scholarly journals Spatial and Short-Term Temporal Patterns of Octocoral Assemblages in the West Philippine Sea

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jue Alef A. Lalas ◽  
Romina Therese S. Lim ◽  
Joey P. Cabasan ◽  
Christine S. Segumalian ◽  
Rhea Mae A. Luciano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variations ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Taxonomic Richness ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The West ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
West Philippine Sea ◽  
Study Sites

Octocorals are relatively understudied than other coral reef organisms despite their ecological and economic values. The Philippines is known to have high marine biodiversity, but information on octocorals is lacking. This study investigated spatial and temporal variations in the assemblage of octocorals in selected reef sites in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)- the Kalayaan Island Group (i.e., Pag-asa, Sabina, Lawak, and Northeast Investigator) and Ulugan in 2017 and 2019. Results showed high octocoral taxonomic richness (at least 10 families) in the study sites. Mean percent octocoral cover in WPS was 5.35% SE ± 0.55, with Sabina having the highest octocoral cover in both years. Significant differences in octocoral cover were observed among sites in both years, but among-station differences were only observed in 2017. Octocoral assemblage also differed among sites in both years (ANOSIM: R > 0.5, p < 0.05), wherein different octocoral taxa dominated in different sites. In particular, variations were driven by high cover of holaxonians, nephtheids, and coelogorgiids in Sabina, and clavulariids, tubiporiids, and xeniids in Northeast Investigator in 2017. In 2019, significant variations were driven by high cover of helioporiids in Pag-asa, while Sabina had higher abundance of holaxonians, nephtheids, alcyoniids, and xeniids. Short-term temporal variation on octocoral cover in monitoring stations in Pag-asa was not observed (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05), although the overall mean octocoral cover increased from 1.23% ± SE 0.47 in 2017 to 2.09% SE ± 0.37 in 2019. Further, there was no significant change in the octocoral assemblage in Pag-asa between years (ANOSIM, R = 0.11, p = 0.07). This study highlights high octocoral taxonomic richness in the WPS relative to other sites in the Indo-Pacific Region and provides baseline information on the octocoral assemblages, which can be useful for future ecological studies and marine biodiversity conservation efforts.

Infodemics and Deadly Racist Viruses: covid-19 Response in the Chinese-Filipino Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-185
Author(s):  
Teresita Ang See
Keyword(s):  
The Philippines ◽  
Illegal Immigrants ◽  
The West ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
Positive Action ◽  
Chinese Workers ◽  
West Philippine Sea ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Way

Abstract In the last decade, the Philippines has experienced an escalation of anti-Chinese sentiment due to many factors, founded and unfounded. The growing presence of illegal immigrants and crimes associated with them; an increase in the number of Chinese workers, who are perceived as competing with Filipino workers; an increase in Chinese businesses, especially in retail, some operating without permits; the continuing dispute between China and the Philippines over the islands in the West Philippine Sea; President Rodrigo Duterte’s China pivot policy and what has been deemed as favoring China to the detriment of the Philippines. This confluence of events has served to worsen the image of China. The covid-19 pandemic and the way the government responded to it worsened the sinophobia directed at anyone considered “Chinese,” including Filipinos of Chinese ancestry. This paper explores the racism vented against the Chinese and how the local Chinese-Filipino community has responded with positive action to help mitigate the anti-Chinese wave.

scholarly journals Similarity in benthic habitat and fish assemblages in the upper mesophotic and shallow water reefs in the West Philippine Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
pp. 1507-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Joseph R. Quimpo ◽  
Patrick C. Cabaitan ◽  
Kevin Thomas B. Go ◽  
Edwin E. Dumalagan ◽  
Cesar L. Villanoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
The West ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
West Philippine Sea ◽  
Benthic Composition

AbstractThe South China Sea (SCS) is a biodiversity hotspot, however, most biodiversity surveys in the region are confined to shallow water reefs. Here, we studied the benthic habitat and fish assemblages in the upper mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–40 m) and SWRs (8–22 m) at three geographic locations (Luzon Strait; Palawan; and the Kalayaan Group of Islands) in the eastern SCS (also called the West Philippine Sea) using diver-based survey methods. Mean coral genera and fish species richness ranged from 17–25 (per 25 m2) and 11–17 (per 250 m2) in MCEs, respectively; although none of these were novel genera/species. Coral and fish assemblages were structured more strongly by location than by depth. Location differences were associated with the variability in benthic composition, wherein locations with higher hard coral cover had higher coral genera richness and abundance. Locations with higher algae and sand cover had higher diversity and density of fish herbivores and benthic invertivores. Fishing efforts may also have contributed to among-location differences as the highly exploited location had the lowest fish biomass. The low variation between depths may be attributed to the similar benthic composition at each location, the interconnectivity between depths due to hydrological conditions, fish motility, and the common fishing gears used in the Philippines that can likely extend beyond SWRs. Results imply that local-scale factors and anthropogenic disturbances probably dampen across-depth structuring in coral genera and fish species assemblages.

A Preliminary Assessment on the Herpetofaunal Diversity of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), Batangas Philippines

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Ecological Community ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Taal Volcano ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Study Sites

The Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) encompasses a prehistoric volcano caldera that caters to many documented endemic species. Although regarded as a unique area with the potential to house a diverse ecological community, biodiversity research in TVPL is still found wanting. The present paper aims to provide baseline information and increase research interests on the herpetofaunal diversity of TVPL, in light of its many undocumented terrestrial faunal species. Twelve study sites within the municipalities of Tanauan, Mataasnakahoy, and Balete were visited during survey trips from May to November 2015. A combination of transect and opportunistic sampling techniques were utilized, with morphometric data and sexual maturity recorded for each specimen collected. This preliminary survey provided 24 newly documented species of amphibians and reptiles occurring within TVPL. A total 10 frog species (from families Bufonidae, Ceratobatrachidae, Microhylidae, Dicroglossidae, Ranidae, and Rhacophoridae) and 14 reptile species (from families Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Acrochordidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, and Tryonychidae) were documented. Of the reptiles recorded, 3 are endemic species and widespread throughout the Philippines: Gekko mindorensis, Hydrosaurus pustulatus, and Draco spilopterus. Also recorded were the Philippine endemic frogs Kaloula picta and Limnonectes woodworthi along with the Luzon endemics Platymantis mimulus and Varanus marmoratus. The species-effort curve of amphibians showed a distinct plateau whereas the species-effort curve of reptiles has shown an increasing trend suggesting that additional sampling efforts should be done in the area to further increase knowledge of the TVPL herpetofaunal diversity.

Paleoproductivity evolution in the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Tang ◽  
Tiegang Li ◽  
Fengming Chang ◽  
Qingyun Nan ◽  
Qing Li
Keyword(s):  
The West ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
West Philippine Sea

scholarly journals Tintinnids (Ciliophora, Oligotrichea) within power plant discharge and marine protected areas in Masinloc-Oyon Bay

Check List ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1533-1539
Author(s):  
Jane Abigail Santiago ◽  
Ma Carmen Ablan-Lagman
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Species Diversity Index ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
West Philippine Sea

There are only five studies on tintinnids of the Philippines. We present a checklist of tintinnids (Ciliophora, Oligotrichea) from Masinloc-Oyon Bay, Province of Zambales, West Philippine Sea. Masinloc-Oyon Bay is a unique in having both marine protected areas and a coal-fired thermal power plant within the same bay. Field sampling was performed in July 2017, which recorded 10 species belonging to one order, six families, and seven genera. Station 1 inside the power plant’s outfall had the lowest diversity, whereas the stations within marine protected areas had a relatively higher species diversity index. Our new data are the first records of tintinnid species in Masinloc-Oyon Bay. These records add to the regional checklist of the Philippine Sea.

scholarly journals The tug‐of‐war between the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea Tropical Waters and Intermediate Waters in the Okinawa Trough

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 1736-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen‐Tung Arthur Chen ◽  
Ya‐Ting Yeh ◽  
Tetsuo Yanagi ◽  
Yan Bai ◽  
Xianqiang He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Okinawa Trough ◽  
The West ◽  
Tropical Waters ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
The Okinawa Trough ◽  
West Philippine Sea ◽  
Intermediate Waters

Vertical Movements, Behavior and Habitat Utilization of Adult Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) Tagged in West Philippine Sea, Mindoro Island, Philippines

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edison D. Macusi ◽  
Ricardo P. Babaran ◽  
Jose T. Ingles
Keyword(s):  
Total Duration ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Habitat Utilization ◽  
Yellowfin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Albacares ◽  
Vertical Movements ◽  
Deep Dive ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
West Philippine Sea ◽  
Mindoro Island

This paper describes the vertical movements, behavior and habitat utilization of an electronically tagged adult yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) after 17 days of liberty in the Philippines based on analyses of 23,845 datapoints recorded from a recovered electronic popup tag. The exhaustive set provides a way to describe the vertical movement as well as a range of behaviors exhibited by the fish. We used the daily time records of depth and temperature from the vertical dives of the fish at different times of the day (nocturnal, dawn, diurnal, dusk) to describe fish behavior and to characterize its three deep dives. The fish stayed 23% and 24% of its time at warmer waters of 28 0C and 30 0C. It also spent 15% of its time at 26 0C and 10% of its time at colder waters of 20 0C and 22 0C. The daily differences in temperatures fluctuated from 12.10C to 30.1 0C with the daily average temperature of 24.2 0C. Swimming speeds determined show the maximum vertical ascent speed that the fish registered reached 1.53m/s swimming from a depth of 195m to 104m during a dusk. The maximum vertical descent speed reached 1.38m/s from a depth of 78m down to 161m. The deepest dive of the fish started from a U-shaped diving profile that lasted for almost 32 minutes and then followed by another U-shaped dive for 12 minutes before a deep dive and fast vertical ascent. The total duration of its dives differ with water depth: 0-50m (1.89 hours), 50-75m (4.78 hours), 75-100m (3.35 hours), 100-125m (1.69 hours), 125-150m (1.69 hours). Such swimming behavior provides valuable information on the vulnerability of tunas particularly the juvenile fishery.   Keywords - Archival tag, fish aggregating device (FAD), Mindoro Island, West Philippine Sea, Yellowfin tuna, Philippines

scholarly journals The isotopic composition of dissolved cadmium in the water column of the West Philippine Sea

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun-Chung Yang ◽  
Der-Chuen Lee ◽  
Tung-Yuan Ho ◽  
Liang-Saw Wen ◽  
Hsu-Han Yang
Keyword(s):  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
Water Column ◽  
The West ◽  
Philippine Sea ◽  
West Philippine Sea
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