BENTHIC ALGAL AND SEAGRASS COMMUNITIES IN BALUT ISLAND, MUNICIPALITY OF SARAGANL DA VAO OCCIDENTAL

Seagrass and algal bed are one of the marine ecosystems that having the highest productivity that could sustain coastal resources. The present survey was undertaken to provide a firm census of the marine flora (macroalgae and seagrasses) of Balut Island, one of 2 islands of Municipality of Sarangani. Results showed that 6 Barangays that happen to have seagrass and algal beds has a total of 8 species of seagrass and 30 spicies of algae identified. There were 30 species of macroalgae evaluated, 14 were representative species of Chlorophyta, 8 were representatives of Rhodophyta, and 8 were representative of Phaeophyta. The island covers approximately 402.1lhectares of seagrass and algal beds. The most common species of seagrass was Enhalus acoroides, despite being common E. acoroides was outnumbered by Thalassia hemprichii with shoot density of 69.30shoots/m^2. On the other hand, Gracilaria verucossa under family Gracilariaceae was the most abundant macroalgae and the family Halimedaceae with 6 representative species was the most diverse. Seagrass status in the area was categorized as disturbed seagrass because of human inhabitation near coastal area and was rated fair in terms of its condition with 44.87% seagrass cover, with moderate value of diversity index (H'=1.63), high evenness index (E=0.82), and low value of dominance index (D=0.22). The area had some edible species of macroalgae and continuously being harvested without moderation. Thus, for species of macroalgae that are not edible only have threats to their ecology from human inhabitation and human activities.