Arrow worms show strong current flows

Nineteen species of arrow worms (chaetognaths) belonging to 3 genera were identified from samples collected along the Pacific Coast and the internal waters of the Philippines. The distribution of the species indicates that strong currents flow from the Pacific Ocean towards the Visayan Sea.

Chaetognaths or popularly known as Arrow worms are predatory marine worms that make up much of the world's plankton. Researchers from University of the Philippines in the Visayas studied Chaetognath species composition, distribution and relative abundance along the Pacific Coast and the internal waters of the Philippines. The results are based on the analysis of 12 samples collected from two oceanographic cruises in April-May 2001. The occurrence of species in relation to water masses is noted and results are analyzed with regards to the main hydrologic features of the surveyed area.

Nineteen species of chaetognaths belonging to 3 genera were identified from the samples. Sagitta enflata was the most abundant and frequent species in all stations analyzed and comprised 49.7%. Based on their respective distributions reported in the literature, the results indicate a strong influx of oceanic water from the Pacific Ocean into the Visayan Sea.

NOTE: The species identified in order of relative abundance are : Sagitta enflata, S.bipunctata, S. bedoti, S. neglecta, S. robusta, S. ferox, S. pacifica, S. hexaptera, S. serratodentata, S. decipiens, S. regularis, S. macrocephala, S. minima, S. oceanica, S. pulchra, Pterosagitta draco, Krohnitta subtilis, S. nagae, and S. johorensis. The overall mean density of all arrow worms was 4.85 ind.·m-3 (range 0.90-30.89).

Title of paper: Composition, Abundance and Distribution of Chaetognaths Along the Pacific Coast and Adjacent Internal Waters of the Philippines

Authors: Mary Mar P. Noblezada and Wilfredo L. Campos
OceanBio Laboratory, Division of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Philippines in the Visayas
Miagao, Iloilo 5023

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Published: 30 Aug 2007

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Science Diliman Journal, Vol. 19 No. 1