Diversity and Distribution of Marine Algae in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City Coastal Area

This study investigated diversity and distribution of marine algae in the coastal ecosystem of Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City. Marine algae play vital ecological roles as oxygen producers, food sources for marine organisms, and contributors to environmental balance. Using an descriptive research design and the line-transect-quadrat method across ten stations along a 500-meter coastline, the study identified eight species among 92 collected samples: Petalonia binghamiae, Ulva lactuca, Caulerpa sertularioides, Ulva intestinalis, Cladophora rupestris, Halophila ovalis, Halodule, and Ulva compressa linnaeus. Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) was the most abundant and widely distributed species, while Petalonia binghamiae had the lowest abundance due to environmental factors such as limited light and temperature variation. Results showed that sunlight, salinity, and temperature strongly influenced algal presence and growth. Clean water and stable conditions promoted higher diversity, whereas pollution and habitat disturbance reduced algal populations. The study underscores the ecological importance of marine algae as indicators of water quality and emphasizes the need for conservation, waste management, and community awareness to sustain coastal biodiversity.