Therese Marie Samantha M. delos Santos, Jessa Maria T. Genesila, Paul Dwayne T. Villalobos (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
Mangrove litter fall is an important indicator of productivity of the ecosystem which indicates the rate of biomass production. This study aimed to determine the litter fall production of mangroves in the Dungla-an Estuary in terms of the oven-dry weight of collected litter fall components: leaves, fruits, branches, stipules, flowers, and other litter debris. Litter fall traps were attached to the trunks of the twelve mangrove trees and litter fall was collected bi-weekly from April 2009 to October 2009. These litter fall samples were oven-dried at 110°C for 20 hours. Total litter fall values vary between 1.3766 g•m-2•day-1 and 7.0166 g•m-2•day-1. Leaves were the predominant contributor to litter fall mass ranging from 0.5574 g•m-2•day-1 to 5.0045 g•m-2•day-1. Stipules were the least contributor to litter fall mass ranging from 0.0000 g•m-2•day-1 to 0.0037g•m-2•day-1. The rise and fall of litter fall rates from June to September coincided with increases and decreases in rain fall and wind speed. The rise of flower and fruit litter fall rates from March to June and fro June to August respectively coincided with the corresponding flowering and fruiting seasons of the mangroves. This study may be a basis for further studies and investigations in the Dangula-an area.