A survey of the vascular macrophytes of Western Lake, Buhi, Camarines Sur

• Main Author: Madrid, Temujin Fidel Rada
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1661
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study attempted to identify, describe and classify the vascular macrophytes occuring on the western side of Lake Buhi. All vascular macrophytes occurring within 1 m from the shoreline and up to 2 m in depth along the 12 km study site were collected. Water samples, as well as water temperature and Secchi disk transparencies were taken from 8 random sites. The collected plants were brought to the UPLB Herbarium for identification. The water samples, on the other hand, were analyzed by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management for pH, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity as well as calcium, nitrate and phosphate content. Eichornia crassipes Mart., [Pontederiaceae], Polygonum barbatum Linn, [Polygonaceae], Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. [Convolvulaceae], Phragmites australis Cav. [Poaceae], Ludwigia hyssopifolia G.DOn. [Onagraceae], Ludwigia decurrens Walt. [Onagraeae], Pennisetum purpureum Schum. [Poaceae], and Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. [Poaceae] constituted the vascular macrophyte vegetation of western Lake Buhi. These were either emergent or floating species. The absence of submerged macrophytes was noted. E. crassipes was the most abundant species, occurring in large islands of vegetation along most of the 12 km study site. The lakewaters exhibited nutrient loading as well as relatively high levels of turbidity. Insufficient light penetration probably led to the disappearance of the submerged species due to the restriction of their photosynthetic capabilities.