Marine Biology Educational Fieldtrip

Puerto Galera, Mindoro Philippines

Submitted to: Mr. Richard Magsino

Submitted by: Group 6 Querubin, Auline E. Saavedra, Arvin Q. Sakamoto, Haruka D. Soldevilla, Ablyn L. Velasquez, Josh Nicole M.

October 2013

I. Introduction Puerto Galera is the northwestern most municipalities in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is located in the southwestern end of the Isla Verde Passage, about 130 kilometers south of Manila. This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket and many snorkeling and scuba diving spots. Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and the White Beach that will serve as a place to stay for the whole class. A lot of activities were set to be explored like observing different ecosystems such as the mangrove ecosystem, coral reef ecosystem, sea grass ecosystem, and lastly the intertidal ecosystem. Aside from observing the ecosystems, the group also observed and identified the organisms inhabiting each ecosystem. This activity helped the students appreciate more the marine diversity of Puerto Galera and further understand the nature of marine organisms. II. Objectives III. Materials A. Mangrove Observation Pail 70% Ethanol Jars/Canister Digital Camera B. Coral Reef Observation (Snorkeling) Proper swimming attire Swimming goggles Snorkel C. Intertidal Observation Proper swimming attire Swimming goggles Snorkel Pail Jars/Canisters 70% Ethanol Digital Camera To identify and observe the intertidal region and other marine ecosystem present in Puerto Galera. To observe species present in the marine ecosystems of Puerto Galera. To identify differences between the different marine ecosystems observed in Puerto Galera. To provide activity - related pictures taken during the field exploration in Puerto Galera.

IV. Methodology The site of study, Puerto Galera, was located on the islands of Mindoro, 2 hours travel starting from Batangas up to the destination. To travel on waters, a tour motor boat was taken from Batangas pier upto the Mindoros shore, Puerto Galera. A. Mangrove Observation The researchers went to mangrove forest, Minolo. General characteristics of the mangrove forest were observed, the sand color, water color and odor was included in observations. Species present in the area was studied; lifestyle, defense mechanism and adaptations were noted; a sample of each species found was collected and was preserve in 70% ethanol to obtain raw data for the mangrove observation. B. Coral Reef Observation (Snorkeling) The coral reefs of Puerto Galera were observed via snorkeling. The researchers are equipped with proper swimming attire, swimming goggles and snorkel. Snorkeling was done with authorities for safety precautions. During the activity, species found under the water was observed and analyzed. C. Intertidal Observation Intertidal observation was done during low tide to allow the researchers to reach the bottom of the waters to obtain samples. The intertidal observation was done with authorities for safety precautions. The authorities brought the researchers in an intertidal area located near the shore of a neighbor island. Researchers were equipped with swimming goggles and snorkel to allow them to obtain data and observations. Samples of each species found were collected and was preserved in 70% ethanol.

V. Data and Results A. Organisms found in the Coral Reef and Intertidal Ecosystem Scientific name: Linckia laevigata Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Asteroidea Order: Valvatida Family: Ophidiasteridae Genus: Linckia Species: L. laevigata Description: It is sometimes called the "blue Linckia" or blue star. It is a species of sea star found in the shallow waters of tropical Indo-Pacific. The variation most commonly found is pure, dark, or light blue, although observers find the aqua, purple, or orange variation throughout the ocean. These sea stars may grow up to 30 cm in diameter, with rounded tips at each of the arms. An inhabitant of coral reefs and sea grass beds, this species is relatively common and is typically found in sparse density throughout its range. Blue stars live subtidally, or sometimes intertidally, on fine (sand) or hard substrata and move relatively slow. Scientific name: Tripneustes gratilla Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Echinoidea Order: Temnopleuroida Family: Toxopneustidae Genus: Tripneustes Species: T. gratilla Description: It is also called the collector urchin. Collector urchins are found at depths of 2 to 30 meters in the waters of the Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, and the Red Sea. They can reach 10 to 15 centimeters in size. They are dark in color, usually bluishpurple with white spines. The pedicles are also white, with a dark or black base. This color

disappears when the individual dies or is taken out of the ocean, and is difficult to preserve. Scientific name: Euapta lappa Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Holothuroidea Order: Apodida Family: Synaptidae Genus: Euapta Species: E. lappa Description: It is also called the beaded sea cucumber. It is usually found on coral reefs. In appearance, the beaded sea cucumber resembles a long worm rather than a sea cucumber. It can reach up to a meter in length and has a diameter of up to 4 cm. It lengthens and shortens repeatedly and when disturbed, the normally flaccid body retracts vigorously to a fraction of its original length. Little hooks project from these ossicles and make the body feel sticky to the touch. The body color is pale brown or grey, often with white flecks or darker, longitudinal streaks and transverse banding. Scientific name: Xenia sp. Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Order: Alcyonaria Family: Xenidale Genus: Xenia Species: Xenia sp. Description: Xenia is a stalky coral with a soft fleshy body or polyp. Each polyp consists of eight tentacles which look like a feather. The stalks are usually white or semitransparent in color. The feathery looking polyp comes in various colors such as light brown, green, cream, blue, red, pink, white with tan or light brown being the most common color. They are usually found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Scientific name: Arcopora cytherea Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Order: Scleratinia Family: Acroporidae Genus: Acropora Species: A. cytherea Description: Acropora cytherea is a stony coral which forms horizontal table like structures. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean in areas with little wave action, favoring back reef environments from 3 to 20 m depth. The surface of the coral is covered by a thin layer of living tissue. This has a rough surface and contains zooxanthellae, symbiotic, unicellular, photosynthetic algae. These give the coral its cream or pale brown color. It is one of the most plentiful members of the genus Acropora.It is found below low tide mark in clear shallow water with little wave action, in lagoons and upper reef slopes and back reef slopes. Scientific name: Fungia fungites Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Order: Scleratinia Family: Fungiidae Genus: Fungia Species: F. fungites Description: It also called mushroom coral and is found growing on reefs in the Indo-Pacific. It is solitary, some attaining 30 centimeters (12 in) in diameter. They are found in various bright colors including white, pink, red, purple, blue and yellow and are popular with keepers of reef aquariums. The discs are either round or oval and the central mouth, which is surrounded by tentacles, may be a slit. The

polyp sits in a calcareous cup, the corallite. The septae are vertical skeletal elements inside the corallite wall and the costae join the septae and continue outside the corallites.

Scientific name: Protoreaster nodosus Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Asteroidea Order: Valvatida Family: Oreasteridae Genus: Protoreaster Species: P. nodosus Description: A species of sea star found in the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Also known as "horned" or "Chocolate Chip" sea stars, they possess rows of spines or "horns"; black conical points arranged in a single row, radially on the dorsal side, which may erode and become blunt. These dark protrusions are used to scare away possible predators, by looking frightening or dangerous. Most horned sea stars found are a roughly rigid five-pointed star-shape with tapering arms to the end and they may grow up to 30 centimetres in diameter. The sea stars are usually colored in shades of red or brown, but can be light tan, the color of cookie dough. This appearance, combined with the small horns on its dorsal side, give the sea star a look similar to that of a bumpy cookie.

Image from Wikipedia.com

Scientific name: Diadema setosum Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Echinoidea Order: Diadematoida Family: Diadematidae Genus: Diadema Species: D. setosum Description: A species of long-spined sea urchin belonging to the family Diadematidae. It is a typical sea urchin, with extremely long, hollow spines that are mildly venomous. D. setosum differs from other Diadema with five, characteristic white dots that can be found on its body. The species can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from Australia and Africa to Japan and the Red Sea.

Hermit Crab

Feather Star

B. Mangroves and mangrove related organisms

Scientific name: Acanthocardia tuberculata Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Veneroida Family: Cardiidae Genus: Acanthocardia Species: A. tuberculata Description: The shell of Acanthocardia tuberculata can reach a size of about 95 mm. This shell is robust, equivalve, inflated and slightly inequilateral, with crenulated margins. The surface shows 18-20 strong radial ribs, with rows of spiny nodules. The basic coloration is usually pale brown with alternating darker concentric bands.

Scientific name: Astarte borealis Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Veneroida Family: Astartidae Genus: Astarte Species: A. borealis Description: Shell solid, equivalve; almost equilateral, beaks just in front of the midline, directed inwards and slightly forwards, the umbones are often eroded. Variable in outline from almost circular to broadly oval. White. Periostracum very darkbrown to almost black in adults; light brown in juveniles.

Scientific name: Scylla serrata Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Portunidae Genus: Scylla Species: S. serrata Description: Scylla serrata (often called mud crab or mangrove crab, although both terms are highly ambiguous, as well as black crab) is an economically important species of crab found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Australia and Asia. In their most common form, the shell colour varies from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown.

Mangrove crabs are crabs that live among mangroves, and may belong to many different species and even families. They have been shown to be ecologically significant in many ways. They keep much of the energy within the forest by burying and consuming leaf litter. Along with burrowing in the ground, these crustaceans can climb trees to protect themselves. The hermit crab and the mangrove crab are the only crustaceans that can climb trees as a defense mechanism. Furthermore, their feces may form the basis of a coprophagous food chain contributing to mangrove secondary production.

Hermit Crab Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Portunidae Suborder: Pleocyemata Superfamily: Paguroidea Description: Most of the 1100 species possess an asymmetrical abdomen which is concealed in an empty gastropod shell that is carried around by the hermit crab.

Scientific name: Cerithidea decollata Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Family: Potamididae Genus: Cerithidea Species: C. decollate Description: Cerithidea decollata, common name the truncated mangrove snail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Potamididae. This species is common in coastal mangrove forests, particularly near Avicennia marina trees

VI. Summary The splendor of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro does not only coincide with its white sand and exquisite sceneries but it is truly a home of great beauty and fascinating marine biodiversity. Puerto Galera is Philippine's best known scuba diving destination because its renowned for its stunning variety of marine life. One of the objectives of the trip was to visit, observe and explore the different ecosystems each with its own uniqueness and diversity. The first destination was the mangroves ecosystem; it is highly abundant in terms of faunal organisms such as different species of crabs and hermit crabs, snails, small clams, etc. Some needed a keen observation to catch them in motion. It has also accommodated at least nine to ten species of mangroves and noticeably, species richness is quite present among them but what's saddening to find out is that the area covering the "bakawan" has been critically polluted with human run-offs and garbage. It seemed like that the pathway to the region turned out to be a sewage canal and waters have been darkly turbid and became smelly yet these organisms still fight to thrive in this situation and they must be rendered with assistance by the nearby residents for the ecosystem to continue to survive. On the other hand, hovering over the highly diversified coral reef regions through snorkeling was an overwhelming and captivating experience, seeing collection of numerous fishes, corals and invertebrates possessing vast range of hues and colors combined with their delicate forms and structures was very endearing to witness as well as the various interactions between species occurring in it. Beside these coral reefs were the wide array of common seagrasses (Thalassia hemprichii), their texture felt soft yet slimy and they were well-rooted from the ground with few fishes thriving on it. However, some of its parts were already dead. Last on the list was the intertidal zone. Though witnessing of low tide was not observed, upon looking underwater mesmerizing marine life still awaits where small fishes inhabits the soft corals, sea cucumbers residing on the sand, dominating numbers of blue starfishes and camouflaging hermit crabs on rock corals. Puerto Galera along with is natural marine magnificence will soon be gone if not protected, these Waves are the voices of tides. Tides are life. Tamora Pierce said, different environmental pressures, stresses and threats are now faced by the waters and some have already been destroyed and are continuously being de stroyed. Dont lose the cupcake ingredients that once made you feel a pinch of heaven. (Velasquez, 2013). Dont let one of Gods magnificent representations be missed by the next generations. Lets render care and love for them. VII. Conclusion The marine ecosystems observed in Puerto Galera were Mangrove ecosytem, Intertidal ecosystem, Seagrass ecosystem, and Coral reef ecosystem. The Mangrove ecosystem located in Minolo has several mangrove species like black mangrove, red

mangrove and white mangrove. The mangrove ecosystem is located near the shore where the soil is muddy instead of sandy. Stilt, knee and pencil roots were common among the mangroves found in Minolo. Stilt roots were usually found in areas partially submerged in water while the knee and pencil roots were commonly found in dry areas. Mangrove related organisms include hermit crabs, mudskippers, mangrove crabs, clams, and snails. The intertidal ecosystem was not thoroughly observed because of the typhoon and low tide did not occur. Seagrass ecosystem was found near the shore .The seagrass that was observed was Thalassium hemprichii. The meadow of Thalassium hemprichii housed several organisms including small fishes, small starfishes and crabs. The coral reef ecosystem was the most beautiful ecosystem observed. They were hard corals, soft corals, sea anemones, starfishes, sea urchins, colorful fishes and sea cucumbers. The different marine ecosystem and marine irganisms observed in Puerto Galera showcased the beauty and richness of Filipino marine life. VIII. Recommendation For future studies, the researchers recommend to conduct the study during dry season. It is very difficult to work in the field when there are heavy rains and big waves. Instead of collecting organisms, it is better to just observe them and take pictures to avoid destruction and killing of marine life. If it is really necessary to collect species, secure a legal permit stating you are allowed to collect and bring home organisms as it is not allowed to just get and bring home samples.