by Czarmayne T. Escoro

The 1st regular bi-monthly clam monitoring activity (for school year 2013-2014) was conducted on July 16  from 8:30 am -12 nn. Twelve volunteers (6 MMC research staff, 2 XU Biology students, and 4 clam enthusiasts) worked together in the shallow and deep parts of the Agutayan Island waters. The group had to contend with both the scorching heat of the sun and the turbid seawater during the entire activity. In the data collection for the clam, it was decided that in addition to shell length, the following parameters also have to be measured: shell width; shell depth; and color of the mantle.

Due to previous recorded decline of the number of clams, it was also decided to do an initial investigation on the water quality of the site. MMC invited Ms. Marie Jo Roa, a clam biologist who previously worked at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, to help in the research component of the monitoring.  Thus, some physico-chemical parameters like dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, temperature, and transparency were also collected and measured on site.

The data generated will be used as baseline information to determine whether the environmental conditions in the clam site are still suitable for the survival and growth of the clams. Also, the result will be used as reference in determining possible new sites where some of the clams can be relocated.