STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SEAGRASS BEDS IN NMALPATAN, SARANGANI PROVINCE USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

Seagrass plays vital role in the marine ecosystems of the ocean world. Unfortunately, seagrass beds are also among the most threatened of marine habitats; hence, mapping seagrass beds is essential to increase the understanding for its management and conservation. Geographic Information System software is a tool to determine the location, extent and coverage pattern of scaprass meadows. A seagrass assessment was done to know the status of Seagrass communities using mapping software in the coastal area of Malapatan, Sarangani Province. Out of the 15.3 km total coastal length of Malapatan, there is a total length of 5.21 km of seagrass beds recorded with a total seagrass average cover of 41.75%. Seagrass bed in Brpy. Lun Padidu has a total area of 30 km, Brey. Tuyan with 0.77 km^2, Brgy. Poblacion of 1.22km^2, and Brgy. Panangyalon with the highest total seagrass bed area of 2.92 km^2. A total of 6 species of seagrasses were observed in the area with sandy, muddy, sandy-muddy and coral-sand substrate which are Halodule pinifolia (34%), Cymodocea rotundata (12%), Halophila ovalis 19%), Thalassia hemprichit (7%), Enhalus acoroides(16%) and Syringodium isoetifolium (12%). Halodule pinifolia has the highest overall mean cover of 34%. Diversity index of seagrass in Malapatan coastal waters is Classified in medium category, low in Dominance index and high in Evenness value. Overall, seagrass beds on the area were “disturbed” by anthropogenic activities and human impacts. The work recommends follow up studies of map generation that also targets to identify the source of changes in seagrass abundance and distribution. Yearly assessment of Seagrass beds, conduction of IEC’s, further policy development studies and strict regulations on each coastal barangay is also recommended.