in three sampling areas and gradually decrease from January to August through sampling times. In Dam Doi, the density of polychaetes was highest compared with other areas ranging from 0 ind/m³ to 35,000 ind/m³. The polychaete larvae were also found in Nam Can with a density of 0 ind/m³ to 7,815 ind/m³. The density of polychaetes larvae was lowest in Ngoc Hien with 2,708 ind/m³, however, no any individuals found in April and July. The abundance of polychaete larvae may be affected by water exchange frequency which is 2 times/month in mangrove shrimp ponds. In addition, there is a similarity between polychaetes larvae abundance with density of the adults in the study area. Overall, the polychaete larvae occurred from January to August in three study locations in Ca Mau with fluctuated density throughout the study period.

Keywords: Polychaetes, polychaete larvae, mangrove, ca mau

BIOACCUMULATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN MULLET FISH FROM SOUTHERN COAST OF YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA

 Tony Budi Satriyo ¹*

¹Department of Fisheries, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

^*Corresponding author: tonysatriyo@ugm.ac.id

Fish can be used in bio-monitor studies of trace elements pollution in the water. Apart from food, trace elements can also enter fish through water and sediment. Estuarine ecosystems can be found along Yogyakarta's southern coast where these estuaries support a diversity of fish habitats such as mullet. Mullet fish is a member of the Mugilidae family belongs to catadromous species. The objective of this study was to investigate the bioaccumulation of trace elements in muscle tissues of mullet taken from estuaries in the southern coast of Yogyakarta. Sampling of mullet fish was carried out in two river estuaries namely Bogowonto and Opak river estuaries. In the present work, the concentration of trace elements such as Cr (Chromium), Cd (Cadmium), Cu (Copper), Fe (Iron), Mn (Manganese), Zn (Zinc), Pb (Lead) in mullet muscle samples were carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Cu (Copper), Zn (Zinc) and Fe (Iron) were detected in mullet muscle from the Opak and Bogowonto River estuary. However, Pb (Lead), Cr (Chromium), Cd (Cadmium) and Mn (Manganese) were not detected in mullet samples from both locations.

Keywords: biomonitoring, estuary, habitat, trace elements

EFFECT OF COMBINATION NITROGEN ENRICHMENT WITH DIFFERENT PH LEVEL ON GROWTH OF MICROALGAE, CHLOROCOCCUM SP.

Mustafa Emienour-Muzalina^1*, Mohd Musir Nur¹

¹Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

^*Corresponding author: emie@umt.edu.my

Microalgae, Chlorococcum sp. act as a primary producer in food chain and produce oxygen via photosynthesis in the aquatic ecosystem. Nitrogen is one of the most critical nutrients affecting cell growth and pH level is necessary to decide the solubility and availability of carbon dioxide and essential nutrients, and it can have a major impact on algal metabolism. The objective of this study is to assess the growth of Chlorococcum sp. grown in different pH level, nitrogen content and combination of different pH and nitrogen content for 12 days. Chlorococcum sp. was cultured in Bold Basal Medium (BBM) containing different concentration of nitrogen, pH levels and combination of different nitrogen & pH level in 2.0L glass bottles. Growth of Chlorococcum sp. based on chlorophyll a, carotenoid, optical density at 620nm (OD_620nm), biomass, biomass productivity, specific growth rate and dry weight were measured. Nutrient parameters such as ammonia, nitrite and phosphate concentration were also analysed. Based on the results, Chlorococcum sp. grown in BBM medium containing 1250mg/L NaNO₃ with pH6.5 have the highest chlorophyll a (21.3567mg/L), carotenoid (10.0360 µg/mL), biomass (1430.9014mg/L), biomass productivity (117.8794 mg/L/day) and specific growth rate of 1.0937 day^-1. Therefore, in conclusion, it is showed that Chlorococcum sp. can grow well in high nitrogen content and can adapt to the acidic pH level, which indicated that Chlorococcum sp. was able to tolerate in harsh condition of eutrophication and acidic condition due to climate change effect that may occur at the same time.

Keywords: microalgae, Chlorococcum sp, nutrient enrichment, growth, Climate change

GENDER MAPPING IN PHILIPPINE FISHERIES: EXPOSING THE HIDDEN BACKBONE OF THE PHILIPPINE SARDINE INDUSTRY

 Ariel S. Sefil1, Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap1*, Harold M. Monteclaro2, Ernestina M. Peralta1, Ruby P. Napata3, Tabitha Ann Famatid2

1Institute of Fish Processing Technology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines

2Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines

3Institute of Fisheries Policy and Development Studies, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines Corresponding author: esyap@up.edu.ph

The sardine industry is one of the important fisheries industries in the Philippines contributing major economic activities to the local stakeholders. Along the supply chain, men and women play specific roles which are often overlooked. To uncover these roles, this study conducted face-to-face surveys, focus group discussions, and field observations in nine (9) regions in the Philippines. Results revealed that in the production sector, 143 out of 162 fishers who participated in the survey are men who are directly involved in actual fishing. Women are only involved in minor roles such as sorting of freshly caught sardines, mending of nets and making ice for fishers. In the post-production sector, however, it is notably dominated by women who play critical roles in primary trading, processing, marketing, and distribution. Of the 180 processors surveyed, 108 of them are women who are in charge of arranging sardines on the drying trays while men are involved in carrying fish containers and turning of trays to facilitate drying. In trading fresh sardines, both men and women are involved but most of the ambulant vendors in the community are women (35 women out of 55 respondents). Moreover, majority of the plant workers interviewed are women (32 women out of 54 respondents) who are involved in preparing sardines, filling up of bottles with oil, decorating the bottles, and checking and other control measures to ensure food safety and quality. Men are assigned in lifting, manual labor, brining, drying, initial cooking, filling and capping of bottles, and retort boiling. In terms of pay, however, men generally receive higher pay due to their ‘heavy’ workload as compared to their women counterparts. With these findings, it is recommended that policies and programs should be aligned to the needs of each sector while promoting fair and sustainable economic opportunities for both genders.

Keywords: Men, women, Philippine sardine industry, gender mapping

ESTIMATION OF ALBACORE TUNA POTENTIAL FISHING ZONES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN INDIAN OCEAN

 Suciadi C. Nugroho1,2, Riza Y. Setiawan1*, Djumanto1, Susilo B. Priyono2 1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta,

Indonesia

2Research Institute for Tuna Fisheries, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Republik of Indonesia, Bali, Indonesia

*Corresponding author: riza.y.setiawan@ugm.ac.id

Albacore tuna is a commercial fish species whose management is regulated globally by the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (SSC) are the indicators typically used to determine fish suitability habitat based on the catch data. The present research attempted to identify optimal habitats for albacore tuna in the southeastern Indian Ocean by analyzing the 2006–2019 directly recorded data from tuna longline vessels (on board observer) as well as remote sensing data of optimum interpolation sea surface temperature (OISST) Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and sea surface chlorophyll-a of Aqua MODIS. The habitat suitability index (HSI) of albacore tuna was examined using generalized additive model (GAM). The results suggested that albacore tuna inhabited waters with SST range of 15-26 °C and surface chlorophyll-a concentration of 0.075–0.125 mg/m3. Higher latitudes of 20°-30° S are where albacore tuna are captured most frequently.

Keywords: albacore tuna, chlorophyll-a, sea surface temperature, habitat suitability, Indian Ocean