Nathalie Ann F. Debuque Bea G. Doplayna Ma. Lounie B. Maranan (March 2010)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Macrobenthic algae or seaweeds are marine plants classified as red, brown or green depending on their dominant photosynthetic pigment. They are economically important as source of food, feeds and raw materials for industrial products. It is the Banate Bay Resource Management Council that keeps an index of all economically important organisms in the bay but an index of seaweeds is still unavailable.
A survey of 2,400 sq m was conducted and all seaweeds found within the area were mapped and identified.
The site was chosen based on its capability to support seaweed growth A transect line with two quadrats parallel to it was set up on the site perpendicular to the shore. Each quadrat was marked using a global positioning system device. All the seaweeds found within each quadrat was counted and identified.
Only two seaweed species were found. A total of 3,843 individuals were counted, only two were recorded to be Kappaphycus striatum and the rest were all Gracilaria firma. The population density is only 1.6 seaweeds per square meter which means it is lower than the average level for a fishing ground.