Progress ReportPhilippines

Fourth WESTPAC Workshop on Research and Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts

of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems

14 – 15 December 2017 Phuket, Thailand

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Why is this study relevant?

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Fig. 1.1. Present day sea surface pH of the global ocean (Data from the Global Ocean Data Analysis Project, NOAA).

Fig. 1.2. Variation in pH levels in the world oceans (Donney, 2006).

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Fig. 1.3. Changes in aragonite saturation of the world's oceans(Feely et al., 2009).

Aragonite saturation is measure of CO3-2. It is used to

track ocean acidification.

WESTPAC OA pilot sites

Sites as of October 2017 (Alkalinity and pH)

52 Coastal areas from OA Kits (samples of opportunity)

3 Basin areas (from cruises)3 Additional sites (project areas)

Sites of OpportunityBasin AreaAdditional Sites

WESTPAC OA Pilot Sites (Alkalinity and pH)

Bolinao, Pangasinan16° 26' 16.39" N, 119° 56' 46.13" E

Lian, Batangas13° 59' 46.40" N, 120° 37' 23.23" E

Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro 12° 51' 2.3826" N, 120° 46' 31.3572" E

Mactan, Cebu10° 17' 6.8028" N, 124° 0' 4.4568" E

Taytay, Palawan10° 54' 42.86" N, 119° 31' 51.86" E

Samal Is., off Davao City 07° 09' 47.40" N, 125° 40' 54.68" E

San Juan, Siquijor9° 10' 31.2342" N, 123° 27' 42.1416" E

Bongao, Tawi-Tawi5° 2' 46.536" N, 119° 44' 21.534" E

Progress of WESTPAC OA Programme Implementation in the Pilot Sites

Ocean Acid kit contains5 borosilicate bottles (250 ml)Plastic bottle with HgCl2Waterproof notebook and pencilGloves and parafilmInstructions

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Ocean Acid kit sent to “sites of opportunity”

Coastal Area (1m)

Map of pH in surface waters

Basin Area (1-5m)

Basin AreasNorth Eastern Philippines 8.04-8.13Benham Rise8.03-8.15West Palawan Shelf7.93-8.07North Western Philippines8.02-8.16

Coastal Areas7.79-8.20

Mariculture Area 7.42-8.00

Seagrass Area7.96-8.49

Summary Map of pH

Coastal Area (1m) Basin Area (1-5m)

Map of aragonite saturation (ΩAr) in surface waters

Basin AreasNorth Eastern Philippines2.76-3.26Benham Rise3.08-3.35West Palawan Shelf2.48-2.90North Western Philippines2.51-3.46

Coastal Areas2.71-4.09

Mariculture Area 0.20-2.26Seagrass Area1.97-4.85

Summary Map on ΩAr

BRP Velasquez Underway System

pCO2 analyzer

Thermosalinograph

Summary Map on pCO2

West Palawan Shelf400-438.5 ppm

North Western Philippines373.1-427.89 ppm

ARMS

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Proj. 1c – Monitoring Biodiversity at NIPAS Sites and Ocean Acidification Baseline Study

Draft pH mapDraft Aragonite saturation map

Biodiversity Ocean Acidification Baseline Study

Main Objective• To monitor biodiversity and determine baseline information on carbonate

parameters at 5 NIPAS sites

(using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures or ARMS)

(pH and aragonite saturation maps)

KEY QUESTIONS i. Is there a difference in natural biodiversity among the 5 NIPAS sites?ii. Within a site, does diversity differ in the context of varying levels of environmental

disturbance/stress?iii. Within a site, does diversity differ in an area with distinct physical features (e.g. CO2

venting site) compared to an undisturbed area?iv. Is there a pattern of spatial and temporal differences in distribution of species/

operational taxonomic units? Is there a correlation between diversity patterns and physical parameters (ocean acidification)?

Biodiversityo 45 ARMS units deployed in 5 NIPAS

siteso deployment of temperature and light loggers

onto ARMS, except in Tubbataha)

o A total of 68 individuals received lecture on ARMS and 27 individuals trained on ARMS deployment

o Website on ARMS created (ARMS Philippines facebook page)

Ocean Acidificationo Spatial and temporal (24-hr) data on

carbonate parameters (pH, aragonite saturation, etc.) in 5 NIPAS sites

Proj. 1c Accomplishments

Palaui

Siargao

Masinloc

Mabini (VIP)

Tubbataha

(3 units x 3 areas)/site(least disturbed, disturbed, most disturbed reef)

• CO2 vents (“bubbles”) at ~6m and ~12m

• powerplant• taklobo farm

• bird islet*• tourism

• tourism

ARMS Deployment sites

*bird guano as possible source of nutrients

https://www.facebook.com/ARMSPhilippines/

Proj. 1c Accomplishments

Lecture/Training Participants

Puerto Princesa

Tuguegarao

Mabini

Masinloc

Siargao

RD Atty. Gil Aromin

Proj. 1c Accomplishments

ARMS Deployment

Mabini, May 10-11

Masinloc, May 17-18

Tubbataha, Jun 6-7

Palaui, Oct 24-25

Siargao, Nov 15-16

(ARMS before deployment)

(Temperature and light logger)

San Diego-McGlone, M.L., Lagman, M.C., Manuel-Santos, M., Gotanco, R., Ferrera, C., Lagumen, M.C., Santiago, J., Foronda, J., 2017. “Sentinel-ARMS” – Towards understanding the impacts of ocean acidification on the biodiversity of reef-builders. PAMS 14, July 13-15, 2017, Nasugbu, Batangas (Poster Presentation)

Presentation in a Local Conference

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MIKHAEL CLOTILDE S. TAÑEDOMS Student

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MULTISTRESSOR IMPACTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND WARMING ON ADULT AND LARVAL STAGE OF THE SCLERACTINIAN CORAL,Favites colmani (VERON,2000)

Ocean acidification and warming flow-through set-up established in UP MSI-BML Hatchery

Experiment setup

TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED ROOM

MASS FLOWCONTROLLER

MIXING TANK

THERMAL BATH

7.7

8.0

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CONTROL

TREATMENTS

OCEAN WARMING

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

OCEAN WARMINGAND ACIDIFICATION

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Tentative Plan for WESTPAC OA Programme Implementation in the Pilot

Sites for the Next Phase

• Revisit some pilot sites for carbonate chemistry• Retrieve ARMS deployed in protected area sites• Start a research program in 2018 to study coastal

acidification and its effects

Coastal Acidification: How it Affects the Marine Environment and Resources in the Philippines

Proj 1. Spatio-temporal trends of pH, pCO2, and related parametersDr. Ma. Lourdes San Diego-McGlone / UPD MSI

Proj 2. Impacts of acidification on the base of the marine food web and their effects on marine production / Dr. Aletta T. Yñiguez / UPD MSI

Proj 3. Influence of acidification on specific reef resourcesDr. Patrick C. Cabaitan / UPD MSI

Proj 4. Acidification Impacts on the Demography of Corals (ACID Corals) / Dr. Wilfredo Roehl Y. Licuanan / DLSU

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BudgetYear 1 – $700,780Year 2 – $465,250Year 3 – $372,837

Total - $1,538,867

Eutrophication from mariculture creates acidic conditions (pH as low as 7.4)

pH in Bolinao

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Volcanic vents releasing CO2 resulting in acidic waters (pH as low as 7.2 and 5.7 detected)

Study sites

No mention on the threat

of ocean acidification

Challenges, Strengths and Lesson-learned from Implementing the SOPs and the

WESTPAC –OA Programme

• Securing government support to do OA research has not been easy Why?

- poor understanding of OA - problem seen as too remote- Philippines as very minor contributor

of CO2

Visions/ideas on the Way Forward for the WESTPAC OA Programme

• Synthesis of information to better describe status of OA in the region

• All WESTPAC partner countries capable of monitoring and studying OA

• Regional agreement/policy to help address OA issues in the region

Participant/Institute/Country roles in the Joint Regional OA Programme

• Provide inputs and insights on OA monitoring and research

• Training of researchers who want to start OA work

Thank you