Record Details

Spatio-temporal Distribution and Abundance of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci L.) in Three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines

BANWA Archives (2004-2013)

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Spatio-temporal Distribution and Abundance of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci L.) in Three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines
 
Creator Agustin, Raquel B.; University of the Philippines Mindanao
Nañola Jr., Cleto L.; University of the Philippines Mindanao
 
Description The spatial and temporal distribution of crown-of-thorns starfish or COTS (Acanthaster planci L.) was investigated in three marine protected areas (MPAs) around the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), Philippines, from December 2008 to December 2009. Methods include photo quadrat for the live coral cover and belt transect for the density of COTS and its predators. There was a significant difference in the spatial distribution of COTS among MPAs. Sanipaan Marine Park (SMP) had the highest COTS density while Coral Garden and Aundanao MPAs had the least. Variability of COTS density was attributed to percent coral cover and human intervention (i.e., COTS clean-up drive). At temporal scale, only data from SMP fitted for the analysis. There was no significant difference observed during the sampling periods conducted in April, August, and November 2009. The results suggest longer time of monitoring to cover the life span of COTS, taking into consideration  the probable causes for infestation, whether anthropogenic (i.e., harvesting leading to mass spawning) or natural. In conclusion, the spatial distribution of COTS depends on the abundance of their preferred food while the temporal distribution is probably influenced by environmental conditions over time.
 
Publisher University of the Philippines Mindanao
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2015-09-30
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://ojs.upmin.edu.ph/index.php/banwa-archives/article/view/71
 
Source BANWA Archives (2004-2013); Vol 10, No 1 (2013); 33-49
1656-3719
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://ojs.upmin.edu.ph/index.php/banwa-archives/article/view/71/85
 
Rights Copyright (c) 2015 Raquel B. Agustin, Cleto L. Nañola Jr.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0