Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava

• Biodiversity Journal, 15 (3): 649-658

  Mark Nell C. Corpuz, Hildie Maria E. Nacorda, Christine Marie E. Casal, Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava, Patricia Ann Jaranilla-Sanchez, Sonnie A. Vedra, Hermogenes M. Paguia & Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon
  Ichthyofaunal Diversity and Water Quality Parameters in Talisay and Bagac River Systems, Bataan, Luzon Island, Philippines
  https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.3.649.658

  ABSTRACT
  The fishery resources and hydrological data in the major river systems in Bataan (Philippines) are poorly studied. A preliminary study was conducted to assess the fish assemblages and water quality parameters along the three stream sections of Talisay and Bagac river systems (Luzon Island). The study collected 977 fish individuals from 50 species and 34 families; 28 fish species were observed in Talisay, whilst Bagac had 37 fish species. Forty-two fish species (84%) were categorized as native in the studied rivers. Family Gobiidae comprised the largest number of species in either river. Introduced or exotic fish species from the families Cichlidae and Cyprinidae comprised 16% of the total identified fish taxa. Among the cichlid family, the Sarotherodon melanotheron was the most abundant fish species (Talisay: n = 118; Bagac: n = 134). Shannon-Weiner’s diversity index in Bagac (H = 2.47) was higher than in Talisay (H = 1.91). The similarity rate of stream sections was low (27.28%) based on fish assemblage characteristics. In the ten water quality parameters, the levels of biological oxygen demand, fecal coliform, and total suspended solids exceeded the normal range for a Class C water body classification (agri-fisheries purposes), particularly in the midstream and downstream sections of the studied rivers. The present study supplied ecological datasets that can be adopted as bases to enhance the river conservation management measures in the region.

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