Malacolocical survey along the intertidal zone of Las Piñas, Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism area (LPPCHEA).

Abstract

The only critical habitat located within Metropolitan Manila, LPPCHEA hosts about 5,000 heads of migratory and native bird species that feed on its mudflats and breed in its mangrove forests. As such, it was chosen as the core site for the study. The sampling protocol utilized in the study was adapted from the Natural Geography In-Shore Areas (NaGISA) method for rapid and regular monitoring of beach and shoreline sites. Samples were collected from three sites in LPPCHEA within three successive weekends (November 2012) to determine what mollusk species thrive in the intertidal regions and which among the mollusk families serve as prey for the birds. Thirty four molluscan families were identified, out of which were 28 species from Class Bivalvia and 33 from Class Gastropoda. From the 34 mollusk families, 22 were found to be the major source of the birds’ nourishment. Studies on speciesspecific interaction between avian predators and molluscan prey helped in determining that migratory bird families preferred mollusks in their diet much more than native avian residents of LPPCHEA do.