| Abstract |
Various studies have been concerned with intertidal zones in determining the ecological interaction that produce
the diverse groupings of plants and animals. This study was conducted to ascertain microhabitat preferences of
Cerithiid species in intertidal areas of Bucana Sicayab and Aliguay Island in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
and in Punta Sulong, Baliangao, Misamis Occidental. Microhabitats and abundance of Cerithiid snails were
surveyed using the belt-transect method. Specimens encountered in different microhabitats were collected
through hand-picking or hand-digging the substratum. Eight microhabitat types were observed and classified as
bedrocks, macroalgae (brown, green and red), muddy sand, reef flats, seagrass beds and tidepools. A total of 14
species of Cerithiids under three genera (Cerithium, Clypeomorus and Psuedovertagus) were identified. Kruskal
Wallis test revealed that there is a significant difference in the abundance of Cerithiid species among
microhabitat types (p<0.05). Using Cramer脙垄脗聙脗聶s contingency coefficient test, the microhabitat preference of
Cerithiids was determined. Cerithium columna had high preference on flatreefs and tidepool, while Cerithium
coralium on muddy sand and Cerithium nodulosum on red algae. High proportion of Clypeomorus bifasciata
bifasciata was observed on bedrocks, though it was also numerous in tidepools and muddy sand. Clypeomorus
pellucida was more likely to be found on bedrocks and seagrass. Pseudovertagus aluco was observed to be
common on seagrass, while Pseudovertagus nobilis on reef flats. In conclusion, Cerithiid species were less
numerous in red, brown and green algae, while more numerous in rocks and tidepools to avoid high temperature
and desiccation. |
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology