Life Beneath the Tides: Seagrass Meadows in Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Seagrasses are a valuable component of global blue carbon ecosystems yet are also endangered due to natural and man-made pressures. This study assessed the seagrass resources regarding species community structure and diversity using a transect-quadrat design along the intertidal coastlines of selected towns of Surigao del Sur. Of the 19 recorded species in the Philippines, seven common species were observed: Cymodocea rotundata, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Halophila ovalis. Across study sites, the most evident species are T. hemprichii, C. rotundata, and S. isoetifolium; the existence of these dominant species reduces this blue carbon ecosystem diversity. The highest diversity was noted at Tandag (1.43), while Cortes and Bayabas have H' = 1.08 and H' = 1.10 respectively; nevertheless, these low diversity indices (