LENGTH - WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP OF BIVALVES AND GASTROPODS FROM MANGROVE FOREST OF BRGY. NABAGO, SURIGAO CITY, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Bivalves and gastropods are among the most important food resource in coastal communities. The destructive ways of harvesting these mangrove associate fauna may cause a threat to the forest and may alter the physiological condition of these organisms. The length-weight relationship of two bivalves (Anodontia edentula and Saccostrea cuccullata) and 11 gastropods (Littoraria angulifera, Littoraria melanostoma, Littoraria scabra, Chicoreus capunicus, Tenguella musiva, Nerita exuvia, Nerita lineata, Cerithidea decollate, Terebralia palustris, and Terebralia sulcata) species collected from the mangrove forest of Barangay Nabago, Surigao City was assessed in this study. A. edentula exhibits positive allometry (b=3.7002) while S. cuccullata shows negative allometry (b=2.6145). The 11 gastropod species demonstrate a negative allometric pattern (b<3). The negative allometric pattern of these species indicates that the length increased faster than the weight, which could be attributed to the different environmental factors in the area. The data obtained in this study is essential for the monitoring of these organisms and management of the entire mangrove ecosystem in the area.