Our local reefs.

[chip104]

The Center of the Center of Marine Shore Fish Biodiversity: The Philippine Islands​

http://web.odu.edu/sci/biology/files/carpenterspringerefb2005centerofcenter.pdf

Kent E. Carpenter & Victor G. Springer

Synopsis

Multiple datasets show global maxima of marine biodiversity in the Indo–Malay–Philippines archipelago (IMPA). Analysis of distribution data for 2983 species reveals a pattern of richness on a finer scale and identifies a peak of marine biodiversity in the central Philippine Islands and a secondary peak between peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. This pattern is repeated in diverse habitat and higher taxa classes, most rigorously for marine shore fishes, supporting geohistorical hypotheses as the most general unifying explanations. Specific predictions based on area of overlap, area of accumulation, and area of refuge hypotheses suggest that present day eastern Indonesia, or Wallacea, should be the center of marine bio-diversity. Processes suggested by these three hypotheses contribute to the diversity in this region and are also a likely explanation for the secondary center of diversity. Our study indicates, however, that there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia, including Wallacea. The Philippine center of diversity is consistent with hypotheses that this area experienced numerous vicariant and island integration events and these hypotheses warrant further testing. Special attention to marine conservation efforts in the Philippines is justified because of the identification of it as an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution.

 

[solanabezo]

Chip,
Thanks for looking this up. I posted this on the other thread where Jon was asking me for e mail him a copy. I also have the graphics of how the Philippines was formed 55 million years ago to show both the Indian Ocean and the Pacific ovelapped in the Philippines. This supporting the reason why we have the biodiversity from both regions.

Also have graphic pixels showing where the highest concentration of biodiversity and endemic species are found as what he mentions as the "island integration events".

 

[solanabezo]

Chip,
Thanks for looking this up. I forwarded the site to Jon in the other thread. I also do have the graphics showing how the Philippines was formed 55 million years ago to show the hypothesis of island integration from the Indian ocean to the Pacific.

Joel

 

[chip104]

no prob. I'm a grad student at the marine science institute here in UPD and Dr. Carpenter actually came here to present it. Since his wife is Cebuana, at first he thought that people would think it was a conflict of interest. But it is a widely accepted paper.

Dr. Gomez showed me that 55 million years ago thing in a seminar. It's pretty interesting. Would you be able to post it?

If you ever need a marine science grad student to make a thesis out of the great work you do in mabini, let me know - I know lots of students who could use a topic.

One thing I was thinking of was an emergency triage center for broken corals. This could be setup easily and after a few weeks of rehab can be transplanted back on to the reef. If there's a mabini resort willing to host it, I'm willing to beg Patrick (Research associate here who specializes on it) to help set it up.

 

[jonix]

thanks for the link guys

 

[solanabezo]

no prob. I'm a grad student at the marine science institute here in
One thing I was thinking of was an emergency triage center for broken corals. This could be setup easily and after a few weeks of rehab can be transplanted back on to the reef. If there's a mabini resort willing to host it, I'm willing to beg Patrick (Research associate here who specializes on it) to help set it up.

This could be a great project. We should sit down and tell me more about it. When can we meet?

 

[chip104]

This could be a great project. We should sit down and tell me more about it. When can we meet?

maybe after christmas. Trying to rush some results for school. Come to the PPD DOR III and we could chat.

We'll need a couple of large tanks (40 gallons to 100/150 gallons), a filtration system, plus a proper setup to account for temp and light requirements of different corals. Getting the resort staff, DMs, etc. trained on the coral maintenance/transplantation techniques is another thing that would also need to be done.

Emergency triage is already being done for the transplant experiments at the MSI marine lab in Bolinao, Pangasinan. Once I go up there (soon hopefully!) I'm hoping to be trained in this stuff. But it's this dang masters that keeps me from going...

I thought about the idea when diving in Cebu and seeing the result of anchors being dropped on corals in Cebu. I thought to myself, "sayang, we could really collect these corals and transplant them." Then I thought that when divers accidentally hit the reef and knock off coral pieces or see broken corals destined to die, they could take action and bring it back to the resort with them to be placed in an emergency coral center. This emergency triage center could also serve as a media outlet for divers to promote good diving techniques. Just my 2 cents on the topic.

of course, there are arguments against transplantation as well...since it doesn't guarantee 100% recovery and it is very coral species and site specific.

 

[paolov]

We'll need a couple of large tanks (40 gallons to 100/150 gallons), a filtration system, plus a proper setup to account for temp and light requirements of different corals. Getting the resort staff, DMs, etc. trained on the coral maintenance/transplantation techniques is another thing that would also need to be done.

i got two 75 gallon tanks that can be used. and my friends at Aquarium club (ASAP) would and can lend their expertise on the matter as well.

 

[solanabezo]

I know that this might sound bad but I have had experience transplanting actual corals before the Davao Pearl Farm formally opened.

 

[jonix]

I know that this might sound bad but I have had experience transplanting actual corals before the Davao Pearl Farm formally opened.

why bad? what happened?