PROFILING OF SEAGRASSESS SPECIES IN GONZAGA CAGAYAN

Jing-Jing Sario, Fedelisa T. Tanguilan, Honeybeth Villaroza, Andy Catulin,Ph D

ªDepartment of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Student Researchers of Biology, Cagayan State
University-Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City, Province of Cagayan

ª Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Biology,Cagayan State University-Carig

Campus, Tuguegarao City, Province of Cagayan

ABSTRACT
Gonzaga, Cagayan is a first-class municipality of twenty-five barangays having eleven coastal
areas. Sta. Cruz, which is now also one of the restricted areas due to its diverse marine species
belonging in plankton, nekton and benthic communities. Seagrasses, benthos, also known as
"The Lungs of the Sea" is proven essential to all aquatic lives. And because of its availability and
popularity in Sta. Cruz, Gonzaga, this study was then conceptualized to raise general knowledge
of its seagrasses and its site. The study covers rapid assessment of the seagrasses present,
phytochemical screening, antimicrobial assay, and water analysis. Percentage abundance of
seagrassess were assess on the three coastal barangay namely Batangan, Amunitan and San Jose.
Phytochemical screening tested the presence of the secondary metabolites namely alkaloids,
phenols, terpenoids, anthocyanin, steroids, flavonoids, and saponins. E. Coli, P. aeruginosa and
S. aureus were used in antimicrobial assay to test the zone of inhibition of the three samples.
Water analysis tested the pH, temperatures, total dissolved solids, and depth with three
replicates.Results show the presence of seagrasses on site, the presence of secondary metabolites
from the three samples, the potency of the extracts as antimicrobial, and the suitability of the site
to grow seagrasses.

INTRODUCTION
On the north-eastern tip of Cagayan province, the municipality of Gonzaga with the highest
elevation of 1,130 meters above sea-level having 11 coastal barangays that contain a total of 139
hectares of beaches, 69 hectares of mangrove forests, and 348 hectares of coral reefs, one among
the 11 barangays is Sta. Cruz. It also covers a wide maritime area and aquatic species are then
numerous. One of its natural and beneficial marine organisms are seagrasses.Seagrasses are also
autotrophic, photosynthesize and most occur in shallow and sheltered coastal waters anchored in
sand and mud bottoms. They function as important carbon sinks and provide habitats and food
for a diversity of marine life. Also, they are potential carriers of secondary metabolites and
antimicrobial properties that benefit humans.Many researchers had conducted such studies but
because of the availability and popularity of seagrasses in Gonzaga, Cagayan, this study was
conceptualized to describe the study site and determine the abundance of seagrasses species in
the area, to perform phytochemical and antimicrobial assay of the seagrasses, and to conduct
water and soil assessment taken from its habitat.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Samples namely S. isoetifolium, E. Rotundata, and E. acoroides were used for phytochemical
and antimicrobial assay were collected in Gonzaga, Cagayan. The three species were dried in a
room temperature for fourteen days. After drying, they are cut into small pieces using a pair of
scissors and was grinded using a multipurpose blender. Samples were put into a ziplock for
transport. Packed samples were brought into the Analytical laboratory of CSU-Andrews for
testing. In water analysis, the researchers conducted the tests on site. pH, temperature, total
dissolved solids, and depth were tested in the morning and afternoon. pH was using a portable
pH meter, laboratory thermometer for temperature, conductivity meter for TDS, and Secchi disk
for the depth.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Abundance of the seagrasses species present in the three coastal barangays of
Gonzaga, Cagayan.

Location Cymodocea, Thalassia Syringodium Halophila Halodule

Batangan 21.5 23.5 15.5 1 3

San Jose 13.5 13.2 12.1 0.2 0

Amunitan 22.10 14.2 5.9 0.46 0.17

TOTAL 58% 50.90% 33.50% 1.66% 3.35%

Table 1 shows the total percentage abundance of seagrass species in Gonzaga, Cagayan
From The Three Barangays Namely Batangan, San Jose, And Amunitan. The Table Reveals That
Cymodocea has the total percentage abundance of 58% followed by 50.90% for Thalassia. On
the other hand 1.66% for Halophila and Halodule with 1.66%, and 3.35% abundance
respectively has the lowest percentage abundance. All five genera are present in barangay
Batangan and Amunitan except for barangay San Jose which do not have Halodule.
Taxonomic treatments of the different species of seagrass in Gonzaga, Cagayan

There were five genera, six species of seagrasses found along the coastal area of the three
barangays of Gonzaga, Cagayan. The following species are S. Isoetifolium, C. rotundata
E. acoroides, C. eserrulata, H. uninervis, and H. ovalis.

Table 2 Secondary metabolites among the three seagrasses collected in Gonzaga, Cagayan

Secondary Syringodium Cymodocea rotundata Enhalus Method used

Metabolites isoetifolium acoroides

Alkaloids - - - Meyer’s Test

Anthocyanin - + - NaOH Test
Flavonoids - - + Shinoda Test
Phenols + - + Ferric Chloride Test

Saponins + + - Froth Test

Steroids - - - Liebermann-
Burchard Reaction
Terpenoids + + + Salkowski Test

Table 2 shows the secondary metabolites present in the three most abundant
species of seagrassess. According to the report of the analytical laboratory of CSU-Andrews,
presence of secondary metabolites like Anthocyanin is present only in C. rotundata, Flavonoids
is seen only in E. acoroides, Phenols is present in both S. isoetifolium and E. acoroides,
Saponins is detected in both S. isoetifolium and C. rotundata, while Terpenoids marked positive
among the three species. Only terpenoids is present in all the samples conducted for
phytochemical screening.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER IN THE THREE COASTAL
BARANGAYS OF GONZAGA, CAGAYAN
Batangan Amunitan San Jose
AM NT PM Mean AM NT PM Mean AM NT PM Mean
pH 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.47 7.5 7.4 7.5 7.47 7.5 7.4 7.5 7.47
Temp. 30.5 31 31.5 31 31.5 32 32.5 32 32 31.5 31 31.5
(˚C)
TDS 130.5 129 128.7 129.4 128.4 128 130 128.8 131 131.2 128 130.1
(mg/l)
Depth 1.47 1.38 1.54
(m)

Table 3 shows the values gathered during the rapid water assessment of the physical
characteristics of the seagrasses water habitat in the coastal barangays of Gonzaga, Cagayan
namely Batangan, Amunitan, and San Jose. Test were conducted in the morning between 6-8
AM, 11-1 Noon time, and afternoon 4-6 PM. The pH result of the three Barangays has an
average pH of 7.47 which is slightly basic. As per DAO-2016-08 the normal pH is between 7.0-
8.5 for marine waters. Temperature ranges from 31 OC to 32OC, Amunitan has the highest
registered temperature of 32OC. The water temperature exceeds the normal range of DAO-2016-
08 which is only 26OC-30OC. The temperature was very high sinceCagayan has a heat index of
36 during the gathering of data. High temperature can damage the normal metabolism of marine
organism. Total Dissolved Solid has a range of 128.8 mg/l to 130.1mg/l. The United States has
established a secondary water quality standard of 500 mg/l to provide for palatability of drinking
water. This suggests that TDS of the seagrasses habitat has a lower value.. The averaged
registered depth ranges from 1.38 m to 1.54 m during low tide.
Table 4. Zone of inhibition of the three ethanolic extract of seagrassess against the three
test bacteria
ZONE OF INHIBITION
Treatments SAMPLE DESCRIPTION (mm)
Staphylococcus Escherichia coli Pseudomonas
aureus aeruginosa
ML-054 Syringodiumisoetifolium 6 6 6

ML-055 Cymodocearotundata 6 6 6

ML-056 Enhalusacoroides 6 6 6

Positive Control Ampicillin 55 29 14

Negative Distilled water 6 6 6
 Control

The antimicrobial assay using disc diffusion method shows that the three samples do not
show any antibacterial property as the zone of inhibition resulted to six millimeters only.

SUMMARY
The primary objective of this research was to profile the seagrasses in Sta. Cruz,
Gonzaga, Cagayan. Rapid assessment showed the presence of the different species growing in
the coastal area of Gonzaga, Cagayan. Phytochemical screening showed some positive results in
the different secondary metabolites from the three samples. Antimicrobial assay showed negative
result in all the bacteria used. pH, temperature, TDS, and depth were tested onsite under water
analysis and all values were recorded. All laboratory and manual tests conducted became
essential in raising a general knowledge under the case of the study.

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