Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate the assemblage of the different benthic coral reef life forms in six selected sites around Talicud Island and to determine coral development, the present reef condition and level of succession on the reef. Results have shown that the coral reef assemblage of Talicud Island in Davao Gulf is still in good status since five out of the six sampling sites (Stations 1,3,4,5 and 6) were classified to have good to very good Development Index values greater than 0.177. furthermore, the Succession Index 1 values of the five sites, which were all less than -0.175 were classified under the poor to very poor succession category implies that the reef is experiencing some degree of disturbances both natural and anthropogenic. Using the TWINSPAN analysis, the six sites were characterized into three groups based on the type of coral reef benthic life forms present in each sampling site Station 1, Station 3, Station 4 and Station 6 were clustered into one group (Group A) and Station 5 and Station 2 were clustered individually as one group, Group B and C, respectively