Iodine is known as an essential mineral for thyroid hormone production in humans. It is water- soluble and diffuses into the atmosphere, where it is thought to break ozone molecules. Caulerpa racemosa (Phylum Chlorophyta, Class Ulvophyceae, Order Bropsidales) is a common dietary seaweed believed to be a good source of iodine in the Philippines. As of this writing, there is no record of iodine concentration measurements in harvested C. racemosa from Philippine waters. There is an expected decrease in iodine concentrations from harvested C. racemosa through time. But how fast it decreases and how much of it remains in the seaweed if stored for days is also unknown. This study measured iodine concentration in C. racemosa samples from an area in the Philippines and calculated the daily changes in iodine level concentrations of harvested C. racemosa that were stored. Titration analyses were done every 24 h, with factors such as the algal age, temperature, light, among others, kept constant. Storage conditions were adapted from how local vendors store leftover seaweed merchandise. Results revealed a decrease in iodine levels over time (y = –20.438x + 228.99; R² = 0.8937). The initial concentration (at dry weight) of iodine measured was 196 ppm and dropped to 94.8 ppm on the seventh day. Iodine levels of freshly picked and stored C. racemosa were also compared with the recommended daily iodine intake for humans.

Altitude is one of the environmental factors that affects a number of plant developmental processes, including stomatal development. In this study, the nail polish imprinting method was used to determine if stomatal density increases with increasing elevation in Ficus septica Burm. f. a widely distributed woody species in the Kalungan Forest, Mt. Talinis, Bacong, Negros Oriental. Sampling was done from 392 – 894 m above sea level from three trees per elevation. Six elevation stations were identified at 100 m interval. Leaf stomatal imprints from three trees per elevation were obtained. Stomata were counted manually with the aid of software ImageJ 1.45. Stomatal density values of the highest and lowest elevation were 3869.6 ± 814.1 and 1125.6 ± 357.1, respectively. Regression analysis showed a strongly linear relationship between stomatal density and elevation.