Baseline Assessment of Seagrass Abundance and Community Structure in the Coastal Waters of Barangay Poblacion as Basis for Coastal Ecosystem Management in Malay, Aklan

Abstract

Seagrass communities are vital in the coastal ecosystem, providing habitat, stabilizing sediment, and contributing to fisheries productivity. However, there is no baseline information for seagrass abundance and community structure in the coastal area of Poblacion, Malay, Aklan. To answer this gap, this study assessed seagrass cover, abundance, diversity and community structure to establish baseline data for the area. Sampling was conducted from February to April 2022 during daytime and low tide using the transect-quadrat method. A 25-grid quadrat was placed along three 50 m transect lines, with 10 m intervals between each quadrat. Overall, three species were recorded to be ecologically dominant—C. rotundata, T. hemprichii, and H. uninervis. Of these, C. rotundata is the most dominant, with a total cover of 34.5%, the highest Frequency (85.3%), and the highest relative Frequency (26.9%).  Meanwhile, the study site exhibits moderate and relatively balanced diversity and distribution of seagrass species, as indicated by a calculated Shannon-Wiener Diversity index (H’ = 1.52) and evenness (E = 0.78).  The observed zonation pattern suggests that the area is favorable for habitat colonization. These findings provide a baseline for monitoring, protecting, conserving, and managing seagrass dynamics, as well as for sustainable biodiversity and the enrichment of Malaysia’s coastal ecosystem.