MANGROVES. SEAGRASSES AND CORALS [A simple layman-type field guide]

�Mangroves, Seagrasses, and

Corals: Let Us Do-It-Yourself

Sampling Guide- R. BALEÑA -Rex Baleña

Rex Baleña � University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo 5023 � Philippines 5000

Dr. Rex Baleña (2008)

� Mangroves, Seagrasses, and Corals: Let Us Do-It-Yourself Sampling Guide- R. BALEÑA

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MANGROVES, SEAGRASSES, AND

CORALS: LET US DO-IT-YOURSELF

SAMPLING GUIDE- R. BALEÑA

-Rex Baleña

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This simplistic guide is a by-product of a participatory survey of Banate and Barotac Viejo Bays, a 2007 project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Technical Cooperation Program. The fully documented report of that project must serve as the more complete reference of the actual sampling activity.The intended users of the present manual are non-technical personnel or fisherfolks (or anyone who is able to follow simple instructions.) This guide aims to motivate these users to learn how to implement a simple survey with minimal advice or supervision.

WHY DO THE SURVEY You must be aware of what you are going to do. It will not be fun out there in the open field if you had no good reason to leave home in the first place.

Scientists called biologists understand why they trek over thick proproots of mangroves or dive in places of corals and seagrasses. They go after special

organisms or special communities known for high productivity. In particular, certain communities are home to diverse populations of organisms, and they serve as haven to many others especially during their respective breeding seasons. These unique communities are like “seedlings banks,” from where one may obtain “seedlings,” for instance, to grow new “trees.” At least, this is a common justification by biologists on why fieldwork is necessary.

Find your own meanings from the beliefs of scientists. Perhaps, one day you may find bigger reasons why you may partake in a communal effort that helps maintain a clean “healthy” environment.

HOW TO DO THE SURVEY Do not worry about reinventing the wheel. Precisely, there is a recipe for you when you go on a sampling trip. If you have a copy of the JICA project report, then you are better equipped to learn the simplified steps by yourself. In fact, believe it or not, doing a survey is but a matter of following protocols- those sequences of steps one goes through when implementing an organized activity.

Perhaps, it is best to see these protocols before you decide on a field trip. There is one for each of the specially mentioned communities. There is even one on how to do water sampling! It is for oceanography portion of the field activity, wherein one integrates the multidisciplinary studies of the ocean environment.

Browse through each of the protocols shown in Tables 1-4. There is no need to worry if you miss or misunderstand an instruction. You can go always go back


Note: Use of document requires the author's expressed consent. 1 of 11


and reexamine the details. To the more enterprising field worker, the JICA report offers more details.

Mangroves Sampling

Let us begin sampling the mangrove community. The relevant protocol and datasheet in Table 1 will require a team of four participants (suggested minimum) to conduct the sampling. The first task is to lay down a calibrated transect tape from the beach landward. The tape is used to mark every five meters distance (starting from 0), in between which the team will overlay a 5 m x 5 m quadrat (a big 25 m2 square figure). Actually, it is much easier to use a 25-meter long nylon string to define the perimeter of the quadrat. Your team will move sequentially forward from quadrat to another until the end of the transect line (end of tape) is reached.

Why do you do inside a quadrat? Use the template accompanying Table 1 to take note of the a) seedlings, b) saplings- plants reaching about 1.3 meters in height and diameter of no more than 4 centimeters, and c) trees, high plants and bigger diameter than saplings. Count separately each plant noting its growth stage and so-called species, if you can. Do not do this manually! (You will grow old fast counting lots of data.) It is most convenient to use a handheld counting device that is widely available.) Bring home samples to a specialist if you cannot identify the species or, alternately, bring home photographs of unidentified specimens. At home or in the laboratory, you must be able to complete your tally using the spreadsheet facility of a computer. You may have to code your observations or study the counts or percentages representing each growth stage and species.

How do you judge a healthy mangrove community? Note the condition of the plants. Do they look sickly? Stunted in growth? Are trees and saplings cut prematurely? Are the seedlings more numerous than the saplings and trees? If so, then you may have a young mangrove stand, and vice versa. Moreover, do you have more species than can be found elsewhere? Then, you may have a relatively diverse mangrove community.

By the way, included in the JICA project report is a set of DVDs containing photographs and videos that offer some vicarious scenes of a mangrove sampling trip.

Initially, it is nice to have a science advisor by your side but, ultimately, you may enjoy working with minimum guidance.

Seagrasses

Please check Table 2 for the pertinent protocol and accompanying data sheet. Depending on the water depth, this time, you may need to walk or wade through the water (or swim!) because your species are now in the intertidal zone (regularly under water). Just the same, the idea is to occupy quadrat after quadrat and note the species and their respective counts as specified in the protocol.

What is nice is that, once you have experienced one sampling procedure, say, the mangrove sampling, it seems that the other sampling protocols become familiar.

Corals

In this case, the method by one organization concerned with collecting data globally, the ReefCheck (CA, USA), is utilized. Please refer to Table 3 for the protocol and data sheets. Sampling is done




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for four categories: fishes, invertebrates, impacts, and substrate. Note that line transect is the term used for the latter and belt transect for the others.

Normally, coral sampling involves either swimming or scuba diving, depending on the water depth. The entire survey can be more expensive than in the case of the mangroves or seagrasses. At any rate, in similar spirit, just follow the protocol while holding onto the data sheets. By the way, this means that you are actually holding an underwater slate board reflecting the format of the data sheet.

Oceanography

Oceanographic sampling can be very tricky as you may have to deal with many variables and then operate gadgets and instruments quite unfamiliar to you. There are quite a number of them to learn and remember. At any rate, still the fieldwork is a simple undertaking.

The best preparation is done through reading the formal JICA report and undergoing an orientation from your science advisor. While doing this, you may like to view the full video of how actual measurements are done when occupying a station at sea. It may take a while to learn but, once you and the other participants experience one cruise or so, the procedures become rather automatic.

At any rate, you have Table 4 for the protocol and the data sheet. The steps are quite self-explanatory, especially once you have read the details in the formal report.

WORKING TOGETHER Another thing for you to remember is that you will not be going out in the field alone.

In fact, you need a team, and you must have partners and support. On these, you will need good coordination. Figure 1 is a schematic of the implementing structure within which you may be involved during a survey. You will have to create the opportunity to meet the other participants and discuss matters of involvement. Note that the lines connecting entities in the chart in the figure may be thought of as multi-way communication lines. Yes, communication is crucial to everybody.

WHO WILL DO WHAT Keyed to Figure 1, the main roles that each may assume are the following:

Mangrove Team- comprised of a team leader and a minimum of three other participants. This team does the main job of surveying the mangroves. This does not mean that the members must not learn about the survey of the other communities. In fact, extra learning is encouraged of the other protocols and the responsible teams.

Seagrass Team- comprised of a team leader and a minimum of three other participants. This team has the main task of sampling the seagrasses.

Corals Team- comprised of a team leader and a minimum of three other participants. This team assumes the main responsibility of sampling the coral reefs.

Coordinator- any entity, for example, an administrator or council that can assume the responsibilities of administering, coordinating and monitoring the progress of the entire project. The coordination module takes care of matters like schedules, budgeting, procurements,




solicitation (when needed), representation, communication and staffing of the teams.

Technical/Science Advisor- an expert or science specialist, who helps ensure that the objectives of the survey, the rationale, protocols, data recording and analysis are learned properly by all participants. The participants, especially the sampling teams, may need the advisor at certain times in the field. The advisor helps provide further guidance and monitoring and assist in the overall planning of the project.

LGU and the Community- this module represents the government and the community in the survey project. Different sectors of the community may lend support or participate in the project activities. It is crucial that this module is involved from Day 1 of the project undertaking because, ultimately, any progress by the project may redound to the welfare of the local beneficiaries.

SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER

There are at least a few good things to inspire you when doing sampling:

1. You learn. 2. You help. 3. You enjoy.

�




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PROCEDURE MEASUREMENT(s) METHOD(s) In-Charge REMARKS

1

preparation of marker sticks, transect tape, 25-m nylon to frame 5mx5m quadrat; check food and water provisions

any pair of personnel

2 ocular inspection beach side of the area to locate start-off points

radio/talkies for communication

any personnel

3 lay out transect tape and secure ends measure other variables like Ta, substrate, S, pH - if possible

radio/talkies for communication


4 mark every 5 m along transect use wooden pegs; radio/talkies for communication

all personnel

5 start survey- use 25-m rope to mark every quadrat perimeter

every quadrat: differentiate species growth stages; count for seedlings, saplings, and trees; measure DBH for saplings and trees

4 wooden pegs all personnel each personnel mans a corner of the quadrat; one in-charge of recording, the others divide identification task, counting, and photography

6 move on to next quadrat and repeat Step 5; if done go to 7

lead personnel moves forward to next quadrat

7 secure transect tape, markers, nylon quadrat, and talkies (if any); run a checklist


Table 1a. MANGROVES DATA SHEET: STEPS IN DOING QUADRAT SAMPLING

(Source: Table 5 of formal report)




MANGROVE Record Sheet (A4) Directional Sketch:

Site: Puerto Princesa, Barotac Viejo NOTE: may not have species ID for

Start: 11:05 122-53.137 E 11-01.862 N seedlings. Saplings" are shrubs

End: 14:20 122-53.147 E 11-01.934 N exceeding 1-1.3 m height. Trees

Date: 10 Dec 2007 are those saplings exceeding

about 4 cm in diameter.

SPECIES CODE (flora [A-L] and fauna [M-w])Transect: A Species Count inside 5 x 5 m quadrat (species abundance)

Others: fm to A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

CS= m/s 0 5 seedlings count 2

CD= ° saplings count 2

WS= B DBH (cm) 1.3

WD= ° trees count

WH= m DBH (cm)

WD= ° 5 10 seedlings count

saplings count

Tw= °C DBH (cm)

Ta= 31.8 °C trees count

S= % DBH (cm)

CL= oktas 10 15 seedlings count 1

saplings count

Tide: DBH (cm)

trees count 1

DBH (cm) 9.5

15 20 seedlings count 1

Subst: sandy/silt saplings count 6

peat/mud DBH (cm) 3.5

trees count 4

DBH (cm) 10

20 25 seedlings count

saplings count 6

DBH (cm) 4

trees count 6

DBH (cm) 9


saplings count 10

DBH (cm) 3

trees count 6

DBH (cm) 5.5

30 35 seedlings count 19 1

saplings count 4

DBH (cm) 1.3

trees count 16

DBH (cm) 8

35 40 seedlings count 9 4

saplings count

DBH (cm)

trees count 3

DBH (cm) 9


saplings count

DBH (cm)

trees count

DBH (cm)

Table 1b. MANGROVE DATA SHEET (Sample)

(Source: Appendix 3 of formal report.)




SEAGRASS Record Sheet (A4) Directions/Sketch:

Site: Lamintaw/Talisay, Barotac Nuevo Boat as origin of 100-m transect

Start: 8:03 E: 122-48.219N: 10-54.514 Bearing of transect end = 27° (transect oriented ~NNE)

End: 8:54 E: 122-48.222N: 10-54.516 Boat/anchor drift~ 5 m in about 51 min

Date: 17 Nov 2007

SPECIES CODE (flora [A-L] and fauna [M-w])Transect: A Species Count inside 1 x 1 m quadrat (or Species Cover, n/16 of quadrat sectors) Extra Species

Others: m A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

CS= 0.17 m/s 0 16 16

CD= 195 ° 5 16 16

WS= 2 B 10 5 16 1

WD= 195 ° 15 16

wvH= 0.4 m 20 1 9

wvD= 195 ° 25 16 13 2

30 16 4 1

Tw= 29.2 °C 35 1 16 12

Ta= 30.6 °C 40 2 16 4

S= 3.35 % 45 3.5 16 10 1

CL= 4.5 oktas 50 16 8 1

55 16 6 1

Tide: 60 12 16 1

65 16 14

70 6 16

75 16Subst: sandy/silt 80 16 0.3 1

peat/mud 85 14 16(going shore) 90 6 4 7

95 12 3 1

100 6 3 1

Table 2b. SEAGRASS DATA SHEET (Sample)

(Source: Formal report.)




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PROCEDURE MEASUREMENT(s) METHOD(s) In-Charge REMARKS

1

preparation of markers, marker floats, 1m x 1m quadrat, 100-m transect tape, and scuba gears (2 divers); check food and water provisions

ReefCheck- see record sheets

any pair of personnel or the 2 divers

better to secure scuba gears a day or so before sampling

2 navigate to site sonar/handheld GPS

boatman and crew

3 lay out transect tape and secure ends with markers

if possible, measure other water variables like Tw, S, pH; note substrate- ReefCheck Site Form is convenient

use metal pegs and marker floats

2 divers may be done earlier in a separate dive

4 allow 15-30 minutes for "disturbed" fishes to return to reef

prepare to cycle three times to do fishes, invertebrates/impacts, and substrate sampling (all use a uniform 4-sgement transect)

5 start survey- note FISHES within 3 meter upward from transect

see ReefCheck form Reefcheck Belt Transect- 4 x 20 m segments: 0-20m, 25-45m, 50-70m, and 75-95m

2 divers use ReefCheck record form for FISHES

6 start survey- note INVERTEBRATES: simultaneously note IMPACTS to coral reefs (re-start from beginning of transect)

see ReefCheck form Reefcheck Belt Transect- 4 x 20 m segments: 0-20m, 25-45m, 50-70m, and 75-95m

2 divers use ReefCheck record form for INVERTEBRATES (includes IMPACTS)

7 start survey- note SUBSTRATE (re-start from beginning of transect)

see ReefCheck form Reefcheck Line Transect- 4 x 20 m segments: 0-19.5m, 25-44.5m, 50-69.5m, and 75-94.5m

use ReefCheck record form for SUBSTRATE

8 secure transect tape, markers, quadrat, and scuba gears; run a checklist

any pair of personnel or the 2 divers

NOTE: May have photography coverage all throughout the sampling.

Table 3a. CORALS PROTOCOL: STEPS IN DOING QUADRAT SAMPLING

(Source: ReefCheck)




Site Name: Country/Island:Depth: Team Leader:Date: Time:

FishData recorded by:

0-20m 25-45m 50-70m 75-95m

0-20m 25-45m 50-70m 75-95m

Rare animals sighted (type/#)

Comments:

Grouper (Serranidae) sizes 30-40 cm40-50 cm50-60 cm>60 cmTotal # grouper

Snapper (Lutjanidae)Barramundi cod Humphead wrasse Bumphead parrotfish Other parrotfish (Scaridae) Moray eel (Muraenidae)

Butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae)Sweetlips (Haemulidae)

Site Name: Country/Island:Depth: Team Leader:Date: Time:

Data recorded by:

0-20m 25-45m 50-70m 75-95m

0-20m 25-45m 50-70m 75-95m

0-20m 25-45m 50-70m 75-95m

Bleaching (% of coral population)Bleaching (% of colony)Coral Disease (% of coral affected if yes) Rare animals sighted (type/#)

Comments:

0 = none, 1 = low, 2 = medium and 3 = high

Coral damage: Boat/AnchorCoral damage: DynamiteCoral damage: OtherTrash: Fish netsTrash: General

InvertebratesBanded coral shrimp (Stenopus

Diadema urchins (including Pencil urchin (H. mammilatus )Collector urchin (Tripneustes spp.)Sea cucumber (Holothuridae)Crown of thorns (Acanthaster planciiTriton (Charonia tritonis )Lobster ( Palinuridae)

Giant clam (Tridacna sp.) sizes<10 cm10-20 cm20-30 cm30-40 cm40-50 cm>50 cmTotal # giant clams observed

Impacts: Coral

Site name:

Substrate CodeHC hard coral SC soft coral RKC recently killed coral

SP sponge RC rock RB rubble SD sand SI silt/clay OT other

0 - 19.5 m 25 - 44.5 m 50 - 69.5 m 75 - 94.5 m0 10 25 35 50 60 75 850.5 10.5 25.5 35.5 50.5 60.5 75.5 85.51 11 26 36 51 61 76 861.5 11.5 26.5 36.5 51.5 61.5 76.5 86.52 12 27 37 52 62 77 872.5 12.5 27.5 37.5 52.5 62.5 77.5 87.53 13 28 38 53 63 78 883.5 13.5 28.5 38.5 53.5 63.5 78.5 88.54 14 29 39 54 64 79 894.5 14.5 29.5 39.5 54.5 64.5 79.5 89.55 15 30 40 55 65 80 905.5 15.5 30.5 40.5 55.5 65.5 80.5 90.56 16 31 41 56 66 81 916.5 16.5 31.5 41.5 56.5 66.5 81.5 91.57 17 32 42 57 67 82 927.5 17.5 32.5 42.5 57.5 67.5 82.5 92.58 18 33 43 58 68 83 938.5 18.5 33.5 43.5 58.5 68.5 83.5 93.59 19 34 44 59 69 84 949.5 19.5 34.5 44.5 59.5 69.5 84.5 94.5

What percentage of recorded RKC is a result of bleaching?Comments:

NIA nutrient indicator algae

(For first segment, if start point is 0 m, last point is 19.5 m)SEGMENT 1 SEGMENT 2 SEGMENT 3 SEGMENT 4

TS/TL: Data recorded by: Time:

Country/Island: Depth: Date:

Table 3b. CORALS DATA SHEET (Fishes, Invertebrates, Impacts, and Substrate)

(Source: ReefCheck)



Figure 1. An organizational structure for implementing field sampling. The lines are the main communication (regular) links. However, multi-way communication does occur and is encouraged amongst participantss.



MANGROVES. SEAGRASSES AND CORALS [A simple layman-type field guide]

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