APARA, KIRK VALENTIN P.; RAGALADO, PATRICIA MINETTE P. (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
Coral reefs all over the planet are currently being threatened by climate change and industrial expansion. Many coral related problems are attributed to these two phenomena are coral bleaching and disease. Government and nongovernment organizations worldwide are conducting coral surveys in order to map endangered reefs, which would lead to proper reef preservation.
This study conducted a coral survey on the coastal area of Amlan, Negros Oriental by measuring coral cover (%), substrate cover (%), salinity (ppt) and temperature (°C). Three transects, each having a length of 50 m, were laid end to end on each barangay. Quadrats were placed every five meters, and the pictures were taken approximately one meter above each quadrat. CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions) was used to calculate the coral and substrate covers. A refractometer was used to calculate salinity while a thermometer for the temperature.
The coral cover of Bio-os was 34.44% while the cover at Tandayag was51.49%. The cover at Bio-os was under fair condition (25-50%) while the cover at Tandayag was under good condition (50-75%). The exposed substrate at Bio-os was 65.56% while in Tandayag it was 48.51%. The barangays Jugno, Mag-abo and Poblacion held no corals because of the loose substrate. Temperature and salinity values throughout the coast of Amlan were relatively constant.