Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

The study determined the seashells’ species composition, relative abundance, population density, species diversity, substrate types and the gleaners’ socio economic-profiles in the intertidal zone of Brgy. Tubalan, Municipality of Malita, Davao Occidental Province, The Philippines.
Eight seashell species were identified in the study area namely: Anodontia edentula, Anadara antiquata, Cerastoderma edule, Lutraria australis, Nerita undata, Paphia amabilis, Strombus urceus and Terebralia sulcata. Among the stations, Cerastoderma edule had the highest number of relative abundance with 35.42 in Station 2, while the Anodontia edentula with 5.21 is exhibited lowest value (Station 1). For population density, the highest value was with Cerastoderma edule accounted 55 individuals/m2, while the lowest is Anodontia edentula with 5 individuals’ species/m2. In terms of species diversity, Station 2 had the highest number with 3.737, and the lowest was in Station 1 with 2.376. The result on the substrate type characterization revealed that fine sand to medium sand substrates were observed in all stations.
Collected seashells by the local gleaners will usually sell it in their public market, others are in their neighbours. To most gleaners, gleaning activity is considered as their main source of income to sustain daily needs.
Statistically, the T-test results revealed no significant differences for abundance with the value 0.795 and for population density with the value of 0.379 among the two stations; this implies that tabulated value of 0.05 is lesser than the calculated value. For the number of species in relation to abundance with 0.03 and population density with 0.023, tabulated value of 0.05 was greater than the calculated value which implies that the null hypothesis on the number of species in terms of abundance and population density among two stations was rejected.
It is recommended to conduct further study in other barangays, highlighting the inclusion of physico-chemical parameters factors affecting species composition and abundance of seashells.