Assessing phytoplankton diversity in Lake Calibato, San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines

Date

2025

Adviser

Ma. Grechelle Lyn D. Perez

Principal

Mabel S. Buela

Abstract

Lake Calibato, one of the lesser-studied lakes among the Seven Lakes of San Pablo City, plays a vital ecological role in supporting phytoplankton communities. However, its increasing aquaculture activities have raised concerns about its ecological health. This study aimed to assess the lake’s water quality and phytoplankton diversity during the hot dry season (March to May 2024) based on samples collected from four stations at two depths. Water quality was assessed by analyzing physicochemical parameters, including depth, Secchi disk transparency (SDT), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), phosphate, ammonium, Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), and salinity, using both in-situ and ex-situ approaches. Phytoplankton diversity was assessed using Dominance (Di), Shannon (H’), and Evenness (eH’/S). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to explore relationships between water quality parameters and phytoplankton groups. The findings indicate that most physicochemical parameters fall within desirable limits, with notable exceptions in SDT (1.00 m), low DO (2.11 mg/L), and elevated pH (9.19), suggesting environmental stress. A total of 36 phytoplankton taxa were identified across six phyla, including Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Dinophyta, Euglenophyta, and eukaryotic protists. Diversity indices showed Cyanophyta dominance, especially in May (H’ = 0.1656), highlighting its role in ecological balance and water quality. CCA revealed that cyanobacteria correlated strongly with temperature, while diatoms were associated with salinity, TDS, ammonium, and nitrate. The results highlight the sensitivity of phytoplankton communities to intra-seasonal and depth-related water quality variations. This underscores the need for integrated lake management strategies to mitigate anthropogenic impacts and preserve Lake Calibato’s ecological integrity and biodiversity.

Language

English

Location

UP Rural High School

Notes

To access this capstone, please contact the UP Rural High School Library at uprhslibrary.uplb@up.edu.ph. You may also visit the library in person, provided you secure prior confirmation from the librarian. We will be happy to assist you.

Document Type

Capstone

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