DIVERSITY OF ECHINODERMS IN BRGY DIAMANTE, PRIETO DIAZ, SORSOGON

A SPECIAL PROBLEM SUBMITTED TO THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT COLLEGE OF

SCIENCE BICOL UNIVERSITY, LEGAZPI CITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
(BIOLOGY)

By
EUNICE GUMAL
SHAINA SARMIENTO
MIKAELA ROME C. BIGAY
ANDREA DOLOR BOYON
DENZ LOUIS DE VERA
FLOREVIE AQUINO
JESRAEL ROJERO
FRANCIS ANDES
ARLENE ORO
EDMUND KYLE NAVAL
Introduction

Philippine waters contain some of the world’s richest ecosystems, characterized by

extensive coral reefs, sea-grass beds and dense mangrove forests. Blessed with a sunny tropical

climate, waters enriched with nutrients from the land, and driven by the wind, the country

supports an exceptionally high diversity of marine life. (Padilla, 2008)

Scientific studies have proven that the Philippines is the epicenter of marine biodiversity.

A geographical information system analysis on an extensive marine species database on the Indo

– Malay – Philippines Archipelago (which is part of what is known as Coral Triangle),

confirmed that the highest concentration of marine species per unit area is found in the

Philippines. Stock assessment and taxonomic surveys show that Philippine marine genetic

resources are comprised of roughly 6000 species of clams, snails, molluscs, 488 species of

corals, 981 species of benthic algae, 2824 marine fish species, 1200 species of decapods

crustaceans, over 100 echinoderm species, seaweeds and threatened species such as sea

cucumbers, turtles, sharks and other marine mammals. (Romana-Eguia, 2007)

One of the most important parts of the marine ecosystem are the echinoderms.

Echinoderms are important members of the seafloor communities and are directly useful to

humans in many ways. (Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia, 1983)

Echinoderm is any of a variety of invertebrate marine animals belonging to the phylum

Echinodermata and is characterized by a hard, spiny covering or skin. They are large,

conspicuous, entirely marine invertebrates according to Mooi (2002). They are monophyletic and

comprise a sister-group to the hemichordates (acorn worms) according to Elsiever (2015). As

stated by Mooi (2002), this group inhabits virtually every conceivable oceanic environment,
from sandy beaches and coral reef to the greatest depths of the sea. They are also common as

fossils dating back 500 million years. These less-familiar fossil types are represented by a bizarre

variety of animals, some of which reveal their relationship to the living echinoderms only at

close inspection.

Beginning with the dawn of the Cambrian Period (542 million to 488 million years ago),

echinoderms have a rich fossil history and are well represented by many bizarre groups, most of

which are now extinct. Living representatives include the classes Crinoidea (sea lilies and feather

stars), Echinoidea (sea urchins), Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers), Asteroidea (starfishes, or sea

stars), Ophiuroidea (basket stars and serpent stars, or brittle stars), and the recently discovered

Concentricycloidea (sea daisies) as stated by Pawson in Encyclopedia Britannica (2016).

Pawson also said that Echinoderms have been recognized since ancient times; echinoids,

for example, were used extensively by Greeks and Romans for medicinal purposes and as food.

During the Middle Ages, fossil echinoids and parts of fossil crinoids were objects of superstition.

In the early part of the 19th century, Echinodermata was recognized as a distinct group of

animals and was occasionally associated with the cnidarians and selected other phyla in a

division of the animal kingdom known as the Radiata; the concept of a superphylum called

Radiata is no longer valid.

Echinoderms have a skeleton composed of numerous plates of mineral calcium carbonate

(calcite). Part of the body cavity, or coelom, is a water-vascular system, consisting of fluid-filled

vessels that are pushed out from the body surface as tube feet, papillae, and other structures that

are used in locomotion, feeding, respiration, and sensory perception. The conspicuous five-rayed,

or pentamerous, radial symmetry of living echinoderms tends to obliterate their fundamental

bilateral symmetry.
 Echinoderms are separated into 21 classes, based mainly on differences in skeletal

structures. The number of extant species exceeds 6,500, and approximately 13,000 fossil species

have been described. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Echinoderms exhibit a great diversity of body forms, especially among the extinct

groups. Although all living echinoderms have a pentamerous (five-part) radial symmetry, an

internal skeleton, and a water-vascular system derived from the coelom (central cavity), their

general appearance ranges from that of the stemmed, flowerlike sea lilies, to the wormlike,

burrowing sea cucumbers, to the heavily armored intertidal starfish or sea urchin.

Although most echinoderms are of small size, ranging up to 10 centimeters (four inches)

in length or diameter, some reach relatively large sizes like some sea cucumbers which are as

long as two meters (about 6.6 feet), and a few starfishes which are a diameter of up to one meter.

Among the largest echinoderms were some extinct (fossil) crinoids (sea lilies), whose stems

exceeded 20 meters in length. The general shape of the echinoderm may be that of a star with

arms extended from a central disk or with branched and feathery arms extended from a body

often attached to a stalk, or it may be round to cylindrical. Plates of the internal skeleton may

articulate with each other (as in sea stars) or be sutured together to form a rigid test (sea urchins).

(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Echinoderms also exhibit especially brilliant colors such as reds, oranges, greens, and

purples. Many tropical species are dark brown to black, but lighter colors, particularly yellows,

are common among species not normally exposed to strong sunlight. (Encyclopedia Britannica,

2016)

Diverse echinoderm faunas consisting of many individuals and many species are found in

all marine waters of the world except the Arctic, where few species occur. Echinoids, including
globular spiny urchins and flattened sand dollars, and asteroids are commonly found along the

seashore. Although many species are restricted to specific temperate regions, Arctic, Antarctic,

and tropical forms often are widely distributed; many species associated with coral reefs, for

example, range across the entire Indian and Pacific oceans. Echinoderms tend to have a fairly

limited depth range; species occurring in near-shore environments do not normally reach depths

greater than 100 meters. Some deep-sea species may be found over a considerable range of

depths, often from 1,000 meters to more than 5,000 meters. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Asexual reproduction in echinoderms usually involves the division of the body into two

or more parts (fragmentation) and the regeneration of missing body parts. Successful

fragmentation and regeneration require a body wall that can be torn and an ability to seal

resultant wounds. In some asteroids fragmentation occurs when two groups of arms pull in

opposite directions, thereby tearing the animal into two pieces. Successful regeneration requires

that certain body parts be present in the lost pieces. In sea cucumbers, which divide transversely,

considerable reorganization of tissues occurs in both regenerating parts. The ability to regenerate

lost or destroyed parts is well developed in echinoderms, especially sea lilies, starfishes, and

brittle stars, all of which can regenerate new arms if existing ones are broken off. (Encyclopedia

Britannica, 2016)

In sexual reproduction, eggs (up to several million) from females and spermatozoa from

males are shed into the water (spawning), where the eggs are fertilized. Most echinoderms spawn

on an annual cycle, with the spawning period normally lasting one or two months during spring

or summer; several species, however, are capable of spawning throughout the year.

(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

 Echinoderms feed in a variety of ways. A distinct feeding rhythm frequently occurs, with

many forms feeding only at night, others feeding continuously. Feeding habits range from active,

selective predation to omnivorous scavenging or nonselective mud swallowing. Under artificial

conditions, as in aquariums, echinoderms can survive apparent starvation for several weeks at a

time. Echinoderms may derive a significant amount of nourishment, at least for the outer cell

layers of the body, from organic material dissolved in seawater. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Among echinoderms a normal position may be with the mouth either facing a surface, as

in asteroids, ophiuroids, concentricycloids, and echinoids, or facing away from it, as in crinoids

and holothurians. When overturned, echinoderms exhibit a righting response. Starfishes show

this response most effectively, using the tube feet and the arms to perform a slow, graceful

somersault that restores their normal position. Many echinoderms burrow in rock or soft

sediments. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Echinoderms are exclusively marine animals, with only a few species tolerating even

brackish water. Most echinoderms cannot tolerate marked changes in salinity, temperature,

and light intensity and tend to move away from areas where these factors are not optimal. The

behavior of a large proportion of shallow-water species is regulated by light. Echinoderms are

found in the warmest and coldest of the world’s seas; those species that can tolerate a broad

temperature range usually also have a broad geographic range. The horizontal or vertical

distribution of many species is also governed by water temperature. The influence of pressure

upon echinoderms has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Echinoderms occupy a variety of

habitats. Along a rocky shore, starfishes and sea urchins may cling to rocks beneath which sea

cucumbers and brittle stars are concealed. Large populations of all living groups of echinoderms

can be found in mud and ooze offshore. In some marine areas, echinoderms are the dominant
organism. Echinoderms frequently use other animals as homes; thousands of brittle stars, for

example, may live in some tropical sponges.

Although echinoderm populations do not generally suffer from heavy predation by other

animals, ophiuroids form a significant part of the diet of various fishes and some asteroids.

Echinoids are frequently eaten by sharks, bony fishes, spider crabs, and gastropod mollusks;

crows, herring gulls, and eider ducks may either peck their tests (internal skeletons) or drop them

repeatedly until they break; and mammals, including the Arctic fox, sea otters, and humans, eat

them in considerable numbers. Echinoderms can protect themselves from predation in a variety

of ways, most of which are passive. The presence of a firm skeleton often deters predators;

echinoids, for example, have a formidable array of spines and, in some cases, highly poisonous

stinging pincer like organs (pedicellariae), some of which may cause intense pain and fever in

humans.

Research on echinoderms has contributed to the overall knowledge of an animal

fertilization and development. Many echinoderms are easy to culture and maintain in a lab

setting, and produce a large amount of eggs. Sea urchin eggs are also edible and often served in

sushi bars. (Mulcrone, 2005)

The survey and collection of echinoderm fauna in the Bicol Region started in 1993 and

continued up to the present. The coastal towns that were visited were Garchitorena and

Caramoan in Camarines Norte; Bulan, Magallanes, Pilar, Gubat, Prieto Diaz, Matnog and

Donsol in Sorsogon; Ticao Island and Burias Island in Masbate; and Tiwi, Albay. A total number

of 3000 echinoderms were collected representing 60 species belonging to 28 genera and 20

families. (De Celis, 1981)

Objectives:

1. Identify the different species of Echinoderms surrounding the waters of Barangay

Diamante Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon.

2. Describe the community structure of the said area.

3. Examine the diversity of Echinoderms in the area of study.

4. Discover the importance of Echinoderms as a part of the ecosystem.

Significance of the Study

The study is not only significant to the researchers but also to the people who are

interested to widen their knowledge on Echinoderms. The results of the study would provide

information on the current health of the ecosystem which can be beneficial to the residents and

the local government. It can be beneficial to the local government because by using the provided

information, the local government can manage the species well which will then benefit the

ecosystem itself and the residents who make a living from the natural resources of the area. The

study would also spread awareness of the importance of Echinoderms as a part of the ecosystem.

Future researchers would also benefit from the study by using it as a reference in studying

Echinoderms or other kinds of species. The study would also be an addition to the number of

researches about marine diversity in Bicol and also throughout the country.

Scope and Delimitation

For one month (July), the researchers formulated the initial chapters (Chapter 1- 3) of the

study. The sampling will be done in three days on August 19-21, 2016 at Barangay Diamante

Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon. The days after will be dedicated to processing the last chapters and

analyzing the data gathered. The study focuses only on the objectives stated.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the Review of Related Literature and Studies to provide information for a

more substantive research. This also discusses the information needed by the researchers to

compare and relate the current study to other published studies with the same topic.

Related Literature

Echinoidea: Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars

Echinoidea is a class of free – living echinoderms whose body is enclosed in a globular,

cushion – shaped discoidal or heart shaped internal skeleton made up of arranged columns of

interlocking, calcareous plates with movable appendages. The test or the internal skeleton has 20

vertical rows of plates arranged in five double rows of perforate and 5 double rows of

imperforate plates. There are 5 ocular plates and approximately 5 genital plates on the apical

system on the upper surface. The anus is enclosed within the apical system in many regular

echinoids. The mount is located on the lower surface and can either be central or anterior in

position. (Allaby, 1999)

There are approximately 940 species of echinoids distributed worldwide in marine

habitats from the intertidal to 5000 meters deep. Echinoids are usually grouped as regular or

irregular. They differ mostly on the oral structure, shape of the organism and the location of the

anus. (Fautin, et. al., 2000)

Sea urchins are sea creatures that live on the rocky seafloor of oceans all over the world.

They are spiny, hard – shelled animals that are considered as globular marine invertebrates that
move very slowly along the seabed. There are approximately 700 different species of sea urchins

which mostly have venomous spines. The biggest sea urchin, with an internal skeleton that

measures 7 inches in diameter is the red sea urchin (Strongylocentratus franciscanus). Full –

grown sea urchins have five – sided radial symmetry. The test or the internal skeleton is hard and

contains chalky plates. They have spines that serve as protection and are also used for moving

and for capturing food. Sea urchins have five paired rows of tiny tube feet that are located among

the spines and contain suckers necessary in locomotion and in obtaining food as well as in

holding onto the seafloor. They have a mouth which resembles a claw and is located on the

underside. It contains 5 Aristotle’s lanterns which tooth like calcium plates that point inwards.

The anus as well as the genital pores is located on the upper surface of the sea urchin. Sea

urchins have no brains like all echinoderms. (Col, 2002)

Sand dollars are considered as irregular echinoids. They have flat, disc – shaped bodies

but has many similar characteristics to sea urchins when observed closely like the ability to walk

across the seabed using tube feet. (Snyderman, 2001)

Sand dollars adapt to their environment by burrowing in mud and sand. They have

smaller and numerous spines compared to sea urchins which are the reason why their texture is

similar to sand paper. Whey sand dollars die, their body usually breaks and divides into

segments. (Wassilieff, 2012)

Crinoidea: Sea lilies and Feather stars

Crinoids are the oldest of the living echinoderms with a fossil record stretching back to

450 million years. Approximately 5,000 species of fossil crinoids are known, with the greatest

diversity from the Paleozoic. By the end of the Permian, however, only one lineage seems to
have survived. The only surviving subclass of crinoids is the Articulata.Many of these present

crinoids live in the deep sea, but others are commonly found on coral reefs. (Kellogg, D. and D.

Fautin, 2001)

The crinoids are unique among echinoderms for a number of reasons. They are all

exclusively filter feeder, trapping particles of food with their arms. Their mouth is held facing

upwards, the anus also faces upwards. The original echinoderms lived like this, making the

crinoids the least evolved of all the still extant echinoderms.

Most of them consist of a set of many branched arms connected to a central cup-shaped

body which in some cases possesses a stalk that keeps them attached to the substrate. These arms

possess numerous small side offshoots called pinnules which greatly increase the feeding that are

available to the animal. (Ramel, 2014)

Some even have parts that look and act like roots anchoring them to the ocean floor. They

are commonly called sea lilies. Their graceful stalks can be meters long. Sea lilies represent

about 12% of the Crinoidea and live their lives permanently attached to the substrate with, in

some cases, cirri arising from their stalks rather like strange leaves. This combined with the

delicate feathery arms which can open and close gives them the appearance of underwater

flowers.

Most living crinoids, however, shed their stalk at an early growth stage. These other

varieties have no stalks or root like parts. They are commonly known as feather stars. Unlike the

sea lilies the feather stars can move about on tiny hook like structures called cirri. One group, the

comatulid crinoids have lost their stalks and live swimming freely in the oceans. They are the

most common of the modern crinoids. Feather stars or comatulids retain only the topmost stalk
segment, which usually bears numerous hooks for anchoring the animal. (Guensburg & Sprinkle,

2003)

Feather stars constitute a group of echinoderms belonging to class Crinoidea and order

Comatulida, having five to hundreds of arms surrounding their cup-like bodies (Grzimek 2003;

Hyman, 1955). Just like their closest relatives, the sea lilies, feather stars are stalked only in the

juvenile stage but detach their cup-like bodies in the adult stage to become freely moving or

motile crinoids (Grzimek 2003). Feather stars are regarded as primitive echinoderms and today’s

living species all belong to the subclass Articulata. (Ausich and Messing, 1998)

Feather stars are among the least known echinoderms attributable to difficulty in their

collection on account of their fragile nature, secretive habits, and distribution in deep waters.

Also, their identification requires. patience and painstaking attention to morphological details

(Arguelles, et. al, 2010)

Ophiuroidea: Brittle Stars and Basket Stars

The class Ophiuroidea, with 2076 described species (Catalogue of life, 2016),

encompassing Brittle Stars (Ophiuroids) and Basket Stars (Euryalida), is the largest group among

extant Echinoderms (Sthor & O’Hara, 2007). Unlike other classes of Echinoderms, Ophiuroids

have adapted to a wide variety of life-styles. Majority of this species are bottom dwellers on the

sea floor, buried in mud or hidden in crevices and holes in rocks or corals. (Cherbonnier, 1978)

Ophiuroids avoid light and are more active at night. In the study made by Stohr and

O’Hara (2007), it was found out that ophiuroids have no eyes, but has arm plates which functions

as calcitic microlenses above light sensitive tissues. Brittle stars, as what the name suggest, are

brittle and easily fragment when stressed.

 At first glance, ophiuroids resemble sea stars from class Asteroidea, but there are quite a

number of unique features that sets them apart. An ophiuroid has a pentagonal to round disc that

is offset from the five arms (Sthor & O’Hara, 2007). The ambulacral groove, found on the

underside of the arms, is completely closed over by hard skeletal parts. They only have one

opening on their underside which functions both as a mouth and an anus. Unlike sea stars, the

digestive system of brittle stars does not extend into their arms. A brittle star's mouth is

surrounded by jaws made up of a circle of five large toothed plates that meet in the middle. Their

tube feet lack ampullae, have no suckers and are used for feeding instead of locomotion.

(Hendler et al., 1995)

Ophiuroids are the most mobile among all the echinoderms. They move by gripping one

or two of their arms onto something. They then pull while the remaining arms push or trail

behind. Ophiuroids “swim” in a serpentine manner rowing their flexible arms from side to side.

(Lane & Didier, 2003)

Asteroidea: Starfish

Asteroids are most easily distinguished from other asterozoans (the Ophiuroidea) by the

structure of arms. In asteroids, skeletal support for the arms is provided by the ossicles of the

body wall, which merge with those of the central disc, giving the arm a very broad based

attachment to the disc. This skeletal arrangement allows for the extension of a comparatively

large coelomic cavity from the central disc into the arms, which serves to hold some of the

animals’ organ system, namely the gonads and pylorio caeca. Additionally, this skeletal

arrangement also limits lateral flexion of the arms. Locomotion by asteroids is accomplished

almost exclusively by means of the podia (tubefeet) from the water vascular system. Differences
in morphology between asteroids and ophiuroids are described further by Blako (1998) and Dean

(1999).

Holothuroidea: Sea Cucumbers

One of the five extant classes of echinoderms, the Holothuroidea represent a highly

diverse group with about 1,400 species of sea cucumbers recorded from oceans around the

world, from the intertidal and shallow seas to abyssal depths (Pawson, 2007).  Of the 763 species

of echinoderms recorded from India, 160 species classified under 14 families and 62 genera are

represented by holothurians (Venkataraman & Wafar, 2005).  In many parts of the world several

species of holothuroids are commercially fished and heavily overexploited for food, and many

species are ideal sources of bioactive compounds. 

Sea cucumbers are any of 1,200 species of marine invertebrates that constitute a class

within the phylum Echinodermata. The soft cylindrical body, 2 to 200 centimeters long and 1 to

20 cm thick, is usually a dull, dark colour and often warty, thus resembling a cucumber. The

internal skeleton is reduced to numerous distinctively shaped, tiny calcareous structures

(ossicles) in the skin. Most species have five rows of tube feet extending from mouth to anus.

The anal opening is used for both respiration and discharging wastes. The 10 or more retractile

tentacles surrounding the mouth are used for taking food (mud containing nutrients or small

aquatic animals) or burrowing. Locomotion is usually slug-like, although some deep water

species can swim. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Sea cucumbers are found in all oceans, mostly in shallow water but sometimes at depths

of many thousands of metres. They are best represented in the Indian Ocean and the western

Pacific. The 80 to 100 species of large, warty sea cucumbers of the genus Holothuria are
especially abundant on coral reefs. Most species of Holothuria are deposit feeders similar

to earthworms: they ingest sediment to extract the organic constituents. (Encyclopedia

Britannica, 2016)

Sea cucumbers are harvested to produce numerous products, including medicines and

dietary supplements, shampoo, and toothpaste. However, bêche-de-mer, the dried outer body

wall, is considered to be the most valuable part of the animal. It is a delicacy throughout Asia,

especially in China, and the voracious demand for bêche-de-mer has reduced the stocks of many

sea cucumber species across the world. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016)

Related Studies

Birkeland (1989, as cited by Alvarado, Guzman and Breedy, 2011) stated that it has been

documented that in coral reefs, echinoderms achieve high diversity and biomass.

Echinoderm species diversity in the coastal waters of South Andaman was investigated in

ten sites by Rao and Kumar (2014). 89 species of Echinoderms were identified which plunge

under five classes of echinoderms such as Holothurioidea, Echinoidea, Ophiuroidea, Asteriodea

and Crinoidea belonging to 52 genera, 13 orders and 24 families, which were the most diverse

classes. Species richness was generally greater, higher levels were noted in Pongibalu and

Chidiyatapu followed by Marina Park, Wandoor and Barmanallah.

In the study of Marin, Escandon, Perezrul, Villalobos, Martinez, Sanchez, Nayar and

Gonzales (2013) on the diversity of Echinoderms in Mexico, it explained that Mexico’s

extensive littoral zone and great diversity of habitats supports 643 species of echinoderms,

approximately 10 % of the world total. Class Crinoidea is less well represented with 29 species

(4 % of the world total), while the Class Ophiuroidea is the richest of all with 197 species (31
%); Class Asteroidea is second with 185 species (29 %); Class Echinoidea is the third most

diverse group with 119 species (19 %); Class Holothuroidea is represented by 113 species (17

%). Diversity and distribution of echinoderms in Mexico is described for the four coastal regions

of the country: Gulf of California, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

Ellis and Rogers (2000) stated in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the

UK discussed the distribution of Echinoderms in the eastern English Channel and Irish Sea. The

distribution and relative abundance of macroepibenthic Echinoderms in the said area is described

from beam trawl catches. Echinoderms accounted for approximately 29% (by biomass) of fauna

captured. A total of 24 species were recorded, including 12 species of starfish. The most

frequently encountered species were Asterias rubens and Psammechinus miliaris, which were

recorded at 85.5% and 56.0% of stations respectively. Asterias rubens and Ophiothriz fragilis

accounted for 63.7% and 25.5% (by biomass) respectively of the echinoderms sampled. The

echinoderm fauna was more diverse in St. George’s Channel and western Irish Sea than in the

north-eastern English Channel.

Sakthivel and Fernando (2014) studied echinoderm diversity at Mudasal Odai and

Nagapattinam coast of Tamil Nadu, southeast India. They have recorded 14 species, 11 genera, 8

families, 5 orders and 3 classes in Mudasal Odai and 11 species, 8 genera, 6 families, 5 orders

and 3 classes in Nagapattinam coast. The most diverse families are Temnopleuridae (4 species in

Mudasal Odai and Nagapattinam). Among the genera, Salmacis, Astropecten and Echinodiscus

have two species each in both study areas. The echinoderm species Temnopleurus torumatics is

the dominant in both Mudasal Odai and Nagapattinam coasts. Three species (Stellastar

equestries, Ophiocnemis mamorata and Salmacis virgulata) in Mudasal Odai and three species

(Salmacis bicolor, Echinodsicus auritus, Echinodiscus bisperforatus) in Nagapattinam coast

were recorded as abundant species. Three species (Pentaceraster regulus, S. bicolor, E. auritus)

in Mudasal Odai and four species (Stellaster equestries, O. mamorata, Salmaciella dussumieri,

Salmacis virgulata) in Nagapattinam were reported as co-abundant species. Three species are

present in two coasts; four species are present in Mudasal Odai. All echinoderm species are

present in Mudasal Odai coast; three species are absent in Nagapattinam coast.

111 Echinoderm species were found at Raine Island according to a study of the diversity

of Echinoderms at the said area by Byrne, Cisternas, Hoggett, O’Hara and Uthicke (2004). It

consists of 11 asteroids, 24 crinoids, 27 holothuroids and 41 ophiuroids. The asteroid fauna was

relatively small and dominated by ophidiasterid species common elsewhere. However, one small

individual does not belong to any of the local species. It appears most closely allied to

Ophidiaster perrieri, a species known only from the western Indian Ocean. The ophiocomids

were the most conspicuous ophiuroids with 16 species found in the waters around Raine Island

from the intertidal to 15 meters depth. Comasterids dominated the crinoid fauna at Raine Island

both in number of species and number of individuals. Few echinoid species were found at Raine

Island, although it is likely that some irregular sea urchins exist in sand habitats that were not

sampled during the survey.

The survey and collection of echinoderm fauna in the Bicol Region started in 1993 and

continued up to the present. The coastal towns that were visited were Garchitorena and

Caramoan in Camarines Norte; Bulan, Magallanes, Pilar, Gubat, Prieto Diaz, Matnog and

Donsol in Sorsogon; Ticao Island and Burias Island in Masbate; and Tiwi, Albay. A total number

of 3000 echinoderms were collected representing 60 species belonging to 28 genera and 20

families. (De Celis, 1981)

 A study by Arceo (2014) discussed the taxonomic assessment of Echinoderms at

Barangay Diamante Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon. A total of 12 species were identified and 827

individuals were counted throughout the three stations. With the use of references, 11 species

were identified. Of the 12 species, five of them are under the class Echinodea: Centrosyphanus

sylviae, Diadema savignyi, Diadema setosum, Echinometra mathaei, Tripneustes gratilla; Three

under the class Asteroidea: Culcita novaguineae, Linckia laevigata, Protoreaster nodosus; two

species under the class Holothuroidea: Actinopyga lecanora, Synapta maculate; an unidentified

species of Brittle star under the class Ophiuroidea and an unidentified species under Crinoidea.

A journal by ILN Casilagan, MA Juinio-Meñez, ED Crandall (2013), cited that the sea

urchin, Tripneustes gratilla is ecologically and economically important in the Indo-Pacific

region. It used population genetic methods to investigate the population structure and historical

demography of exploited populations in the Philippines. Sea urchins were collected from 6

localities in western Luzon and 4 outgroup sites. Samples were sequenced for mitochondrial

cytochrome oxidase-1 gene (n = 282) and genotyped for seven microsatellite loci (n = 277). No

significant genetic structure was found for either class of markers, indicating either extensive

gene flow across the archipelago, or that populations have high genetic diversity and have not yet

attained equilibrium between genetic drift and migration following large changes in demography.

Interestingly, demographic inferences from the two types of markers were discordant.

Mitochondrial lineages showed demographic expansion during the Pleistocene while

microsatellite data indicated population decline. Estimates for the date of each event suggest that

a Pleistocene expansion could have preceded a more recent population decline, but it also

discussed other hypotheses for the discordant inferences. The high genetic diversity and broad
distribution of haplotypes in populations that recently recovered from fishery collapse indicate

that this species is very resilient over evolutionary timescales.

A study conducted by Palma (2002) focused on the distribution and abundance of

shallow water sea cucumber in Pagul Island, Rapu-rapu Albay. According to her, about ninety-

nine species and varieties of holothurians are widely distributed in the Philippine seas and thirty-

nine of them including non-commercial forms have been described. They are found in waters of

various depths on sandy, muddy, rocky or even grassy bottoms. They had been collected

regularly from Sulu Archipelago, in the vicinity of Jolo, Saisi, Bongao and Seyanki and from

waters around Bohol, Cebu, Bantayan and Negros. There are still many places where the

industry is underdeveloped particularly in Pagul Island in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Arguelles, Dela Paz and Claveria (2010) studied the identification Feather Stars at Subic

Bay, Zambales in the Philippines. According to them, despite the rich/diverse marine life in the

other diving sites, feather stars were absent. The three dive sites consisted of the San Quentin and

LST wrecks, and the South Reef Canyons. A total of 15 specimen of comatulid crinoids were

collected from the San Quentin (n=4), South Reef (n=55), and LST Wreck (n=6). The specimen

represented eight different species belonging to four families (Table 1). Of the 15 specimen, one

specimen each of Cenometra bella, Comanthus parvicirrus and Stephanometra tenuipinna were

collected from the LST wreck; one and two specimen of Comatella nigra and Phanogenia gracilis

from the South Reef Canyons, respectively; a total of three specimen of Comaster nobilis from

the San Quinten and the LST wreck; one specimen each of Himerometra robustipinnin from the

San Quentin and the LST Wreck; and a total of four Capillaster multiradiatus were collected

from the three diving sites.

 DEFINITION OF TERMS

DIVERSITY –

FAUNA –
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Study Site

The researchers will conduct the evaluation and sampling of Echinoderms at Barangay Diamante Prieto Diaz,

Sorsogon. Prieto Diaz is 387 km (241 mi) southeast of Manila, 150 km (31m) east-southeast of Naga City the

regional center and 20 km (12.4 mi) north-north-east of Sorsogon City the provincial capital. North of Prieto

Diaz across the Albay Gulf is Rapu-Rapu, Albay, on the west is Bacon District of Sorsogon City and on the

south is Gubat, Sorsogon while Pacific Ocean is on the east. It has a coastal area with a diverse ecosystem so it

is appropriate for the researchers to conduct the sampling in the said area. The place is protected by the local

government to prevent the destruction of the ecosystem.

Fig. 1 Map of the study site (Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon)

Duration of the Study

The first to third chapters were made in the whole month of July, 2016. The sampling will be conducted from

August 19 to August 21, 2016.

Materials Used

The materials that will be used in the study are buckets, gloves, measuring tapes, digital cameras, laptop, rulers,

writing materials, fishing nets, plastic straws and bamboo sticks.

Sampling Technique

The line transect method will be used as a sampling technique.

Sample collection

In collecting these samples, the students may simply pick them with their hands protected with gloves. Then

they record it. They also used tongs. The students used a pail as their storage of samples they got. After

collecting samples, the students sorted the samples according to their classes.

Identification of Specimen

Books and internet sources which discuss mainly about Echinoderms will be used as references in the

identification and assessment of specimen. Pictures of Echinoderm species covered with plastic wrap to prevent

it being wet will be used in identification during the sampling. The identification of species will also be verified

using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).

Analysis of Data

The usage of these statistical tools will be helpful in getting the species density, relative density, frequency,

relative frequency and importance value for the study.

 no . of individuals of each species
Species Density= ×100
Total Area sampled

Density of Species
Relative Density= × 100
Total Density of all Species

no .of plots where a species occurred

Frequency= ×100
Total no . of sampled plots

Frequency of Species× 100

Relative Frequency=
Total Frequency of all Species

Importance Value =RD+ RF