| Abstract |
S. crassifolium is one of the species of brown seaweeds occurring in abundance along the coast of Iligan Bay. Likewise, this species is a good source of proteins, carbohydrates and minerals in human nutrition, and one of the major sources of alginic acid and alginate. Due to the economic importance of alginic acid and its salts, and the high occurrence of this species in the locality, this study was conducted to determine the abundance, standing stock, nutritional composition, alginic acid and alginate content of S. crassifolium in Iligan Bay. Using the transect-quadrat method, the abundance and standing stock were determined in the intertidal flat of Barangay Calangahan, Lugait, Misamis Oriental, while the analysis of nutritional composition, alginic acid and alginate extraction was done using the standard methods. Results showed that the cover value of S. crassifolium was 86.80脙聜脗卤34.43% and its standing stock was 3,157.80脙聜脗卤1451.82 g wet wt m-2. The nutritional composition represented by protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash and moisture content was within the values specified for seaweeds. The average alginic acid was 3.91脙聜脗卤0.98% while the alginate was 2.14脙聜脗卤0.36%. It was concluded that the wild populations of S. crassifolium in Iligan Bay were high based on its cover and standing stock, hence sustainable for commercial exploitation for alginic acid production. Moreover, its nutritional composition was in considerable quantities and within the values specified for seaweeds. |
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology