#palompon

Coral reefs of the Tres Marias Islets provide habitat for diverse marine organisms and significantly contribute to the economic activities in Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. Unfortunately, no comprehensive and detailed study was conducted to determine the status of the hard coral and the reef-associated benthic resources in Tres Marias Islets, particularly, Tabuk Islet being a marine protected area. Baseline coral resources assessment was done in randomly identified stations in the Tres Marias Islets. The modified Reef Check methodology was used to determine the percentage covers and generic diversity based on the Taxonomic Agglomeration Units (TAUs). Tabuk Islet had the highest hard coral cover and generic diversity than the other two Islets. Four Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) hard coral species were recorded in Tres Marias Islets. Furthermore, a coral bleaching event was observed in the area and reported officially in this study. The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of the establishment of a marine protected area in the growth and recruitment of reef-building corals.

Coral reefs of the Tres Marias Islets provide habitat for diverse marine organisms and significantly contribute to the economic activities in Northwest Leyte, Eastern Philippines. Unfortunately, no comprehensive and detailed study was conducted to determine the status of the hard coral and the reef-associated benthic resources in Tres Marias Islets, particularly, Tabuk Islet being a marine protected area. Baseline coral resources assessment was done in randomly identified stations in the Tres Marias Islets. The modified Reef Check methodology was used to determine the percentage covers and generic diversity based on the Taxonomic Agglomeration Units (TAUs). Tabuk Islet had the highest hard coral cover and generic diversity than the other two Islets. Four Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) hard coral species were recorded in Tres Marias Islets. Furthermore, a coral bleaching event was observed in the area and reported officially in this study. The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of the establishment of a marine protected area in the growth and recruitment of reef-building corals.

Seaweeds are important marine life. It has several uses people can avail of. The taxonomy of seaweeds plays an important component in the successful bid for its proper management, conservation, and preservation. The study was on seaweeds species found in the three islets of Palompon, Leyte. The investigation was on chlorophytes (green seaweeds), phaeophytes (brown seaweeds), and rhodophytes (red seaweeds). The descriptive method was used. Samples were collected randomly from the sampling sites where the seaweeds thrive. Twenty-five species (25) of seaweeds species were found along with the Tres Marias of Palompon, Leyte. Ten (10) species of Chlorophytes, four (4) species of Phaeophytes, and eleven (11) species of Rhodophytes. Seaweeds species vegetation in Cabgan islet is much better than Taboc islet and slightly better than Gumalac islet. Of the twenty-five species gathered in Tres Marias islets, both in the intertidal and subtidal zones, only seven (7) of them are available in Taboc islet, twenty-two (22) in Gumalac islet, and twenty (20) in Cabgan islet. Seaweeds bear interesting prospects for added income to alleviate the economic life of the fishermen in the coastal barangays of Palompon, Leyte.