SPECIES RICHNESS OF MICROALGAE IN MOLAWIN CREEK, LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA

Janece Jean A. Polizon, June Owen O. Nacorda, Milagrosa R. Goss

Abstract


Molawin Creek at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna is identified as oligotrophic freshwater ecosystem with low volume and shallow stream. This study was conducted at the upstream site to assess the species of microalgae inhabiting at Molawin Creek. Phytoplankton was collected using plankton net and periphyton was scraped on submerged and surface of rocks at three sampling stations. The species were identified and counted at 25cm2 using a haemocytometer. There were 31 species of microalgae, 12 were phytoplankton and 28 periphyton. Phytocommunity showed that bacillariophyta (diatom) was the most dominant with 19 species, followed by chlorophyta (green algae) with 8 species, 3 cyanophyta (blue-green) and 1 species euglenophyta (euglenoid flagellate). The species composition and microalgal profile are good indicators of the water quality and the direct effect of anthropogenic activities of the creek.

Keywords


anthropogenic activity, freshwater periphyton, phytoplankton, species richness

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References


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