on Coral Taxonomy

Way back college days, I was more inclined and interested in learning about marine plants, specifically seagrass and marine macroalgae.. more with marine macroalgae, i believe. Then, I was so fascinated with seagrass and macroalgal biology and ecology -- their chemical defense mechanisms, significance to the marine environment, and commercial importance to human. I was so into marine plants that my undergraduate thesis was focused on the review of the chemical ecology of three seagrass species that are found here in Sarangani (eleven seagrass species are found to be present in the Bay), namely, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassia hemprichii.

It was when I started to work for the Center that my field of specialization was altered. To an extent that I could hardly believe. Here, I was intoduced to the rather complex and intricate world of corals, more specifically, coral taxonomy. In fact, it was along this field of specialization that I've found one of my dearest friend: Ate Bhebz, who's also a coral specialist. She was the one who informed me that the GEF Coral Taxonomy Project, which is based at UP Marine Science Institute's Bolinao Marine Lab (BML) have been conducting coral taxonomy training. It was last year, around October, i suppose. Sadly though, I wasn't included to the approved list of participants because along the screening process, it was learned that I've also applied for the Sea Cucumber Ranching Project Research Assistantship. Conflict of interest. It was a complete heartbreaker, i really cried hard. Really hard. But then again, I have to move on. Though I was left wounded, I gathered myself up and started to do my own research for a more precise identification of corals. I've actually done this months before the said training. But the denial for my attendance on the said training gave more fuel to drive. However, my identification of corals is limited only to genus level. Can't help it. I've only meager resources. Assuredly, I won't stop studying and learning.

Porites sp.

Foliaceous Pachyseris sp.

Fire coral, Millepora sp.

Turbinaria sp. with extended polyps.

Mycedium sp.

Pectinia sp.

Foliaceous Pectinia sp. (yellow) and tabulate Acropora sp.

Euphyllia sp. with polyps retracted and extended.

Submassive Acropora sp. (although I've heard it's re-classified into Isopora sp.)

Coral Reefs: We need a chance!

Coral reef at Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province.

I really feel sorry for our coral reefs. Like any other coastal ecosystem, they are in the brink of irrepressible and inevitable peril.

A gorgonian.

For years, coral reefs have been providing unequivocal and tangible services towards the environment, and most especially to man (i.e. food security through fisheries production, tourism like diving, coastal defense from storms, reduction of soil erosion)[1].

A couple of fish taking time to be photographed.

However, for the past years, this resource is in foreboding danger, being bombarded with global problems (ocean acidification due to increase in carbon dioxide; coral bleaching and rise in sea-levelas caused by global warming; and low fisheries yield as caused by overfishing) and local threats (crown-of-thorns starfish infestation/outbreaks; algal blooms; increase in number and prevalence of diseases such as white-band disease; cyclone damage, etc.) [1].

Crown-of-thorns starfish (the one with thorny projections found over the coral) devouring a coral (Pectinia sp.?)

Until recently, their significance to man’s lives were overlooked, misled by the notion that its bounty will never be depleted, that this is an infinite resource.

Shampoo sachet in the midst of a foliaceous coral (Echinopora sp.).

Diapers: babies must have been living underwater. Mermaids perhaps?

Bits and pieces of cellophanes all over a sponge.

A coral reef is a finite and fragile resource. Like everything around us, it should be utilized sparingly, with an utmost sense of decency to leave something more from that of those that were left for us by our forefathers; such that the next generation will be able to have a better feel of the services that this ecosystem provides us.. for that, I know they will really appreciate us and perhaps, with a better perspective, they may be able to pass it on to the next generation to the next as our reefs gets better to best. The only thing they ask from us is:

Please, give us a chance.

Literature cited: [1] Mumby, P. J., and R. S. Steneck. 2008. Coral reef management and conservation in light of rapidly evolving ecological paradigms.

The Project

The Biozonification Project has afforded me a plethora of knowledge and experiences that are worth treasuring and reminiscing. It has brought me to places that I’ve never been; made me know many people, and got acquainted with the rather complex web of yeah-I-know-her/him-too! and other linkages; made me see the glimpse of the real me; has taught me countless lessons and made me ponder into sheer realizations; and has made me more appreciative of what I have, and much more to what the beauty and bounty the sea may offer.

Now, one might ask, “Biozoni… what?” Hands up. Curiosity’s a good sign. Way to go! *winks* Anyhoo, here’s a brief overview of what the project is all about (bear with me; I am yet to read the rationale and the project proposal so this information is still subject to corrections):

· The Biozonification Project is a project funded by ADPO-PMU and by the local government of Sarangani Province. The official title of the Project is “Biozonification Project: Sarangani Bay Resource Profiling.” As the name implies, it aims to update the profile of the marine resources of the Sarangani Bay, as well as the coastal resources of other municipalities of Sarangani, i.e. Kiamba, Maitum, and Glan. It also includes the profiling of Gen. Santos City. The project gathers data of four major components of the coastal marine ecosystem, namely, the coral community, coral reef fishes, seagrass community, and the mangrove community. It also includes resource mapping. The data gathered here will serve as a “baseline data” for the academe, and most especially for planning purposes of future uses.

Well, that is basically what I learned of the Project after, uh, five months of being one of the research assistants that are commissioned to conduct the necessary assessments.

Among the four components, I am tasked to perform the benthic coral community assessment. For the assessment, we are using the Line Intercept method as describe by English, et al. (I am sorry, I can't find the date.) I am tempted to describe the method in detail here but for the sake of those who may find it very technical, I’ll simplify it. And I am keeping my hands crossed here, hoping that I may be able to convey rightly. *winks* Here goes. We survey the benthic community (that includes all life form in the sea floor), but is focused on the assessment of coral community. We lay down a transect (a measuring tape) up to 50-m in length parallel to the shore, and take down all the organisms and abiotic components that are intercepted (those that are found under the transect) by the transect in centimeters; that is to say that we survey the whole 5,000-centimeter of the benthic community. How? We scuba dive it and stay underwater for the whole duration of the survey. Assessments are conducted at both shallow and deep areas of the each site, at two stations per site. That is to say that there is a supposed four dives every day. However, we divided the group into two, such that two persons will dive in the deep (for coral assessment and fish visual census – for fish assessment), and two for the shallow area. And when I assess, it usually take me forty-five (45mins) to sixty minutes (1 hour) to finish. The O.C. in me sure pesters some of my group mates but, of course, my data is unquestionable. Or so I believe. *laughters*

I started working for the Project since early February of this year. Yep, I work while I am still studying. I find it necessary to be a part of the Project team since it will enrich me with trainings, the right perspectives for work, and the skills necessary for future employment. And of course, extra money is such a temptation! *laughs* Anyway, February was allotted for the assessment of the coastal barangays of Glan, and I have become part of the coral assessment of around five barangays.

The assessment in Glan was one of the most memorable since. In one of its barangay (I believe in Pangyan), I encountered a sea snake that is more than a meter long! I was in the midst of reading the transect when my peripheral vision has detected a movement among the rocks and corals on my right, barely a meter away from me. Compulsively, I was made to verify it. Then, not only did the sight of a sea snake distressed me, it sent panic into my very nerves – having learned that its venom is potent enough to kill a person in, I believe, matter of minutes only. Then, I was prompted to go up to call upon my buddy (Kuya Jopy), whom, I reckoned later on, was on his way back to the patrol boat. He signaled that I should not worry and that I go on with my task. And so I did after seeing it (the snake) glide far away from me and my transect. However, the knowledge that sea snakes occur in the area (based on my own experience *winks*) left me disturbed and brought about the paranoia that it might occur again not only to traverse on my side but to stop and bite me as well. It took me an hour to finish my task. After which, as I was going to roll the transect back to its proper place, I was again struck by a yet another astonishing discovery. The sea snake is back, and it travels side by side with my transect, facing me. It froze me. I held my breath. Let myself float up high. I couldn’t move. Then, the sea snake, having distracted by the movement of the rather longer and sleeker measuring tape, stopped traversing its chosen path. It held its head up high, and voila! There goes me and the sea snake – face to face, watching each other. And to aggravate it, the sea snake slowly moved upwards, coming to my very direction. Right then and there, I flushed, and my head raced. “What should I do?” I asked myself. I mustered not to move. I didn’t even breathe. I was so afraid that the bubbles coming out of my very mouth will attract, or worse, provoke the sea snake. And so, moving and breathing was my last option. The sea snake, after having suspended half of itself along the water column have, perhaps, thought that I am of no harm (which at that moment, is frankly the truth) and that I may not be of any good to him, slowly arched its way down, and moved away. And well, heavy knots suddenly loosened up, I was again able to breathe. I waited for a minute or two before I moved. One can never tell. *winks* Moreover, after a moment, I raced and rolled the transect as fast as I can and swam my way to the boat. There, I rested my rather fast beating heart, and had my doze of a soothing fresh air.

Our assessment in Maitum wasn’t all that memorable. I have to juggle things up for my academic requirements for graduation, more so of my thesis. That is why I am not able to join much of the assessment there. However, it was there that I was able to see a live ray or pagi..it lies beneath my transect, guised in the sandy bottom. Finding it, even accidentally, was so exhilarating. Watching it swim away from me using its wing-like “fins” was a sight to behold. Then, I am left to wonder of its existence. And so, I again went proceeded with my task…

..to be continued.