| June
2000
Volume 2, No. 3 |
Page
2
|
Department of
Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) Assures Support to Apo Island Protected
Area
Fisherfolk
from Selinog and Aliguay visit Silliman University Marine Laboratory
(above). Inset: Dr. Angel C. Alcala (middle), Selinog
Ba. Capt. Julieta Cuaresma (left). |
DENR Region VII
Exec. Director, Augustus Momongan, will assign a marine biologist as Protected
Area Superintendent (PASU), at Apo Island. Momongan promised that DENR would
fast track the release of the Protected Area Fund from the National Treasury
to find for community projects.
PEW
Sponsors Two Graduate Students
Two graduate
students are enjoying the privilege of studying and working at the same time.
The grantees, Mr. Enrico Cruz and Ms. Lalaine S. Sanchez, are given a monthly
stipend by the Pew Fellowship Program in Marine Conservation and are trained
under the supervision of Dr. Angel C. Alcala.
Cruz, who is pursuing a Master's degree in Marine Biology is
being trained to be an Ichthyologist while Sanchez on the other hand, is taking
her Master's degree on Environmental Policy. Both grantees are enrolled at
Silliman University.
PEW Exchange Program Between
Philippine and Mexico Kicks Off Soon
Pew Fellows Program will be sending a senior
and a junior staff to Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexico to share
their expertise on Social and Natural Sciences. In the same manner, two from
Baja University are expected to visit Silliman University (SU) for a three-week
training and field visits to the five study island of Pew.
The exchange fellows will be chosen on the basis of their potential to learn
new ideas and new skills, as well as on their commitment to continue the Marine
Conservation of their institutions on their return to their respective countries.
The $10,000 grant covers all the expenses of the reciprocal visits which will
start on April-May 2001 (Universidad de Baja California) and May - June 2001
(Silliman University).
Visiting
Scientists and SUAKCREM on Herpetological Research
Herpetologists Arvin C. Diesmos of de La Salle University, Cavite
and Rafe M. Brown, Ph.D. student at University of Texas, Austin have been
designated Associates Scientist with Dr. Angel C. Alcala on the herpetological
research in the Philippines.
Scientific
and Experts Committee (SEC) Shortlists SUAKCREM's Proposal for Europian Union-Asian
Research Center on Biodiversity Conservation (EU-ARCBC) Funding
The PhP1 million project proposal on "Responses of the Herpetological
and Mammalian Faunas of Negros Island, Philippines to Fragmentation of the
Tropical Rainforest" submitted by Dr. Ely L. Alcala and Ms. Cynthia Dolino
is included in the three, out of 13 proposals, short listed by the panel of
SEC of the EU-ARCBC. These three proposals are endorsed by an independent
panel to ASOEN and European Union for final approval and funding.
Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) Awards Zonal Research Center (ZRC) to Silliman
Silliman University
is one of the two Zonal Research Centers in Region VII. University Research
Professor, Dr. Angel C. Alcala heads the ZRC. The Center promotes academic
research among 16 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the provinces of
Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Dr. Alcala already met with representatives of the different
institutions for the past three months. Activities have been concerned with
the preparation of research proposals.
Alcala
Attends International And National Scientific Meetings
1. Ramsar Convention - Scientific and Technical Review Panel
Meeting in Gland Switzerland
on June 26 to July 1, 2000;
2. Biodiversity Conservation Symposium in Sabah, Malaysia on June
19-22 2000;
3. Asian Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation on June 14-16
at Los Baņos, Laguna;
4. Marine protected Areas Meeting at University of the Philippines
Marine Institute;
5. World-Wide Life Fund (WWF) - Philippines Meeting on Marine Conservation
in Ilo-Ilo City;
6. Crocodile Farming Institute at Puerto Princesa; and
7. Community Based Coastal Resources Management on the University
of the Philippines,
Dilliman, Quezon City.
1. List of Herpetofauna of Palawan;
2. List of Sea Snakes Reported from Philippine Marine Waters;
3. Conservation Status of the Negros Cave Frog; and
4. Conservation of Biodiversity in Wetland and Marine Protected Areas
SUAKCREM
Reviewed Papers On Biodiversity
1. Survey of Fish Species Caught in Camiguin Marine
Waters. Authors: E.S Genelsa, Institute of Marine Biodiversity, Camiguin Polytechnic
State College, Mambajao Camiguin.
| |
"Reef Check" by Selinog and Aliguay fisherfolk at Apo Island marine
sanctuary. |
This survey
employed fish enumerators to administer a checklist-ques- tionnaire to fishermen
at five sites in Camiguin Island (Mambajao, Mahinog Guin-siliban, Sagay, and
Catarman) to determine the kinds of fish caught off the island during the
period December 1997 through May 1998, months when the northeast and southwest
monsoons prevailed. Samples of fish species caught were collected and preserved
for future reference. The fishing gear used by fishermen were drift net, gill
net, fish trap, hook and line, troll line, beach seine and spear gun. Depth
of water fished varied from five to 500m. Fish caught included demersal, schooling
and pelagic types and belonged to 62 species and 32 families. The study needs
to be refined to include more information and repeated for at least one year
to allow firm conclusions to be drawn from the data.
2. The Use of the Seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii)
Farmed on Submerged Bamboo Frame as Fish Aggregating Device. Author Roberto
S. Apugan, Institute of Marine Biodiversity, Camiguin Polytechnic State College,
Mambajao Camiguin.
This study was conducted at a marine site 14m deep between Maasin and Tumba
Moro rivers in Masin, Zamboanga City from 10 August to 19 November 1998. One
experimental unit (seeded with seaweed) and one control unit (without seaweed),
each measuring 4m x 4m, were submerged 10 cm below water surface. Another
similar set-up was submerged 60 cm below the surface. The objective was to
determine the effectiveness of the farmed algae in attracting fish. Observations
on the fish attracted to the units were made using SCUBA during three cropping
each lasting 30 days. Feeding habits were observed in the field and food taken
in was determined by dissection in the laboratory. The results showed that
the experimental unit attracted six species belonging to five families, namely,
Siganus canalicalatus, Abudefduf saxatilis, Pseudocoris ocellatus,
Monocanthus chinenis, Carangoides malabaricus, and Halichoeres
bivittatus. The first two species were almost abundant. Only two of these,
A. saxatilis and P. ocellatus, colonized the control units.
C. malabaricus and S. canaliculatus are considered transient
species in the fish aggregating device. S. canaliculatus and H.
bivittatus fed on R. alvarezii, as shown by stomach contents as
observed in the field. The green algae Enteromorpha and Chaetomorpha
were also fed upon by the other fish species except S. canalicutatus
and C. malabaricus. 
