1. MORTALITY RATE OF HERMIT CRABS (Coenobita clypeatus) AT DIFFERENT BLEACH CONCENTRATIONS

2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The aim of this study is to determine the effect of bleach as a marine pollutant on Hermit Crabs in a simulated beach environment. It seeks to answer the following questions: 1) What are the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs when exposed to the following different bleach concentrations: 10 ppm; 100 ppm; 1000 ppm; 10,000 ppm? 2) Is there a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs exposed to different bleach concentrations?

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1) To determine the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs exposed at different bleach concentrations. 2) To determine if there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs exposed at different bleach concentrations.

4. HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY Ho: There is no significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs exposed at different bleach concentrations.

5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY There is a long history of the use of marine invertebrates as indicators of the presence and intensity of pollution. Increased abundance of the polychaete, capitella capitata, for example, has been shown to indicate the presence of the antifouling agent. (Dunbar, 2010) This study would be beneficial to the researchers and the citizens for they would acquire knowledge of the Hermit Crabs’ mortality rate at different bleach concentrations. This would be a possible starter for the study of Hermit Crabs as marine pollutant indicators, particularly of bleach. The population of Hermit Crabs may be a basis of the concentrations of bleach in that particular area. This may benefit the society, for they would know that their disposal of marine pollutants like bleach might soon cause the extinction of Hermit Crabs which are of great importance ecologically, as they are scavengers, and at the same time, serve as food sources for other animals. Hermit Crabs are also used by researchers to study the effects of pollution and coastal changes in wildlife.

6. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The study of the mortality of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations focused on 5 set-ups which are the control, 10 ppm, 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm and 10,000 ppm, respectively. This study was conducted in a simulated beach environment consist of an 8-inch diameter basin. These basins were designed to simulate the beach environment. With the simulated set-ups, the researchers were able to check it everyday. This was more convenient and practical than conducting the research in the seashore where they might not possibly be able to observe it properly. The Hermit Crabs were fed by the researchers twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, as prescribed by most Hermit Crab pet owners. To verify if there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted. The Hermit crabs’ species, weight, color, and age, as well as the brand of commercial bleach were considered as extraneous variables for this research. The entire conduct of this research is within SY 2010-2011 at Initao, Misamis Oriental.

7. METHODOLOGY A. Research Design The research design used for the study of the mortality of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Five basins were designed to simulate the beach environment with bleach concentrations, 0, 10 ppm, 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm and 10,000 ppm, respectively. The researchers monitored the Hermit Crabs’ mortality rates until LC50 in at least one set-up had been reached. A test for the significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations was the conducted.

8. B. Materials Bleach Beaker Hermit Crabs Feeds for the Hermit Crabs Seawater White Sand Stones 5 Basins (8-inch diameter each)

9. C. General Procedure Gathering of Materials Fifty Hermit Crabs from the seashore of Hapitanan, Initao, Misamis Oriental, regardless of their specie, weight, color and age were gathered. Commercial bleach and five basins with diameter of 8 inches each were also purchased. Preparing of Bleached Water Samples Bleach concentrations for Set-up A, B, C, D, and E which are 0, 10 ppm, 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm and 10,000 ppm, respectively, were prepared. This is thoroughly explained in the Table of Concentrations in the Experimental Set-up. To get the ppm concentration for each set-up, the amount of bleach was divided by the amount of seawater, and then multiplied by 10 6, or amount of solute x 10 6 ppm concentration = amount of solvent

10. Preparing the Improvised Hermit Crab Habitat The set-up for each concentration included a basin to simulate the beach environment. The set-up is represented by Figure 3.1. Figure 3.1 Set-up for the Hermit Crabs to Simulate the Beach Environment Figure 3.1 shows the set-up for the Hermit Crabs. The blue part of the figure represents the seawater and bleach solution while the brown part represents the sand and stones, and the red part represents the feeds of the Hermit Crabs which were available for them twice a day. The basin is elevated a little on the sandy part so as to prevent it from getting totally submerged and from being washed away. This serves as the land area where Hermit Crabs usually stay. Monitoring the Hermit Crabs’ Mortality Rate The researchers determined the Hermit Crabs’ mortality rate through observing it everyday until one set-up had five dead Hermit Crabs. This is also known as LC50 or Lethal Concentration 50% common to toxicity tests. Dead Hermit Crabs were determined when they did not move any longer and their bodies lied limp out of their shell. When LC 50 had been reached, the experiment stopped.

11. Experimental Set-Up Set-upAmount of SandAmount of FeedsBleach (mL)Seawater (mL) A160 mL4 tbsp.0 mL200 mL B160 mL4 tbsp.0.002 mL200 mL C160 mL4 tbsp.0.02 mL 200 mL D160 mL4 tbsp.0.2 mL200 mL E160 mL4 tbsp.2 mL200 mL Table 3.2 Components of Different Set-ups Table 3.2 shows the Components of Different Set-ups. For each set-up, the amount of solute which is the bleach was divided by the amount of solvent which is the seawater multiplied by 10 6 that then yield to their respective concentration in terms of ppm. The amount of sand and feeds were also shown in this table.

12. Statistical Tools To verify if there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted by the researchers. Also, The Megastat add-in from Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the ANOVA. Instrument Used in Data Gathering The researchers used the mortality rate, given by, as their instrument for data gathering. # of dead Hermit Crabs x 100% mortality = total # of Hermit Crabs

13. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The main problem of the study of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations is to determine the Hermit Crabs’ mortality rates at different bleach concentrations and verify if there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs. The whole course of experimentation for this study was conducted on January 5, 2011 until January 9, 2011 at Initao, Misamis Oriental. The observation of the mortality rate of the Hermit Crabs stopped on the fourth day as LC50 had been reached or 50% of the Hermit Crabs of set-up E with 10,000 ppm, died.

14. The observation for the mortality rate of Hermit Crabs stopped on the fourth day when 5 Hermit Crabs of set-up E, 10,000 ppm, died. This is also known as LC 50. At LC 50, it was observed that no Hermit Crab died on 0 ppm, 1 Hermit Crab on both 10 and 100 ppm and 3 Hermit Crabs on 1,000 ppm. With these data, the researchers calculated for the Hermit Crabs’ mortality rate. Set-up A with 0%, B and C with 10%, D with 30% and E with 50% mortality.

15. To verify if there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in the Megastat add-in from Microsoft Excel was conducted. Since the F-statistics computed in the ANOVA table is less than the F-table statistics or the P-value is lesser than the alpha level of significance which is 0.05, then the null hypothesis is rejected. That is, there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations. Furthermore, since there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations, Hermit Crabs too could possibly serve as marine pollutant indicators, particularly of bleach. Furthermore, the population of Hermit Crabs may be a basis of the concentrations of bleach in a particular area.

16. CONCLUSION After the experiment had been done and data on the Hermit Crabs’ mortality rate at different bleach concentrations were statistically analyzed, the researchers concluded that the presence of bleach affects the mortality rates of Hermit Crabs. Also, higher concentrations of bleach result to higher percentage of mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs. According to the results of the ANOVA conducted, there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations. Since there is a significant difference among the mortality rates of the Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations, Hermit Crabs too could possibly serve as marine pollutant indicators, particularly of bleach. Furthermore, the population of Hermit Crabs may be a basis of the concentrations of bleach in that particular area.

17. RECOMMENDATION The study of the mortality of Hermit Crabs at different bleach concentrations was pursued by the researchers to become a possible starter of the study of Hermit Crabs as marine pollutant indicators. With this, the population of the Hermit Crabs may be a basis of the concentrations of bleach in that particular area. Further research could be done on the Hermit Crabs’ mortality to other types of marine pollutants.

18. FIN. To God Be The Glory!