Status and Distribution of Seagrass Beds in Alabel, Sarangani Province and General Santos City using Geographical Information System (GIS)

Seagrass assemblages have a significant function to our marine ecosystem. In addition, Geographic Information System plays a significant role in determining the spatial distribution of sea grass communities in General Santos City and Alabel. Sarangani Province. A seagrass assessment was done to know the status and extent of seagrass communities using mapping software in the shoreline of General Santos City and Alabel, Sarangani Province. The shoreline of General Santos City measure up to 27 km, 4.3 km or 87.51 ha. of it is covered with seagrasses. Alabcl, Sarangani Province have coastline that measures 12.1 km wherein 0.22 km or 1.90 ha. of it is covered with seagrasses. A total of 6 seagrass species were observed in General Santos while 5 species were observed in Alabel. The results show that General Santos City is dominated by Halodule pinifolia with a mean cover of 28% thriving in muddy substrates and highly disturbed areas: Alabel, Sarangani Province is dominated by Cvinodocea rotundata with a mean cover of 25% thriving in sandy muddy to sandy-coralline substrate and high- nutrient waters. The results confirm that seagrass beds in General Santos City is classified as a “disturbed” seagrass area and Alabel is classified as “altered” seagrass area. Moreover, the areas were also observed to receive constant anthropogenic such as Human settlements and infrastructures for recreational purposes and aquaculture.