Angela Denise P. Bilbao, Hazel Mae A. Castor, Audrey Anne C. Laglagaron (March 2008)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Seagrasses are flowering marine plants that form extensive meadows in saline environments. In the Philippines, Enhalus acoroides is one of the most prominent species in mixed seagrass beds, they are sensitive bioindicators of the condition of the whole estuarine ecosystem.
Chlorophyll is the green molecule in plant cells that carries out the bulk of energy fixation in he process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll concentration is affected by a variety of ecological factors. Previous studies have shown that epiphytes have a detrimental effect on the light attenuation of seagrasses. However, this study explores the correlation between the epiphyte loads to the Chlorophyll a content of the seagrass, Enhalus acoroides.
Chlorophyll a content was obtained with the use of a Spectrophotometer. Chlorophyll was extracted using commercial grade acetone and petroleum Ether. Seagrass epiphytes were scraped and filtered. The dry weight was measured in terms of g/cm2.
The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) showed a negative correlationship between epiphytic load and chlorophyll a content. The value that was obtained for the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r), was -0.27. There is no significant correlationship between the epiphytic load and chlorophyll a content of the seagrass Enhalus acoroides.