Growth and Reproductive Pattern of Intertidal and Subtidal Sargassum (Sargassaceae, Phaeophyta) Populations in Bolinao, Pangasinan

  • Ariel Ortiz
  • Gavino Trono Jr.

Abstract

First and second year populations of the Sargassum in the intertidal and subtidal portions of a seagrass bed were tagged and monitored over a period of 14 months (May 1996-June 1997). Statistical analysis (ANOVA and MANOVA) showed that there was a temporal variation in the thallus length of the Sargassum population between the intertidal and the subtidal regions (p<0.05). The subtidal population have longer thallus length than the intertidal population. Mean plant heights in the intertidal area (20.5 cm [1st year age group] and 25.0 cm [2nd year age group]) were significantly shorter than those in the subtidal region (26.0 cm [1st year age group] and 31.6 cm [2nd year age group]). Sargassum population in the intertidal region reached full maturity a month earlier (November) than those in the subtidal area (December). Peak fertility stage occurred in December for both regions.
Published
2007-09-07
Section
Articles

Keywords

Sargassum; growth rate; fertility; reproductive pattern; seasonality