Microalgae diversity in Carmona River, DLSU-STC, Binan, Laguna: Samplings from wet and dry seasons

• Main Author: Caguida, Renz Elmore
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/3002
• Institution: De La Salle University

The microalgae of Carmona River at De La Salle University-Science and Technology Center, Biñan, Laguna were sampled during wet and dry seasons. The physico-chemical parameters determined were elevation, temperature, pH, salinity, water depth, orthophosphate (PO43-), and silicate (SiO3). The microalgae were identified largely based on morphology as revealed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Population counts were taken using hemocytometer. Shannon-Weiner Index of General Diversity (H1) and Simpsons Diversity Index (D) determined the diversity and distribution of the microalgae while Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) determined the correlation of environmental parameters with population count. T-tests used evaluated the significance between the two seasons based on the indices. Results show that four divisions of microalgae are represented in Carmona River: Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, and Euglenophyta. Carmona River is mostly populated with diatoms, particularly Melosira, and the pennate Fragillaria, Navicula, Pinnularia and Nitzschia during both wet and dry seasons. The chlorophytes, charophytes, euglenophytes and cyanophytes are also represented in the river though very few in numbers. The lake dweller Botryococcus also occur in Carmona River. The represented taxa are inhabiting a water environment that is generally shallow (<1m >depth), alkaline (pH 8.5), with temperature ranging between 28-32oC, of very low salinity, but rich with orthophosphates and silicates. H1 indices are higher for the dry season, but based on the Sørensen-Dice coefficient, similarity of species for both seasons was relatively high. D indices show no significant differences between diversity of both seasons suggesting uniform distribution along the river. CCA shows that water temperature, pH and salinity determines the distribution and occurrence of the microalgae in the river.