Physico-Chemical and Biological Profile of Panaon Marine Reserve in Panaon, Misamis Occidental

Julius V. Mingoc (faculty),Jeffrey Cabulay, and Delcie Malon

Mindanao University of Science and Technology, Panaon Campus, Center for Marine Biomodeling, Panaon, Misamis Occidental E-mail: juls2minx@yahoo.com Abstract
The study focuses on the characterization of Panaon Marine Reserved (Ginas Reef) through physico-chemical and biological parameters of the area. Which include: Bathymetry (depth), current velocities, temperature, pH, transparency, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and net primary productivity. The marine reserved has an estimated area of 4.9 hectares; includes 4900 m2 of fringing reef and about 996 m2 of patchy seagrass beds. Having an average depth of 15.5m., the area is characterized by a presence of a channel between near shore shallow area and a fringing reef. Current velocity in the area is characterized by a northeast direction during ebb tide (low tide) and southwest direction during flood tide (high tide). Physico-chemical parameters like dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and salinity were all within the optimum level suitable for aquatic life to survive. And as for the net primary productivity as converted to biomass, the marine reserved could accommodate an estimated biomass value of 16.39 tons of fish/ha/year. Physico-chemical and biological data are important tools use to better describe a marine reserved and will help improved management, monitoring and in doing strategic plans for a much effective conservation and protection of the said marine reserved. Further research and better information drive of its status is highly recommended . Rationale
The idea of setting up Community-Based Marine Protected Areas (CB-MPAs) is a good solution to help protect and conserved threatened coastal reserves and natural resources. Giving local communities in the Philippines responsibility for controlling a sustainable fishery and conserving biodiversity is more likely to be successful than top down government management. But finding support for their work has proven to be a challenge. In addition to needing help in developing monitoring, educational and research programs which are improving and that biodiversity is being protected, the local communities need assistance sustainability. While, several marine protected areas or marine reserves established here in the Philippines lacks physical description of their area, such as bathymetry, current velocities and other environmental parameters that will supposedly help them in effectively monitoring and managing their marine protected areas. Despite the success of established marine reserve in Barangay Punta, together with several conducted studies (unpublished) in the area, there is no comprehensive report regarding its physico-chemical and biological parameters namely, current velocity, temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen (D.O) and primary productivity of the area. Available data gathered in this research, served as basis for establishing physico-chemical and biological profile data of the said marine reserved.

Objective
This study aims to determine the physico-chemical and biological parameters of seawater in the Marine Reserved of Punta, Panaon, Misamis Occidental.

Methods

Map of the Study Site RESULTS

Physical and Bathymetric map of the study area (depth in meters)

Bathymetric profile

The area is characterize a gradual steep of increasing depth from the intertidal zone (as shown in isobath lines) which forms a surging type of breaker (Stewart, 2002). The bathymetric features, as shown in figure 5b, describe the increasing magnitude of the depth (shown by the vector arrows) which abruptly decreased as it approaches the nearby fringing reef. The topography itself is shape like a bowl (Figure 5b) may suggest that rip currents occur in the area during changing of tides.

Current velocity profile

Current velocity in the area flows in a northwest direction during ebb tides (Figure 6a) and in southeast direction during flood tides (Figure 6b). The area is characterized by tidal currents, and may suggest the presence of weak rip currents, typical to many beaches. Figure 6a and 6b show a strong magnitude of current velocities, which both occurs during ebb tides and flood tides are found near shallow channel formed between the near shallow part of the shoreline and the nearby fringing reef (Figure 5a). Rip currents in the area may explain the poor water transparency readings in the area (Fig 7a and 7b) especially near the shallow part of the marine reserved.

Water temperature profile

Water temperature in the area ranges from 26oC to 30 oC (Table 1) typically considered being an optimum range of temperature in coastal water (EPA, 1986). The above results may suggest an optimum range of temperatures for corals to survive in the area. Slight changes in the distribution of temperature (Figure 8a and 8b) may be attributed to the presence of run-off water due to rain and the nearby river inlet. But the overall readings were quiet insignificant to cause any biological stresses in the area.

Dissolved oxygen profile

Dissolved oxygen readings in the area ranges from 7.347 mg O /L to 7.998 mg O/ L. during low tide (Figure 11a) and about 0.036 mg O /L to 0.667 mg O /L during high tide (Figure 11b). This is much higher than the optimum standards of 5.0 mg O /L set by EPA on saltwater dissolved oxygen standards for shell fishing, mariculture, and other ecological sensitive zones (EPA, 1986). The dissolved oxygen ranges in the marine reserved is indeed conducive for many marine fishes, invertebrates, and other marine organisms to survive. Dissolved oxygen ranges should not exceed 110 percent saturation rate which causes fish kills due to suffocation (KY Water Watch, 2010), and at least 3.5 mg O/L any time for protection of many aquatic lives (EPA, 1986).

Water transparency
Water transparency in the area is characterized by a poor visibility of the near shore area ranging from 0.6m to about 2.7 m in deeper part of the marine reserved (Figure 7a and 7b). The poor visibility in the area may be attributed to the presence of sediments or suspended particles carried by tidal currents and strong wave action brought about by northeast monsoon occurrence during sampling.The results may also explain a limiting factor in the distribution and growth of many benthic algae, seagrasses, and for many newly recruits of corals near shore.

Water pH
The water pH in the area ranges from 8.1 t o 8.3 (Table 1). This range of pH readings are typically optimum to coastal waterways which is close to 8.2, whereas most natural freshwater pH values in the range of 6.5 to 8.0 (ANZECC/ARMCANZ, 2000; EPA, 1986). Most waters have some have some capacity to resist pH change through the effects of the carbonate-buffersystem (Tomczak, 2005) The pH range in the area shows an optimal range of pH for growth and survival of many invertebrates, fishes and corals as well (EPA, 1986). While slight changes in the distribution of pH in the area may be attributed to freshwater run off in the area (Figure 9a and 9b).

RECOMMENDATION Biological parameters like fish census (through

FVC) and benthic life forms (through LIT) should be monitored annually to update the status of the marine reserved; LGU officials, the administrators of MUST university, NGOs, and the coastal citizens of the municipality should be notified on the status of the marine reserved so as to geared towards a unified strategy in successfully protecting and conserving the natural resources in the area. Further study on the seasonal trends of PhysicoChemical Parameters of Marine Reserved in Punta, Panaon Misamis Occidental.
REFERENCES: ANZECC/ARMCANZ (October 2000) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. English, C. et al., 1997.Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources. 2nd Edition.Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. EPA, 1986. Environmental Protection Agency. Primary Water Quality Criteria For Class Sea Water -I Waters (For Salt pans, Shell fishing, Mariculture and Ecologically Sensitive Zone). GSR 7, dated Dec. 22, 1998. Lalli and Parsons, 2006. Biological Oceanography an Introduction, 2nd Edition. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Stewart, R.H., 2002. Introduction To Physical Oceanography. Department of Oceanography Texas A & M University. Tomczak, M., 2005. The Oceanography Classroom. Catering to the Multitudes. Oceanography 18(2), 256-259.

Water salinity profile

Salinity refers to the amount of dissolve salts in grams per kilogram of water (Tomczak, 2005). Salinity readings in the area typically range from 30ppts to 31ppt during ebb tide and flood tide readings (Figure 10a and 10b). The above results suggest a conducive parameter range for many invertebrates, marine algae, seagrass and coral to survive in the area (Lalli and Parsons, 2005).

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Primary productivity in the marine reserved in characterize by a positive NPP, mainly exceeding respiration with photosynthesis. Distribution of NPP across the area (Figure 12) shows a minimum range of 0.06 mg C/l/hr near shallow part of the area to about 0.11 mg C/l/hr in deeper part and, having an average of 0.091 mg C/l/hr NPP for the whole marine reserved (Table 1; Figure 12). Primary productivity in coastal water is limited by the presence of nutrients, sunlight and water movement of which shows direct proportional relationship (Lalli and Parson, 2005). Computing the average primary productivity in the area and convert it to kg of fish per hectare per year, the results would be about 16.39 tons of fish/ha/year. This result is much closer to the value taken from the previous study (unpublished) done by Mingoc and Lasagas (2009) of about 17.61 tons of fish/ha/year.

CONCLUSION
Physico-chemical and biological data in the area indicate that Panaon Marine Reserved is indeed a healthy and conducive to many marine life. Furthermore the above mentioned data are an important tools to use to better describe a marine reserved, and will help improved management, monitoring and in strategic planning for a much effective conservation and protection of the said marine reserved.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: MUST-PANAON CAMPUS Center for Marine Biomodeling (Faculties) Dr. Jessie G. Gorospe MSU-Naawan Dr. Wilfredo H. Uy MSU-Naawan Amy Laurden MSU-Naawan