A study of the consequences on the size structure of Porites in Santiago Island, Bolinao Pangasinan.

Author

Aleah C. Tiu

Date of Publication

1999

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Abstract/Summary

Corals are known to form clones and because most clonal organisms have variable growth rates, and undergo fission and fusion, size may be more significant than age in understanding the demography of population of clonal organisms. Matrix models aid in studying the eventual consequences of the population by projecting the future state of the population.

Massive non-acropiid corals particularly of the genus Porites is dominant in the study site, which is found within the vicinity of Santiago Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan. Data gathering was conducted on the month of May. Data gathered (length and width of the coral heads) was then classified into 5 different size class categories. The raw data analyses, simulations of harvest, typhoons, and fecundity disturbance were employed to evaluate the population. Degree or the frequency of the disturbances (harvest, typhoons and fecundity disturbance) was also changed.

Generally, results observed in this study showed that even if the population was exposed to frequent disturbances, the population was able to recoup their losses even though recruitment was low. Although some matrices have higher recruitment and growth rates, the population could decline even when subjected to a relatively low frequency of disturbance. This can be seen in the results for the sensitivity analysis when loop entries were decreased by 30%. Typhoon disturbance, of the three different kinds of disturbances, had the most significant effect on the population. Results also showed that the population died even before it reached year 90. On the average, the population died as early as year 31 of the simulation and lambda of the population for this (annual) disturbance was computed to be 0.831. Thus, typhoons had the largest effect because of the reduced growth rates. Future work on other forms of disturbance using the same methods but other values for Pi and T are recommended.

Abstract Format

html

Format

Print

Accession Number

TU09006

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

34 leaves

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