An analysis of Eutrophication problem of Laguna Lake ecosystem.

Date

1995

Abstract

An analysis of eutrophication problem in Laguna de Bay wa conducted to determine the factors affecting and accelerating the eutrophication process, and to predict wate quality or trophic state of Laguna de Bay and its impact on net primary productivity (NPP) and fish production. The study confirmed that industrialization of Laguna de Bay's watershed has caused population growth in the watershed particularly through migration. Industrialization attracts people looking for employment opportunities. As industries and population in the watershed grow rapidly, many less developed areas and municipalities become workplace and urbanized, and consequently, resulting to increased generation of industrial and domestic wastes with the Laguna de Bay serving as sink of these wastes. Actual and project wastes generated by these industries have increased through time, and potentially contributing to eutrophication of the lake. Analysis, showed that the number of industries alone in the Laguna de Bay watershed from 1973 to 1988 was not significantly linearly correlated with neither nitrogen nor phosphorus levels in the lake. However, this does not suggest the industrialization has no effect on eutrophication. The data collection was not specifically designed to monitor the effects and impacts of these industries on the ;lake. Thus, strategic sampling points and cost-effective sampling strategy should be established to capture and isolate industrialization impact with other possible sources of eutrophication on the lake.Available historical data on three lake water quality variables, namely nitrogen, phosphorus and turbidity show increasing levels in time. Compared with international standards, the average concentrations of these nutrients classify the lake as highly eutrophic. In examining the effect of these parameters to net primary productivity (NPP), turbidity was found to be negatively correlated while nitrogen and phosphorus levels were positively correlated to NPP. Net primary productivity was found to be decreasing through time due to increasing turbidity. Likewise, fish production exhibited the same declining trend as net primary productivity.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Science in Environmental Science

College

School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1995 E8 B47

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS