Tawi Tawi, Reef Fishes, Philippines
Citation
Serag K J, Elloran C, Serag K (2024). Tawi Tawi, Reef Fishes, Philippines. Version 1.21. ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/nvy0u9 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-08-28.Description
A Baseline Assessment of Reef Fishes in Mapun, Sitangkai, and Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, PhilippinesSampling Description
Study Extent
total of seventeen (17) stations were surveyed on April 10 to May 10, 2005. These sites were strategically located in the center of the Sulu Sulawesi large marine environment and politically part of the province of Tawi-tawi. Specifically, the stations were in Mapun (5 sites), Sitangkai (6 sites), and Languyan (6 sites). These are Linggisan, Tigul-tigul, Umus-umus Labuhan reef areas of the major island and the population center of Mapun, the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi I. and the reef of Manda I. per recommendation of the Mayor of the Municipality. For Sitangkai Municipality, the survey sites were mostly located in the North Lagoon except for Lappasan which is in Tumindao channel but part of Barangay Tonggusong. The other sites in the North Lagoon are Sekorong, Andulingan or known as the “snake-island”, Kullul Pahi, Sanga-Sanga and Sipangkut reef. For Languyan Municipality, the sites surveyed were mostly reef areas of island sitios except for Languyan reef which is part of main island of Tawi-tawi and politically part of the municipality of Languyan. The surveyed islands were Tumbagaan, Sugbay, Basbas, Kangtipayan Heya and Diki, and Simalak.Sampling
The survey of reef fishes was conducted along the same transects laid for coral assessment covering an area of 500m2 per transect line. Status of reef fishes, species diversity, fish abundances and estimated biomass were determined employing the standard fish visual census method modified from English et al. (1997). The standard protocol observed for all the selected sites was for the fish counters to identify encountered species and count fish numerically for every five 5m along each transect line, and within 5m on either side and above the substrate. All fish encountered within the area as described above were identified to the species level. Counts for abundances and size estimates (estimated total length) of target species (Lutjanidae, Haemulidae, Lethrinidae, Carangidae, Caesionidae, Nemipteridae, Mullidae, Scaridae, Acanthuridae, Epinephelidae and Siganidae), and indicator species (Chaetodontidae) were used as bases in determining fish biomass and density. The abundances of species belonging to families not included in the target and indicator species categories but numerically abundant were likewise recorded. Fish biomasses for all the species encountered were computed using known length-weight relationships (W=aLb) from Froese and Pauly (2000). Fish were identified using the works of Lieske and Myers (1994), Myers (1997), Randall et al. (1997) and Froese and Pauly (2000). Length-weight relationships of the form W = aLb from Froese and Pauly (2000) were used in computing fish biomass. Other relevant information such as reef fish density, species and status of coral reef fish biomass production (Aliňo and Dantis, 1999) were also determined.Quality Control
Replicates of per site sampling were doneMethod steps
- None
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
Geographic coverage is on the selected municipalities of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Karen Joy Seragoriginator
position: University Research Associate II
Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi
MSU- Sanga-Sanga Campus, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Tawi Tawi
7500
Tawi-Tawi
PH
email: kjserag85@gmail.com
Christian Elloran
originator
position: Database Specialist
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Domingo M. Lantican Avenue, University of the Philippines
Los Baños
4031
Laguna
PH
Telephone: 0495362865
email: cbelloran@aseanbiodiversity.org
homepage: http://chm.aseanbiodiversity.org
Karen Serag
metadata author
position: University Research Associate II
Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi
MSU- Sanga-Sanga Campus, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Tawi Tawi
7500
Tawi-Tawi
PH
email: kserag@user.com
Karen Serag
user
email: kserag@user.com
Filemon Romero
administrative point of contact
position: Professor
Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi
MSU- Sanga-Sanga Campus, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
7500
Tawi-Tawi
PH
email: filemon.romero@yahoo.com