Seagrass Community Structure in Disturbed and Undisturbed Coastal Habitats in Baganga, Davao Oriental, Philippines

Christine M. Young

doi:10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.207

Authors

Christine M. Young Davao Oriental State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.207

Keywords:

Seagrass, coastal ecosystem, species diversity, anthropogenic disturbance, Baganga

Abstract

This study assessed the community structure of seagrasses in disturbed and undisturbed coastal habitats of Baculin, Kinablangan, and Lambajon in Baganga, Davao Oriental, Philippines. Seagrass surveys were conducted in October 2024 using the transect–quadrat method. Three 100-m transects were established per site, with twenty-five 1m×1m quadrats systematically placed along each transect. Species composition, abundance, distribution, richness, and diversity were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ecological diversity indices. A total of nine seagrass taxa were recorded, with Cymodocea rotundata occurring across all study sites and exhibiting the highest distribution. Kinablangan supported the most diverse and evenly distributed seagrass community, whereas Baculin and Lambajon showed greater species dominance. The findings provide baseline ecological information for seagrass conservation, sustainable coastal resource management, and future monitoring initiatives in Baganga, Davao Oriental.

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