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Fish larval flux in relation to time and tide in Taklong Island National Marine
Reserve (Tinmar), Southern Guimaras, Philippines

Article  in  Galaxea Journal of Coral Reef Studies · January 2013

DOI: 10.3755/galaxea.15.208

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Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies (Special Issue): 208-214（2013）

nd
Proc 2 APCRS

Fish larval flux in relation to time and tide in Taklong

Island National Marine Reserve (Tinmar),
Southern Guimaras, Philippines

Cristy S. ACABADO1, *, Wilfredo L. CAMPOS2 and August S. SANTILLAN2

1
 Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines
Visayas, 5023 Miagao, Iloilo
2
 OceanBio Laboratory, Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines
Visayas, 5023 Miagao, Iloilo

* Corresponding author: C.S. Acabado

E-mail: cristy.acabado@yahoo.com, oceanbio2002@yahoo.com

Abstract This study examined the abundance and diver­
sity of fish larvae passing through the Taklong Island
National Marine Reserve, Southern Guimaras in relation
to moon phase (full vs. new) and time of day. The reserve
is dominated by mangrove, seagrass and coral reef hab­
itats. These were monitored during the full and new moon
phases in August and September 2007, respectively, us­ing
near-bottom and the sub-surface 335 µm mesh nets moored
in the two major channels that open to waters adjacent to
the reserve. The direction of the current in the northern
channel (Nabinbinan) reverses with change in tides, while
water current in the central channel (Taklong-Tandog
Pass) constantly flows outside of the reserve. A total of
16,387 larval fish from 69 families was caught during the
two sampling periods with the highest contribution com­
ing from Gobiidae, Pomacentridae, Engraulidae and
Blen­niidae. Fewer larvae were collected during the full
moon compared to the new moon. For both moon phases,
highest larval catches were observed at night coinciding
with the incoming tide. Larval concentrations decreased
towards dawn and no significant changes were observed
during the day. Lower flux rates were observed in the
bottom compared to the surface. The influx of larval fish
and eggs in the area reflects the importance of the reserve
as a nursing ground for young stages of fish. Higher
abundances observed in the Nabinbinan channel may be
attributed to the coral reefs located further north. Densities
were expressed as individuals per hour and plotted with
tidal cycles to examine the periodicity of the influx of
eggs and larval fish.
Keywords Fish larval flux, Reef fish, Tides, Southern
Guimaras
Introduction
Recent decades have seen an increasing interest to
understand the mechanisms of recruitment of tropical
marine fish. Like most marine organisms, these fish have
dispersive larval stages, which become quite sedentary as
adults. The adult phase lives in a wide variety of habitats
ranging from mangrove estuaries, seagrass beds and coral
reefs. Connectivity between different habitats is crucial to
fisheries management and conservation programs (Cowen,
2001; James et al., 2002; Irisson et al., 2004; Levin, 2006).
Marine protected areas are established to ensure the
continuous supply of adult fishes and to maintain bio­
diversity through larval exchange. Fish larval supply de­
 Acabado et al.: Fish larval flux in Philippines
termines the adult population in an area. Currents and
other oceanographic factors influence the transport of
early stage larvae and eggs (Cowen, 2001; McIlwain,
2003). The basis of establishing marine reserves is whether
the area is a source or sink of eggs and larval fish. The
characteristics necessary to enhance larval survival of fish
include enrichment, retention and concentration mecha­
nisms (Bakun, 1996). Taklong Island National Marine
Reserve (TINMAR) was established in 1990 primarily for
biodiversity conservation purposes. The general trend of
water circulation in the reserve shows that water comes in
through Nabinbinan Bay, and exits in Taklong-Tandog
Pass. The shallow entrance to the reserve causes formation
of a gyre in the north east of Taklong Island, thereby
enhancing the entrainment capacity of the reserve. This
study is part of a larger research to examine the functional
role of the reserve in Southern Guimaras, Philippines. The
purpose of this study is to determine the supply of eggs
and larvae in the deep mid-sections of the reserve.
Materials and Methods
The study sites are located N10º24.544′, E122º30.410′
in the Taklong - Tandog Pass and N10º25.933′, E122º30.15′
Fig. 1　Map of Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (TINMAR) showing water movements in the reserve
209
in Nabinbinan Bay of the Taklong Island National Marine
Reserve in Southern Guimaras. The direction of the cur­
rent in the northern channel (Nabinbinan) reverses with
change in tides, while water current in the central channel
(Taklong-Tandog Pass) constantly flows outside of the
reserve. Figure 1 shows that water flows into the reserve
through a small entrance in Nabinbinan Bay, and flows
out through Taklong – Tandog Pass. The shallow entrance
to the reserve causes a gyre formation, thereby, increasing
the entrainment potential of the reserve. Sampling was
done during the full moon phase in August 27-29, 2007
and the new moon phase in September 10-12, 2007. Two
conical 335 μm-mesh nets with a diameter of 65 cm were
deployed at each station, one fixed at the bottom (5-6 m)
and another at the near-surface (2-3 m). Nets were re­
trieved hourly to collect the plankton. Less number of
samples was collected in September 2007 because sam­
pling was aborted earlier due to bad weather. All samples
were preserved in 10% buffered formalin and identified to
family level in the laboratory.
Fish eggs and larval concentrations were expressed as
number per hour; since the nets were moored and the
volume of water filtered was merely a function of the
current strength, as it affects the flow of water going into
the net. Egg and larval densities were plotted against the
210 Acabado et al.: Fish larval flux in Philippines
time they were collected to detect periodicity in larval
supply.
Results and Discussion
A total of 16,387 larval fish from 69 families were
captured in subsurface and bottom nets (Table 1). Only
5-7% of the total sample was unidentifiable due to dam­
aged features. There were fewer larvae caught during the
full moon compared to the new moon. The two nets de­
ployed in August 2007 yielded a lower overall catch
(6,391) than the nets deployed in September 2007 (9,996).
Table 1　The top 15 larval families caught in nets de­
ployed during the full moon and new moon phases in
August and September 2007 at Taklong Island National
Marine Reserve, Southern Guimaras, Philippines. Abun­
dance values were pooled across families per sampling
month.
As a measure of diversity, of the 69 families identified,
only 49 families were represented in August 2007, while
64 families were found in September 2007. The top 15
families comprised 95-97% of the total sample. The most
abundant families were Gobiidae, Pomacentridae, En­
graulidae and Blenniidae. Both pomacentrids and gobiids
showed a dramatic drop in numbers from full moon to
new moon.
Overall, abundances of larvae and eggs were from 61-
77% higher during the new moon. In both lunar phases,
egg densities were from 5-25 times higher in surface nets
and were highest in Nabinbinan (Figure 2).
On the other hand, there appears to be more larvae
moving through Taklong-Tandog Pass than Nabinbinan.
During the full moon (August), larval concentrations at
this location showed average values of 854 and 2130 ind./
hr in bottom and surface nets, respectively. These in­
creased to 2726 (bottom) and 5491 (surface) ind/hr in the
new moon phase. In comparison, larval densities in
Nabinbinan were from 3 to 10 times lower in bottom and
surface nets during both lunar phases.
The gyre formed in the north eastern portion of Taklong
Island enhances the entrainment of larvae in the reserve.
This may also be attributed to the mangrove stands and
seagrass beds and their high productivity that provide
favorable food conditions for larvae that are transported
into the reserve, which reflect its function as a nursery
ground.
Variations in egg and larval densities with time and
Fig. 2　Total egg and larval densities from bottom and
surface nets moored in Nabinbinan and Taklong – Tandog
Pass in August and September 2007.
 Acabado et al.: Fish larval flux in Philippines 211

tidal stage for full and new moon phases are presented in
figures 3 and 4, respectively. During the full moon, egg
densities in Nabinbinan were generally highest in the late
afternoon up to dusk in both surface and bottom nets. This
corresponded to late ebb and slack low tide stages (Figure
3). In Taklong-Tandog Pass, the time of highest egg
densities were a few hours later; dusk at the surface and
close to dawn at the bottom. These peaks corresponded
closely to slack low tides. A similar pattern is shown in
both areas during the new moon phase (Figure 4).
For fish larvae in Nabinbinan during the full moon,
densities were highest at dusk timed with the early in­
coming (flood) tides in both the surface and bottom.
Surface densities in Taklong-Tandog Pass showed peaks
at dusk and close to dawn, when the tides were at or close
to slack low (Figure 3). A similar pattern is shown during
the new moon in Nabinbinan. In Taklong-Tandog Pass,
peak surface larval densities during the new moon oc­
curred just before dawn with the ebbing tides, but were
highest just after dusk, or during the early flood tide at the
bottom. In both nets, densities were highest a few hours
either before or after slack low tide (Figure 4).
Surface water current measured at Taklong-Tandog
Pass in November 2009 show that water flows outside
(southwest) of the reserve for most of the tidal cycle, with
short durations of inward flowing movement close to
slack low tide (Figure 5). In contrast, water movement in
Nabinbinan shifts in the same direction as the flow of the
tide, with likely slower movement close to the bottom
(Figure 1). Bottom topography is the cause for this pattern
of water movement in the reserve. The area to the
northwest and west of Tandog Island is generally shallow
(1-3 m), and so is the area west of Taklong Island (Figure
1). The deepest portion of the reserve (up to 13 m deep) is
along Taklong-Tandog Pass, where water tends to drain
regardless of tidal stage. With this scenario, the observed
egg and larval densities in Nabinbinan and Taklong-
Tandog Pass indicate a net outflux of eggs from the reserve

Fig. 3　Egg and larval densities in relation to tidal cycle from deployed in Taklong – Tandog Pass (TTP) and Nabinbinan
(NBN) during the full moon phase in August 2007. Scales on the second y-axis differ from one another. Note: surface nets
(a and b) and bottom nets (c and d).
212 Acabado et al.: Fish larval flux in Philippines

Fig. 4　Egg and larval densities in relation to tidal cycle from deployed in Taklong – Tandog Pass (TTP) and Nabinbinan
(NBN) during the new moon phase in September 2007. Scales on the second y-axis differ from one another. Note: surface
nets (a, b) and bottom nets (c, d).

Fig. 5　Surface currents in Taklong-Tandog Pass (Paringit, 2009)

 Acabado et al.: Fish larval flux in Philippines
in Nabinbinan during both full and new moon periods.
There seems to be a similar net outflow of eggs in Taklong-
Tandog Pass during the full moon, but peak densities
close to slack low tide suggests a likely net influx of eggs
through this path during the new moon. A different picture
is shown for the larvae. In Nabinbinan, net inflow of
larvae is suggested for both moon phases. In Takong-
Tandog Pass, the results are not clear for the full moon,
but a net influx is also shown by the results during the new
moon.
Egg and larval abundances captured in surface nets
generally exceeded abundances in the bottom nets. Larval
fish were highest during high tide for both study sites in
both months. This pattern of larval concentration could be
strategically associated with their vertical migration with­
in the water column to facilitate tidal stream transport
(Cowen, 2001). This implies active or ”conscious” (as op­
posed to incidental) perception of cues from the envi­
ronment so that larvae can take advantage of changing
tides (Joyeux, 1999; Islam et al., 2006; Unsworth et al.,
2007). Alternatively, vertical migration may also be in
direct response to predation pressure due to light con­
ditions. Generally, egg and larval catches were observed
to be highest at night coinciding with the incoming tide
than during the day (Figures 3 and 4). The flux rate pattern
on day vs. night abundances showed pronounced differ­
ences in values, thus larvae move to deeper water where
light is not intense and optimal for predators (Leis and
Carson-Ewart, 2001). Interestingly, unlike larvae, egg
densities in Nabinbinan were highest at daytime during
ebb tide. This indicates a spawning behavior that takes
advantage of tidal currents, where during ebb tide, dis­
persal is made possible because they are carried down­
stream (Cowen 2002).
Results of this study reflect the useful function of the
reserve. High egg concentration in Nabinbinan shows the
potential of the reserve as a spawning ground. With its
characteristic mangrove stands and seagrass beds, the
exceedingly high larval concentration in Taklong –
Tandog Pass also reflect the reserve’s likely function as a
nursing ground. The reserve can potentially enhance
production in the reserve and outside of its limits to its
adjacent waters if proper protective management is
implemented.
213
Acknowledgment
This study is part of an on-going study funded by the
UP Visayas Oil Spill Response Program. Much of the field
work was accomplished with the able assistance of the
staff of the OceanBio and Marine Bio Labs of UPV,
Joseph Gajo and various boat operators from Brgy. La
Paz, Nueva. Valencia, Guimaras. We are also grateful for
the financial support from the organizers of the 2nd Asia
Pacific Coral Reef Symposium in Phuket, Thailand.
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