A quantitative and network analysis of traditional ecological knowledge on seagrass ecosystems in the Philippines

Abstract. Amores AE, Aguilar SNA. 2026. A quantitative and network analysis of traditional ecological knowledge on seagrass ecosystems in the Philippines. Asian J Ethnobiol 9: y090104. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y090104. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) plays a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, guiding resource stewardship, and supporting the long-term resilience of coastal communities. Within this knowledge system, seagrass ecosystems hold particular importance because they underpin fisheries, carbon storage, and shoreline stability. This study provides a novel quantitative framework for assessing TEK structure, offering insights for its documentation and conservation in rapidly modernizing coastal communities. Focusing on Barangay Lawigan in Davao Oriental, Philippines, the research examines how ecological awareness, traditional practices, and management actions interact to shape seagrass ethnobiology and local trusteeship. Structured surveys were administered to 344 residents and evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. Radar plot and network analysis were employed to map inter-indicator relationships, and demographic correlations were examined. The result revealed that ecological awareness has the highest mean score of 4.7, demonstrating a strong environmental understanding, reflecting a high level of awareness regarding ecological concerns of seagrass, however, moderate management/conservation practices, and lower traditional practices/uses. Ecological awareness was identified as the most central and well-integrated TEK component, whereas other indicators appeared more dispersed. Moreover, long-term residency exhibited only a weak correlation with short-term residency (r = 0.07), but showed a strong association with gender (r = 0.945) and a moderate correlation with income (r = 0.465). It also revealed a strong correlation between ecological awareness and management practices, but weaker ties with traditional uses, suggesting risks of cultural erosion. These findings reveal a core-periphery TEK structure in Lawigan, where high cognitive awareness is not fully translated into traditional practice. To strengthen TEK-based conservation, strategies should promote intergenerational learning programs, participatory policy-making, and gender-inclusive documentation with an adaptive co-management framework could enhance ecological resilience, offering a potential model for seagrass conservation throughout the broader Davao region.