Feasibility of early outplanting of sexually propagated Acropora verweyi for coral reef restoration demonstrated in the Philippines

Over the last 20 years, coral sexual propagation techniques for reef restoration have been steadily developed and improved. However, these techniques involve considerable time and costs to grow coral propagules. There is a need to examine the optimal size of juvenile corals for outplantation. Here, we outplanted sexually propagated small (3–5 mm diameter) and large (10–15 mm diameter) Acropora verweyi corals at 4 months after fertilization at two sites in northwestern Philippines, and compared their survival and radial growth rate after a year. A. verweyi coral juveniles (n = 240) exhibited an overall mean survival of 29.5% and growth rate of 11.12 ± 6.2 mm/year (mean ± SD). Large colonies had a significantly higher growth rate than smaller colonies. Although survivorship of large juveniles was significantly better than that of the smaller ones at one site, it did not differ significantly at the other. Each 4‐month‐old coral cost US$1.52 to produce, while the cost of each of the outplanted juveniles (n = 240) was about US$2.67, whereas the cost of each survivor about a year after outplantation was US$11.47. Results suggest that A. verweyi reared in ex situ nurseries for only 4 months can survive reasonably well when outplanted onto coral reefs.     

Genetic diversity of Kappaphycus species (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta) in the Philippines

The mariculture of eucheumatoids (species of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma) in the Philippines has had a long history, dating back to the 1970s. Over this period, a number of varieties have been brought into domestication; some are now widely distributed and farmed in various regions of the country, but a significant number appear to have a more restricted distribution and are farmed only in certain areas. The taxonomy of many of these seaweed cultivars and their phylogenetic relationships still remain to be resolved at the specific and subspecific levels. In this study, two mitochondrial DNA markers, COI-5P region and cox2-3 intergenic spacer, were used to assess the genetic diversity of the farmed varieties and a few specimens collected from the wild. Analysis using haplotype networks revealed several new haplotypes for K. alvarezii, K. malesianus and K. striatus, mainly from specimens collected from eastern and southwestern regions of the Philippines. The inferred phylogenetic relationships based on both mtDNA markers resolved the identity of all the materials used in the study at the species level. We present molecular evidence that K. malesianus, in addition to K. alvarezii, K. cottonii, K. inermis, K. procrusteanus and K. striatus (and, hence, all currently recognized species of Kappaphycus) occurs in the Philippines. Collectively, these observations suggest that the Philippine archipelago has richer genetic diversity of farmed and wild Kappaphycus than do the other geographic regions, consistent with the hypothesis that the Philippines is, or is part of, the centre of Kappaphycus biodiversity in the world. These findings also reveal an untapped diversity that can potentially be exploited for improving the commercial production of these carrageenophytes.     

EVIDENCE FOR CLIMATE‐DRIVEN DIVERSIFICATION? A CAUTION FOR INTERPRETING ABC INFERENCES OF SIMULTANEOUS HISTORICAL EVENTS

Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is rapidly gaining popularity in population genetics. One example, msBayes , infers the distribution of divergence times among pairs of taxa, allowing phylogeographers to test hypotheses about historical causes of diversification in co‐distributed groups of organisms. Using msBayes , we infer the distribution of divergence times among 22 pairs of populations of vertebrates distributed across the Philippine Archipelago. Our objective was to test whether sea‐level oscillations during the Pleistocene caused diversification across the islands. To guide interpretation of our results, we perform a suite of simulation‐based power analyses. Our empirical results strongly support a recent simultaneous divergence event for all 22 taxon pairs, consistent with the prediction of the Pleistocene‐driven diversification hypothesis. However, our empirical estimates are sensitive to changes in prior distributions, and our simulations reveal low power of the method to detect random variation in divergence times and bias toward supporting clustered divergences. Our results demonstrate that analyses exploring power and prior sensitivity should accompany ABC model selection inferences. The problems we identify are potentially mitigable with uniform priors over divergence models (rather than classes of models) and more flexible prior distributions on demographic and divergence‐time parameters.     

New acylated anthocyanins from purple yam and their antioxidant activity

Purple yam (Dioscorea alata L.), which is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, is characterized by its color and viscosity. Previous studies have shown that purple yams contain a variety of acylated anthocyanins that exhibit higher levels of antioxidant activity than the corresponding nonacylated compounds. In this study, the pigments found in purple yams from the Philippines (D. alata) were isolated and evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity. Four new acylated anthocyanins, alanins (1–4) were isolated from the MeOH extracts of purple yam, which were subsequently determined to be cyanidin (1, 2, and 4) and peonidin (3) type compounds, along with four known anthocyanins (5–8). The structures of 1–4 were determined by spectroscopic methods, including NMR and MS analyses. The antioxidant activities of anthocyanins 1–8 were investigated using oxygen radical absorbing capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays.     

Drachiella liaoii sp. nov., a new member of the Schizoserideae (Delesseriaceae,Rhodophyta) from Taiwan and the Philippines

A new member of Delesseriaceae (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) is described from Southern Taiwan and the Philippines. On the basis of comparative vegetative and reproductive morphology, and phylogenetic analysis inferred from nuclear-encoded large-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences (LSU rDNA), we conclude that it belongs in the genus Drachiella, tribe Schizoserideae, subfamily Phycodryoideae. The new taxon shares with other Drachiella species the absence of macro- and microscopic veins; diffuse growth by marginal and intercalary meristematic cells; a polystromatic, lobed thallus; abundance of rhizoidal marginal proliferations used for attachment; convoluted plastids in surface cells; abundant secondary pit connections among adjacent vegetative cells; large intercellular spaces between surface cells; procarps confined to the upper side of the thallus, circular in outline, consisting of a supporting cell bearing a strongly curved carpogonial branch and two sterile groups that remain undivided; vertical division of gonimoblast initial from auxiliary cell, and unilateral, monopodial branching of gonimoblasts; and mature cystocarps with a massive candelabrum-like fusion cell of fused gonimoblasts bearing carposporangia in branched chains. It is distinguished from the other members of the genus by thalli that consist of extensive tangled mats of prostrate and overlapping decumbent blades, procarps confined to the upper side of the thallus, and the lack of basal stalks or stipes. Whereas the Schizoserideae is predominantly a Southern Ocean tribe, one of the tribe's four genera, Drachiella, was known only from the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. We herein report the first record of the genus for the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and describe Drachiella liaoii, sp. nov., as a fourth species in the genus.     

Hydraena (Hydraenopsis) ateneo,new species (Coleoptera,Hydraenidae) and other aquatic Polyphaga from a small habitat patch in a highly urbanized landscape of Metro Manila,Philippines

Seven species of Hydraenidae, Hydrophilidae and Elmidae are recorded from temporary freshwater habitats at the Ateneo de Manila University Campus in the metropolitan area of Manila, Philippines. They were identified as Enochrus (Lumetus) fragiloides d’Orchymont, Helochares (Hydrobaticus) lepidus d’Orchymont, Helochares (Helochares) pallens (MacLeay), Hydraena (Hydraenopsis) scabra d’Orchymont, Hydraena (Hydraenopsis) palawanensis Freitag & Jäch (new record for Luzon Island), Stenelmis sp. A further hydraenid species was unknown to science and is newly described: Hydraena (Hydraenopsis) ateneo Freitag, sp. n. Aedeagus, gonocoxite, spermatheca, and female tergite X are illustrated by computer-based line drawings. Habitus images of all three Hydraena Kugelann species recorded and a checklist of the Philippine Hydraena are provided. The presence of these seven species in the Ateneo campus is briefly discussed in regard to the area’s history. Measures to maintain and extend semi-natural islands of biodiversity in urban areas are suggested.     

Spatial variability in reef-fish assemblages in shallow and upper mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Philippines

The variability in reef-fish species assemblages was examined at three geographic locations in the Philippines (Apo, Abra and Patn), each showing varying levels of disturbances (low to high) at two depths, shallow-water reef (SWR; 8–20 m) and the upper mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCE; 30–35 m). Fish species assemblages varied among locations and between depths. Differences in fish assemblages among locations corresponded to the variability in benthic assemblages and levels of disturbances, wherein locations with higher coral cover and less disturbances had the highest fish species richness, abundance and biomass. Variation in fish assemblages between depths was also associated with changes in benthic assemblages and possibly inaccessibility to local fishing techniques. Fish species richness decreased with depth in all locations, but biomass increased only in the MCEs of Apo and Abra, which is a similar pattern exhibited in many MCEs. Our results suggest that despite location differences, depth had a relatively consistent influence on fish species assemblages, particularly in locations exposed to low and intermediate disturbance. Under high disturbance, MCEs exhibit similar vulnerability to SWRs.     

How Quickly do Fragments of Coral “Self‐Attach” after Transplantation?

Transplantation of coral fragments is seen as a potential method to rapidly restore coral cover to areas of degraded reef; however, considerable research is still needed to assess the effectiveness of coral transplantation as a viable reef restoration tool. Initially, during restoration efforts, coral transplants are attached artificially. Self‐attachment (i.e., growth of coral tissue onto the substrate) provides a more secure and lasting bond, thus knowledge about self‐attachment times for corals is of importance to reef restoration. While it is known that coral fragments may generate new tissue and bond to substrata within a few weeks of transplantation, surprisingly little is known about the speed of self‐attachment for most species. Two independent experiments were carried out to examine the self‐attachment times of 12 scleractinian and one non‐scleractinian coral species to a natural calcium carbonate substrate. The first experiment examined times to self‐attachment in 11 species of differing morphologies from seven families over approximately 7 months, whereas the second experiment examined three fast‐attaching Acropora species over approximately 1 month. In the first experiment, the branching species Acropora muricata had a significantly faster self‐attachment time compared to all other species, while Echinopora lamellosa had the slowest self‐attachment time. For the second experiment, A. muricata was significantly slower to self‐attach than Acropora hyacinthus (tabular) and Acropora digitifera (corymbose‐digitate). The results suggest that a combination of factors including growth rates, growth form and life history may determine how quickly fragments of coral species self‐attach after fragmentation and transplantation.     

A synoptic review of the ant genera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Philippines

An overview of the history of myrmecology in the Philippine archipelago is presented. Keys are provided to the 11 ant subfamilies and the 92 ant genera known from the Philippines. Eleven ant genera (12%), including 3 undescribed genera, are recorded for the first time from the Philippines. The biology and ecology of the 92 genera, illustrated by full-face and profile photo-images, of Philippine ants are summarized in the form of brief generic accounts. A bibliography of significant taxonomic and behavioral papers on Philippine ants and a checklist of valid species and subspecies and their island distributions are provided.     

Karyology and agar analysis of the agarophyteGelidiella acerosa (Forsskål) Feldmannet Hamel from the Philippines

Microspectrophotometry with the DNA-localizing fluorochrome DAPI demonstrated ploidy level differences in tetrasporophytic and presumptive gametophytic phases ofGelidiella acerosa from the Philippines. Comparison of mean nuclear DNA (I _f ) values to chicken erythrocytes (RBC) resulted in an estimate of 0.32 pg/2 C genome. Karyological studies with aceto-orcein revealed a chromosome complement of six bivalents during diakinesis of tetrasporocytes. The agar yield ranges from 13–24% dry weight, depending on the method of extraction. Agar extraction in 1 N NaOH resulted in an increased gel strength of 189 g cm^–2 at 1.5% concentration. Infrared spectroscopy indicated a relatively high sulfate content in native agar. The low (61 °) melting temperature is indicative of high sulfation and small molecular size.