International Conference on Emerging Trends in Computer and Image Processing (ICETCIP'2014) Dec. 15-16, 2014 Pattaya (Thailand) Assessment of Marine Resources in the University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman, Northern Samar Divina M. Galenzoga, and Geraldine A. Quinones Part of the coastline of UEP, where there is fine white sand Abstract—This study aimed to assess the marine resources of and panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, is developed. It is the University in terms of the following: algae, birds,corals, made into UEP White Beach Resort. Local and foreign crustaceans, echinoderms, fishes, mangroves, molluscs, seagrasses, tourists, faculty members, and students are welcomed to the and sponges; determine their abundance and distribution; determine resort. The resort is located near the exit gate (landmark) of the environmental parameters, ie. pH, current, temperature, salinity the University. The part of the coastline which is not and substrate; and determine their economic uses. The study was developed lay the mangrove areas, the coralline seashore, and conducted during the first semester SY 2014-2015 (June-October, 2014). There were 18 species of algae, 7 species of birds, 10 species the fishing ground of the people. The coastline runs around of corals, 17 species of crustaceans, 16 species of echinoderms, 10 5km parallel to the National Highway species of fishes, 20 species of mangroves, 27 species of molluscs, 7 species of seagrasses, and 2 species of sponges. Most abundant alga II. OBJECTIVES - Sargassum cristaefolium; bird -Egretta sacra; coral - Porite slutea; The objectives of this study are: crustacean - Pagurus longicarpus; echinoderm- Archaster rtypicus; 1. To identify the marine resources of a University Town fish – Siganus virgatus; mangrove - Rhizophora apiculata; mollusk – Cypraea moneta; seagrass – Thalassia hemprechii; and sponge- in terms of: algae, birds, corals, crustaceans, Halichondria panicea. All the environmental parameters were at echinoderms, fishes, mangroves, molluscs, seagrasses, normal range during the time of sampling. Substrates were variable and sponges.; as muddy, sandy, and rocky. Marine resources of the University 2. To determine their abundance and distribution; were used for food, for sale, for pet, for house decoration, for fuel, 3. To determine the environmental parameters, i.e. pH, for body ornaments, and for biological research and studies. The coastlines of the University may still be considered diverse and current, temperature, salinity and substrate;and abundant, and also not polluted, because of the presence of some 4. To determine the economic uses of these marine marine organisms that inhabit in it. resources to the people living in the coastlines Keywords—Abundance, assessment, environmental parameters, III. METHODOLOGY marine resources. The study was conducted during the first semester SY 2014-2015 (June-October 2014) along the 5km stretch of the I. INTRODUCTION University coastlines. The descriptive method of research was HE community where University of Eastern Philippines is applied using stratified random sampling. For sessile marine Tfound is known as the University Town. The school organisms, five transect lines were laid out along the covers 382 hectares, of which 20 hectares is the school coastlines from the landward, leeward, to seaward at a campus The University of Eastern Philippines is a university distance of 50m. The intervals of the transects were 100m. by the sea. The University Town is composed of three zones, Five quadrats of 1 x 1 sq. meter was laid out in the transect. i.e. three barangays: UEP Zone I, UEP Zone II, and UEP All the sessile marine organisms in the quadrat were Zone III. The first two barangays lie in the coastal area, identified, counted and get sample of representative whereas the third barangay is located on the mountain/hill organisms of each species.Preliminary identification was area opposite the coastline[1]. conducted using field guides, references, and textbooks. Final This University lies along the National Highway, almost identification was made at the College of Science Laboratory, midway between the two municipalities of Catarman and University of Eastern Philippines.For mobile organisms, Mondragon, Northern Samar. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean sampling was done with the use of fine-meshed net/plankton on one side, and a reserve primary forest on the other side. It net, fishing net, and catching by hands. can be reached by water, land, and air transportation [2]. Sampling was made once a month to get the average of the environmental parameters; i.e. June, July, August, September, Divina M. Galenzoga and Geraldine A. Quinones are with the College of and October. The sampling sites were visited an hour before Science, University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman, Northern Samar, 6400 Philippines (e-mail: [email protected] and aldine [email protected]). the time of low tide to allow considerable amount of time to 70 International Conference on Emerging Trends in Computer and Image Processing (ICETCIP'2014) Dec. 15-16, 2014 Pattaya (Thailand) observe the marine organisms in their natural habitat and 9. Jania dessucato-dichotoma 10.Gelidiella acerosa record observations. For getting the data of environmental 11.Gracillaria salicornia parameters, i.e. pH, current, temperature, salinity and 12.Halimeda opuntia substrate; some materials and hand-held apparatuses were 13.Venticaria ventricosa 14.Caulerpa racemosa used, like the pH meter, refractometer, secchi disc, calibrated 15.Caulerpa lentillifera string/rope, and thermometer. 16.Ulva lactuca To answer the economic uses, a semi-structured 17.Halimeda macrolaba 18.Enteromorpha clathrata interview schedule in English, and translated into Samarnon dialect, was made. Older residents living near the coastlines B. Birds 1. Egretta sacra Chinese egret were interviewed. 2. Butorides striatus Little heron 3. Actitis hypoleucos Common sandpiper 4. Arenaria interpres Ruddy turnstone 5. Treron vernans Pink-necked green pigeon 6. Nectarinia jugularis Olive-backed sunbird 7. Rhipidura javanica Pied fantail C. Corals 1. Actinia equine Beadlet anemone 2. Actinia fragacea Strawberry anemone 3. Anemonia viridis Snakelocks anemone 4. Haliclona oculata Finer sponge 5. Physalia physalis Portuguese man-of-war 6. Aurelia aurita Moon jellyfish 7. Gorgonia sp. Sea fan 8. Acropora cervicornis Staghorn coral Fig.1. UEP White Beach Resort 9. Millepora alcicornis Fire coral 10.Porites porites Club finger coral 11.Diploria labyrinthiformis Labyrinthin brain coral IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 12.Porites lutea Massive coral A. Marine Resources of the University D. Crustaceans 1. Palaemon serratus Common prawn a) There were 18species of algae belonging to 12 2. Athanas nitescens Hooded shrimp genera. 3. Crangon crangon Edible shrimp 4. Penaeus duorarum Pink shrimp b) There were 7species of birds belonging to 7 genera. 5. Penaeus aztecus Brown shrimp c) There were 12 species of corals belonging to 10 6. Hippolyte varians Chamaeleon prawn genera. 7. Pagurus bernhardus Common hermit crab d) There were 17 species of crustaceansbelonging to 13 8. Pagurus longicarpus Long-clawed hermit crab genera. 9. Pagurus granosimanus Grainy hermit crab 10.Hyasco arctatus Lesser spider crab e) There were 16 species of echinodermsbelonging to 11.Cancer pagurus Edible crab 18 genera. 12.Cancer productus Red crab f) There were 10 species of fishes belonging to 8 13.Necora puber Swimming crab genera. 14.Carcinus maenas Shore crab 15.Pilumnus hirtellus Hairy crab g) There were 20 species of mangrovesbelonging to 11 16.Crabcallinectes sapidus Blue crab genera. 17.Libiniae margimata Common spider crab h) There were 27 species of molluscsbelonging to 20 E. Echinoderms genera. 1. Asterina gibbosa Cushion star i) There were 7 species of seagrassesbelonging to 5 2. Asterias forbesi Common starfish genera. 3. Asterias vulgaris Northern sea star 4. Ophiothrix fragilis Brittle star j) There were 2 species of sponges belonging to 2 5. Ophiocoma erenaceus Black brittle star genera 6. Echinus esculentus Edible sea urchin 7. Ophiopholis aculeata Daisy brittle star TABLE 1 8. Diadema antillarum Long-spined urchin MARINE RESOURCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES 9. Echinarachnius parma Common sand dollar Marine Resources English Name 10.Dendraster sp. Sand dollar 11.Nardoa turbiculata Warty mesh starfish A. Algae 12.Holothuria hilla Sea cucumber 1. Ulva reticulata 13.Echinometra mathari Rock sea urchin 2. Chaetomorpha crassa 14.Ophiorachnella gorgonia Green brittle star 3. Padina australis 15.Echinothrix calamaris Double spine brittle star 4.Padina minor 16.Archaster typicus Typical starfish 5. Sargassum cristaefolium 6. Sargassum gracillimum F. Fishes 7. Sargassum hemiphyllum 1. Siganus virgatus Virgate rabbitfish 8. Sargassum ilicifolium 2. Siganus canaliculatus White dotted rabbitfish 71 International Conference on Emerging Trends in Computer and Image Processing (ICETCIP'2014) Dec. 15-16, 2014 Pattaya (Thailand) 3. Siganus argenteus Forktailrabbitfish 4. Hippocampus sp. Seahorse 5. Gazza minuta Toothed pony fish 6. Halichoeres melanochir Purple wrasse 7. Mugil cephalus Flathead mullet 8. Ambly gastersirm Spotted sardinella 9. Abudefduf variegiensis Seargent major 10.Arothronigro punctatus Black spotted pufferfish G. Mangroves 1. Nypa fruticans 2. Avicennia lanata 3. Avicennia alba 4. Avicennia marina 5. Ceriops decandra 6. Ceriops tagal 7. Rhizophora apiculata Fig. 2 The UEP Coastline 8. Rhizophora stylosa 9. Rhizophora mucronata