Diversity in Marine Ecosystem
t least 4,951 species of marine plants and animals are found in Philippine
coastal and marine habitats. Fishes, non-coral invertebrates and seaweeds constitute the
greatest numbers. 
One thousand three hundred ninety six species (1,396) or 28 percent are
economically important, 403 or 10 percent are flagship species, while 145 species of 2.4 percent
are under threat. Fifteen species are listed as endangered.
Sixteen species or 0.3 percent of the fishes are endemic, while 123 or 2.2 percent are known indicators of environmental conditions.
Coral reefs are by far the most diverse or species rich with 3,967 species. Seagrass beds follow with 481 species and then mangroves with 370 species.
Soft bottom communities have the lowest recorded species richness with 70 species. The 381
coral species and 1,030 species of fish recorded in Philippine coral reefs ranks the country second
to the great Barrier Reef in coral and coral reef fish diversity. There are 16 taxa of seagrasses
recorded in the Philippines making the country the second highest in terms of seagrass species
richness in the world.
