ArticlePDF Available

Assessment of Biodiversity and Water Quality in Association with Land Use in the Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad Range Park, Philippines

Authors:

Abstract and Figures

Inventory and assessment of aquatic biodiversity were conducted in Alanib River in Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon, which is one of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites in Mindanao. The species richness and abundance of fishes, macroinvertebrates, plankton and also vascular plants in the riparian vegetation were evaluated in relation to the influence of land use, water quality and elevation. The results of this study revealed that there were 2 species of fishes, 6 orders of macro-invertebrates, 14 species of plankton and 237 species of vascular plants were identified. The surrounding land uses and human activities along the river were found to have significant impact on the overall water quality and biodiversity of the aquatic biota and riparian vegetation of Alanib River. The increasing human population and agricultural intensification at the lower section of the river contributed to the relatively lower water quality, presence of pollution tolerant phytoplankton and macro-invertebrate groups as well as invasive species of vascular plants. Hence, the overall results of this study revealed that the integrity of Alanib River in terms of its biophysical and chemical condition is severely threatened especially in the downstream section due to various anthropogenic activities which can degrade its overall environmental quality.
Content may be subject to copyright.
ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY AND WATER QUALITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH LAND USE IN
THE ALANIB RIVER, MT. KITANGLAD RANGE PARK, PHILIPPINES
EINSTINE M. OPISO
ORCID NO. 0000-0001-6806-4703
einstineop@gmail.com
Geo-environmental Engineering Group,
College of Engineering, Central Mindanao University,
Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines
VICTORIA T. QUIMPANG
vtquimpang@yahoo.com
EMMANUEL P. LEAÑO
ORCID NO. 0000-0002-2684-723X
leano_emmanuel@yahoo.com
GLORIA L. GALAN
gloriag2008@yahoo.com.ph
FLORFE M. ACMA
flmacma@yahoo.com.ph
Biology Department, College of Arts and Science, Central Mindanao University,
Musuan,Bukidnon, Philippines
FULGENT CORITICO
cfulgent@yahoo.com
ABIGAIL LABADAN
abi_angelica@yahoo.com
RONALD REGAN FORTEN
ronaldforten@yahoo.com
KATE LUCELLE COQUILLA
kl.coquilla@yahoo.com
Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao,
Central Mindanao University, Musuan,Bukidnon, Philippines
ANGELA GRACE BRUNO
kalasanen@yahoo.com
Environmental Sciences Department, College of Forestry and Environmental Science,
Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines
VICTOR B. AMOROSO
ORCID NO. 0000-0001-8865-5551
amorosovic@yahoo.com
Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao, Central Mindanao University,
Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Inventory and assessment of aquatic biodiversity were conducted in Alanib River in Mt.
Kitanglad, Bukidnon, which is one of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites in
Mindanao. The species richness and abundance of fishes, macroinvertebrates, plankton and
also vascular plants in the riparian vegetation were evaluated in relation to the influence of
land use, water quality and elevation. The results of this study revealed that there were 2
species of fishes, 6 orders of macro-invertebrates, 14 species of plankton and 237 species of
vascular plants were identified. The surrounding land uses and human activities along the river
were found to have significant impact on the overall water quality and biodiversity of the
aquatic biota and riparian vegetation of Alanib River. The increasing human population and
agricultural intensification at the lower section of the river contributed to the relatively lower
water quality, presence of pollution tolerant phytoplankton and macro-invertebrate groups as
well as invasive species of vascular plants. Hence, the overall results of this study revealed that
the integrity of Alanib River in terms of its biophysical and chemical condition is severely
threatened especially in the downstream section due to various anthropogenic activities which
can degrade its overall environmental quality.
Keywords: Assessment, stream health, river, biodiversity, composition, Mindanao
INTRODUCTION
The Mount Kitanglad Range National Park (MKRNP) is one of the protected areas and
remaining frontiers of the Philippines located in the north-central portion of the Bukidnon
Plateau. This national park has a total land area of 47,270 hectares which is covering the 7
municipalities and one city of the province of Bukidnon (Saway and Mirasol, 2004). The park is
the habitat of at least 58 families and 185 species of trees and other woody vegetation species
(Canoy and Suminguit, 2001), 19 species of ferns and 1 species of fern allies as Philippine new
records (Amoroso et al., 2011), 63 species mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of
amphibians and 168 species of birds (Canoy and Suminguit, 2001). Almost 50% of known
species of fauna are endemic and highly threatened species. Due to its richness in biodiversity,
it became a protected area through Republic Act8978 and later declared as an ASEAN Heritage
Park on October 2009.
The MKRNP is also part of the ancestral domain of four indigenous tribes in the province
of Bukidnon, namely the Manobo, Talaandig, Maranao and Maguindanao. These indigenous
tribes are currently living along the buffer zones and dependent mainly on subsistence farming
and hunting. Aside from its cultural significance, the park is also the source of potable water of
the surrounding municipalities and the head water of some river and lakes in Bukidnon which
are providing power generation, irrigation and domestic use (Saway and Mirasol, 2004). Despite
of its biological, economic and cultural significance, the park has been severely threatened by
man-made activities such as slash and burn farming, illegal logging, eco-tourism and agricultural
intensification (Canoy and Suminguit, 2001). If these problems will continue unabated, it will
result to habitat degradation and loss of endemic and threatened species of flora and fauna.
One of the components which could be severely affected is the highly sensitive riverine
ecosystems. These anthropogenic activities within the MKRNP could lead to frequent
occurrences of riverine flooding and landslides, soil erosion, bacterial and chemical
contamination, and variation in stream discharge patterns. As a result, the integrity of stream
habitat and riparian vegetation within the MKRNP will degrade over the next decade if the lack
of information, awareness and policy regarding the protection and conservation of the
biological resources are not strictly addressed.
The health of riverine ecosystems could be assessed by examining the relationships of
various abiotic and biotic factors such as land use, water quality, riparian vegetation, and
aquatic biodiversity (Pan et al., 2004; Pausas and Austin, 2001; Rios and Bailey, 2006).For
instance, land use alters the texture and composition of the land surface and therefore
influences water quality and physical habitat condition, which will eventually decrease
biological integrity (Pan et al., 2004).According to Richards and Host (1994), there is also an
important implication in the relationship between watershed characteristics and in stream
variables for understanding ecological linkages. It was supported by Rios and Bailey (2006) and
Dudgeon (1994) where relationship between physico-chemical properties and biotic factors
(macroinvertebrates, plankton, fishes) were studied. Furthermore, several studies have shown
that land use has a strong influence on river chemistry and its biotic components (Pierre et al.,
2000). On the other hand, agricultural intensification increases with elevational decline and
affect important ecosystem services such as vegetation shifts, biodiversity, phytomass
production, carbon sequestration and water relations. Generally, species richness increases up
to an elevation ranging between 2,200 to 3,000 m above sea level (masl) in montane
environments (Becker et al., 2007).
The MKRNP is also one of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites in Mindanao.
However, no studies have been conducted to assess the freshwater species composition and
distribution in relation to land use and elevation in order to assess the status, condition and
integrity of this riverine ecosystem. Hence, there is high paucity of information with regards to
the current status and condition of environmentally significant riverine ecosystems such as the
Alanib River in particular and in the Philippines in general. This is one of the reasons why the
Philippines ranks number eight in the world as one of the biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al.,
2000).
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This paper assessed the biodiversity and water quality of Alanib River in order to provide
detailed information on current river health conditions and to quantify the biodiversity and
water quality variability in relation to its surrounding land. The species composition and
distribution of fishes, macro-invertebrates, plankton, and vascular riparian vegetation of the
river at the different sampling sites were determined. The physico-chemical parameters such as
temperature, pH, DO, EC, turbidity, TDS, ORP and sedimentation rate were also analyzed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Table 1.Geographic location, elevation, and surrounding land uses of the sampling sites at
Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon.
Description of the study area
One of the environmentally significant river systems in MKRNP is the Alanib River which is
situated in the southern part of Mt. Kitanglad Range National Park. This river system serves as
the permanent study area for the diversity studies, assessment/reassessment and monitoring
of the flora and fauna of riverine ecosystems in order to elucidate the influence of land use,
water quality and elevation on the integrity and health of riverine ecosystems. The Alanib River
is located under the municipality of Lantapan, Bukidnon, Mindanao Island, Philippines (Figure 1
and Figure 2). Four (4) sampling stations with 100 m transect each were established based on
elevation and human impact. The topography of the river is sloping from upstream to
downstream with elevation varying from 2,111to 752 masl in which the two sampling sites
were located at elevations above 1,800 masl. Its headwaters is located at Mt. Dulang-dulang
and traverses various types of surrounding land uses (e.g forest, agricultural, agro-forestry,
grassland and mixed agricultural and residential areas) before it drains to the valley bottoms
Alanib River
Elevation
(m, asl)
Latitude
Longitude
Surrounding land use
Upstream
(S1)
2,111
08˚05.697’
124˚55.425’
Forest
Midstream1
(S2)
1,684
08˚03.485’
124˚55.929’
Forest
Midstream2
(S3)
1,207
08˚03.523’
124˚55.909’
Agricultural
(high valued crops)/Forest
Downstream
(S4)
752
08˚01.603’
124˚59.117’
Residential/Agricultural
towards the Manupali River which is one of the tributary of Rio Grande de Mindanao. The
riverbanks and riparian vegetation are dominated by forest, agricultural (high valued crops),
and residential land uses. The river is also used for washing of clothes and bathing of the nearby
residents and source of potable water of the municipality of Lantapan. The river consists of
large rocks with numerous water pools and falls in the upstream side. The specific location,
elevations and surrounding land uses of the sampling sites are presented in Table 1.
MINDANAO
PHILIPPINES
Sampling and Analysis
A transect walk was conducted over the established 100 m transect line along the river course
for each sampling station.
The fishes were collected using backpack electrofishing oriented with hand net and medium
pole seine net. Morphological characters and morphometrics of the collected species were then
recorded (e.g color, number of fins, barbells if present, head and tail shape, body and mouth
structure, total length and body weight) for the preliminary identification of the species.
FishBase 2013 key for Philippine freshwater fish species was primarily used in identifying the
species. For the voucher, each species were preserved in 10% alcohol and stored in 90%
ethanol for further analysis in the laboratory. Other species were returned alive to the river.
The macroinvertebrates were sampled using a D-frame net with 250 µm mesh size adapting the
method by USEPA (2012). Leaf-pack sorting method and rock rubbing method were also
employed. The collected samples were transferred to labelled plastic tubes, fixed with 95%
ethyl alcohol and were brought to the laboratory for sorting and identification. To have a
uniform data set, identification was only up to the order level using different taxonomic keys
from journals and monographs (e.g. Meyer, 2009; Nelson, 2004; SWCSMH, 2013).
In the case of plankton, one (1) L plastic containers were used to collect stream water in
triplicates at each upstream, midstream and downstream sites. In each bottle 10 ml Lugol’s
solution was added. For zooplankton, 15 L grab samples were filtered through plankton net and
the 50 ml concentrate was added with 0.5 ml Lugol’s and 0.5 ml 4% formalin. All samples were
allowed to settle for one (1) week in the laboratory after which the supernatant was gradually
decanted until 20 ml concentrate was left. Drops of shaken samples were mounted on a glass
slide and examined at higher magnification of the inverted bright field microscope for species
identification with reference to monographs and images (Botes, 2001; Bellinger and Sigee,
2010) and consultation with experts. Also, an aliquot of one (1) ml was placed in the Sedgewick-
Rafter counter slide and individuals of species were counted to express species density
(units/L).
Lastly, only vascular plants were surveyed in the established sampling area. Plants observed in
the riparian vegetation were photographed, collected and identified. Local names and local
uses were recorded for each plant. Representative plants were collected and prepared as
voucher specimens.
Moreover, the variation of riparian and aquatic biota composition in relation to land use and
elevation were analyzed in Statistical Analysis Software (SPSS v. 21 by SPSS Inc.). Pearson
correlations of water quality parameters, species composition and land cover and elevation
were used to measure the strength and nature of the influence of land use and elevation on
riparian and aquatic biota composition.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Water quality condition and sedimentation rate
The measured water quality and sedimentation rate of Alanib River is shown in Figure 3. The
temperature ranged between 14 to 24 ºC, which increased from upstream to downstream (S1
to S4) could be attributed to the elevation effect. The water turbidity of Alanib River was 0 NTU
except for the downstream side (S4) with 14.22 NTU. Similarly, pH increased from upstream to
downstream side which is influenced by some factors such as agricultural run-off, presence of
calcareous sediments and other anthropogenic activities. The amount of dissolved oxygen (DO)
of water which has a significant impact on the chemical and biological processes in aquatic
ecosystems showed no significant variation between sampling sites, i.e. from upstream to
downstream. High DO (> 20 mg/L) in all sampling sites was attributed to the presence of riffles
and waterfalls. Besides, the low water temperature could increase oxygen holding capacity of
the water. The total dissolved solid (TDS) of the river which is a measure of the concentration of
dissolved ions in the water showed a decreasing trend from upstream to downstream. These
differences of the measured water quality parameters of the different sampling site could be
mainly due to their difference in elevation and surrounding land uses. Moreover, the measured
parameters were within Philippine Water Standard requirement except for the pH at the
downstream side which was slightly above the 8.5 maximum pH requirements. The
deterioration of water quality parameters in downstream section of the river was mainly due to
the increased agricultural activities and the presence of residents along the banks which can
modify the physical condition and water quality of the river as also observed by Scalley and
Aide, (2003) and Moscovchenko, et al. (2009). On the other hand, sedimentation of the river
influences the water quality which can reduce the penetration of light to the bottom of the
river and decline the dissolved oxygen present in water (Tumanda, et al., 2005). However, the
sedimentation of the river showed an increasing trend from upstream to downstream. This is
mainly because the downstream is surrounded by residential and agricultural areas while S1 to
S2 sampling sites were dominated by intact forest with minimal human activities.
Figure 3. Measured water quality of Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon at the
Upstream (S1); Midstream1 (S2); Midstream2 (S3); and Downstream (S4)
Biodiversity assessment
Fishes
The fishes were found only at the downstream (S4) at an elevation of 752 masl and water
temperature of 24.71°C. The 12 fish individuals collected represented 2 species and 2 families
(Plate 1). Both species were native with small body sizes. These were Puntius binotatus
(Valenciennes, 1842) (Cyprinidae) and Sicyopterus lagocephalus (Pallas, 1770) (Gobiidae) which
are widely distributed in Asia and Indo-Pacific, respectively. The former is also found in all over
Southeast Asia (Jenkins, et al. 2009) while the latter is widely distributed in northern and
western Asia, and French Polynesia (Boseto, 2012). Fishes are limited to inhabit in high
elevation (2,111 masl) and low water temperature (13.77 0C) of Alanib River. Fish species has an
optimum growing temperature range of 25-30 0C (Kausar and Salim, 2006). In warm
environment fishes have a longer growing season and faster growth rate and tend to have a
shorter life span while in very low temperatures growth is retarded. Also, temperature affects
food consumption, feed conversion and other body functions which influence fish species
richness (Lessard and Hayes, 2003). Furthermore, fishes are sensitive to many changes in water
quality and habitat structure caused by human activities and by natural causes (Pidgeon, 2004)
and fishes are decreasing worldwide because of human-caused degradation of aquatic habitats
(Moyle et al., 2013).
Macroinvertebrates
There were 6 orders of macro-invertebrates namely Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Odonata,
Trichoptera, Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera (Plate 2). Plecoptera had the highest number
individual count followed by Hemiptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera while the least was
Ephemeroptera (Figure 4). The abundance of Plecoptera which are extremely sensitive to water
pollution indicates the river is clean and well-oxygenated while Hemipterans are known to be
tolerant on environmental extremes (Flores and Zafaralla, 2012; Meyer, 2009). The
Hemipterans are also known to endure low pH less than 4.5 and are among the last to
disappear when streams tend to acidify (SWCSMH, 2013). The co-existence of these two
macroinvertebrate orders in the same sampling station also indicates the water quality is good.
Moreover, the presence of biocontroller insects (e.g. Odonata) which serve as predators in an
aquatic ecosystem could also affect the macro-invertebrate composition in Alanib River. The
macroinvertebrates were highest at the downstream. Macroinvertebrate species composition
and abundance in this study could have been affected by the surrounding land use of the
sampling station which also supports the findings of Rios and Bailey (2006), Pierre (2000),
Richards (1994) and Dudgeon (1994) that land use influences macroinveretebrate population in
aquatic ecosystems.
Plankton
The phytoplankton is represented by 4 groups and 14 species (Plate 1). These are Chlorophyta,
Cryptophyta, Bacillariophyta and Euglenophyta in which the Chlorophytes dominated (Figure 5).
Among the 14 species, Sphaerozosma sp., Staurastrum sp., Volvox sp., Spherocystis, and
Diatoma were abundant. The presence ofStaurastrum sp., Volvox sp. and Euglena indicates the
water is polluted (Sharma and Bhardwa, 2011; Oommen and Kumar, 2011; Edward and
Ugwumba, 2010). The absence of zooplankton in Alanib River could be attributed to some
factors such as high elevation and low temperature, basic pH, less sunlight and limited
nutrients. This is somehow expected since the surrounding land use where these two pollution
tolerant phytoplankton were found are greatly influenced with anthropogenic activities. It was
also observed that most species were found at midstream1 (S2) and the least from the
upstream (S1) of Alanib River. High phytoplankton concentration could be expected from
Individual
counts
midstream2 (S3) since it is surrounded by agricultural land use. This type of land use can affect
the increase of nutrient availability on a specific location of a water system which may trigger
the increase of phytoplankton population. The few phytoplankton species and low counts along
the Alanib river course of Mt. Kitanglad supports the earlier report of Stomp, et al. (2011) that
phytoplankton diversity decreased with increasing latitude and altitude. Mt. Kitanglad is the
highest mountain range in Bukidnon and the fourth highest mountain in the Philippines. This is
also noticeable on the shown trend of phytoplankton species composition over the sampling
stations. Plankton are considered bioindicator. Its composition, abundance and distribution
correlates with environmental condition of an aquatic ecosystem. Hence, knowledge on the
plankton population is significant on assessing the current health status of Alanib River and this
will serve as baseline information for conservation management. Proper conservation
management is essential for Alanib River considering the fact that this has an important role in
the over-all biological diversity in Mt. Kitanglad Range Park. Moreover, it serves as the source of
potable water among the residents near the river.
Individual
counts
Vascular riparian vegetation
Table 2.Species Richness of Riparian Vascular Plants in Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon.
Plant group
Sampling Sites
Upstream (S1)
Midstream1 (S2)
Midstream2 (S3)
Downstream
(S4)
Angiosperms
53
41
78
52
Gymnosperms
3
2
0
0
Pteridophytes
52
36
9
4
Total
108
79
87
56
There were 240 species of riparian vascular plants found in all sampling site along the Alanib
River. Of these, 171 species angiosperms, 3 gymnosperms and 66 species pteridophytes. Table
2 shows the species richness of riparian vascular plants in Alanib River. High species richness in
the upstream (S1) and midstream 1 (S2)(Table 2) was observed in the area, which is similar to
the study of Lubos et al. (2013) that there is a decreasing number of species from the upstream
Table 3. List of Threatened Riparian Vascular Flora in Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon.
FAMILY/SPECIES
Assessment
ASPLENIACEAE
Aspleniumapoense Copel. in Perkins
Vulnerable
BLECHNACEAE
Diploblechnumfraseri (A. Cunn.) De Vol
Vulnerable
CYATHEACEAE
Alsophilafuliginosa H. Christ
Endangered
Sphaeropterisglauca (Blume) R.M. Tryon
Vulnerable
LYCOPODIACEAE
Huperziaserrata (Thunb.) Rothm
Vulnerable
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE
Ophioglossum pendulum L.
Endangered
POLYPODIACEAE
Belvisiaglauca (Copel.) Copel.
Vulnerable
PSILOTACEAE
Tmesipteriszamorae Gruezo and Amoroso
Vulnerable
to downstream. However, species richness in the downstream (S4) was lower as compared to
the midstream2 (S3) which could be due to the conversion of forests into agricultural lands for
the cultivation of the cash crops like celery, parsley, baguio beans, spring onions, sayote in the
area. Both sides of the banks are characterized by having large trees and inhabited with
different species of ferns and other herbaceous flowering plants. Furthermore, some of the
areas were cleared for the expansion of the plantation crops and with some abandoned areas
dominated with Pennisetum sp. and other grasses. This area had also the abundance of planted
giant bamboos and tree ferns (Sphaeropterisglauca). Although the area had low species
richness, there could be no sign of coliform contamination since there were no inhabitants in
the area and no signs of soil erosion. The midstream2 (S3) had lower species richness, but had
the presence of some rare and economically important plants like Medinillacumingii, Schefflera
sp., Solanum sp. (Hagpa) etc. Although few have survived many introduced tree species were
observed like Gmelinaarborea, Neem tree, Swieteniamacrophylla, Leucaenaleucocephala as
reforestation tree species. Some of the invasive species like Tithonadiversifolia, Lantana
camara, Mikania, Impatiensmontalbanica, Mimosa invisa, Spathodeacampunalata, Piper
aduncum and Cassia spectabilis were observed in midstream2 (S3) which were not observed in
the downstream. Probably these invasive species were uprooted during farming field
preparation for the cash crops.
Further, it was observed that in the downstream (S4) intact forest vegetation was found before
the water dam. However, after the water dam, lesser trees were observed. Jansson et al. (1999)
reported that riparian floras are increasingly fragmented with multiple dams which brought
about by the disruption of natural dispersal pathways and subsequent changes of riverine
communities. The downstream riparian vegetation had no evidence of reforestation efforts. A
total of 8 species of threatened plants was observed in Mt. Kitanglad. Most of these threatened
species are found in the upstream (S1) and midstream 1 (S2) (Table 3).
CONCLUSIONS
The surrounding land uses and human activities along Alanib River were found to have
significant impact on the overall water quality and biodiversity of aquatic biota and riparian
vegetation of the river. Along the upper sections of the river which was surrounded by intact
forests, the water quality of Alanib River was still potable except for the downstream which
exhibited high turbidity and pH beyond the Philippine and USEPA regulatory standards. In the
case of aquatic biota, fishes were only observed at the downstream since fish can only survive
in water with 25-30° C and the water temperature in S1 of Alanib River was below 20° C. On the
other hand, macroinvertebrate orders Plecoptera and Hemiptera were the most abundant
observed at Mt. Kitanglad. The Hemiptera and Plecoptera population was generally decreasing
from upstream to downstream with more Hemipterans than Plecopterans suggesting a
decreasing water quality across sampling stations. This correlates with the phytoplankton
population from upstream to downstream wherein the presences of pollution tolerant
phytoplankton were observed only at the midstream and downstream. The decreasing water
quality along the sampling stations could be associated to the increase of nutrient availability in
these sampling sites as a result of agricultural run-off. In the case of vascular riparian plants,
high species richness was observed in the upstream while the presence of invasive species was
observed in the sampling area surrounded by various high valued agricultural crops.
Overall, this study has shown strong indication that the integrity of Alanib River was affected by
its surrounding land uses based on its current biophysical and chemical condition.
LITERATURE CITED
Amoroso, V., S. Laraga and B. Calzada. 2011. Diversity and assessments of plants in Mt.
Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Bukidnon, Southern Philippines. Garden’s Bulletin Singapore, 63
(1 and 2): 219-236.
Becker, A., C. Körner, G. Brun, A. Guisan and U. Tappeiner. 2007. Ecological and Land Use
Studies Along Ecological Gradients. International Montane Society. Montaine Research and
Development 27(1): 58-66.
Boseto, D. 2012. Sicyopteruslagocephalus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2013.1.Retrieved on22 August 2013 from the www.iucnredlist.org.
Canoy, M. E. L. and V.J. Suminguit. 2001.The Indigenous Peoples of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural
Park. Retrieved on August 19, 2013 from the
http.www.socialwatch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/en/articlef2001_phi.pdf
DENR Administrative Order (DAO). 2008. Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent
Standards. Philippines.
Dudgeon, D. 1994.The Influence of Riparian Vegetation on Macroinvertebrate Community
Structure and Functional Organization in Six New Guinea Streams.Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Edward J. B. and A.A.A. Ugwumba. 2010. Physico-chemical Parameters and Plankton
Community of Egbe Reservoir, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Biological
Sciences.Medwell Journals.
Fishbase. 2013. Philippine Freshwater Fish Species. Retrieved on August 3, 2013 from the
http.www.fishbase.com
Flores, M.J and M.T. Zafaralla. 2012.Macroinvertebrate Composition, Diversity and Richness in
Relation to the Water Quality Status of Mananga River, Cebu, Philippines.Philippines Science
Letters.
Jansson, R., C. Nilsson and B. Renofalt. 1999. Fragmentation of Riaparian Floras in Rivers with
Multiple Dams. Vol.81. Issue 4.
Jenkins, A., F.F. Kullander and H.H.Tan. 2009. Puntiusbinotatus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species.Version 2013.1. Retrieved on August 22, 2013 from thewww.iucnredlist.org
Kausar, R. and M. Salim. 2006. Effect of Water Temperature on the Growth Performance and
Feed Conversion Ratio of LabeoRohita.Department of Zoology and Fisheries, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Lessard, J. and D. Hayes. 2003. Effects of Elevated Water Temperature on Fish and
Macroinvertebrate Communities below Small Dams.Natural Resources Building, Department of
Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University.
Lubos, L.S., V.B. Amoroso, F.P. Cortico, M. Demetillo and J.V. Japus. 2013. Species Richness and
Assessment of Plants along in Oro River, Cagayan de Oro City. CHED Terminal Report.
Moscovchenko, D. V., A.G. Babushkin, and G.N Artamonova. 2009. Surface water Quality
Assessment of the Vatinsky Egan River Catchment, West Siberia.institute of Northern
Development, Tyumen, Russia. Institute of Earth Kryosphere, Tyumen, Russia.
Moyle, P., J. Kiernan, P. Crain and R. Quinoñes. 2013. Climate Change Vulnerability of Native
and Alien Freshwater Species of California: A Systematic Assessment Approach. PLoS ONE
8(5): e63883. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063883.
Myers, J. 2009. Plecoptera. General Entomology. NC State University. Retrieved on August 19,
2009 from the www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/library/compendium/plecoptera.html
Myers, N., R.A Mittermier, C.G. Mittermeier, G.A.B DA Fonseca and J. Kent. 2000. Biodiversity
Hotspots for Conservation Priorities.Green College, Oxford University, Upper Meadow, Old
Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 8SZ, UK.Conservation International, 2501 M Street NW,
Washington, DC 20037, USA. Centre for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation
International, 2501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA. 35 Dorchester Close,
Headington, Oxford OX3 8SS, UK.
Nelson, C.R. 2004. Plecoptera: Stoneflies. Tree of Life Project. Retrieved on August 23, 2013
from the tolwed.org/plecoptera
Oommen, C. and N. Kumar. 2011. Phytoplankton Composition in Relation to Hydrochemical
Properties of Tropical Community Wetland, Kanewal, Gujarat, India. Applied Ecology and
Environmental Research
Pan, Y., A. Herlihy, P. Kaufmann, J. Wigington, J. Sickle and T. Moser. 2009. Linkages among land
use, water quality, physical habitat conditions and lothic diatom assemblages: a multi-spatial
scale assessment. Hydrobiologia 515:59-73. Netherlands.
Pausas, J. and M. Austine. 2009. Patterns of plant species richness in relation to different
environments: an appraisal. Journal of Vegetation Science 12:153-166.
Pidgeon, R. 2004. A review of options for monitoring in the Darwin Harbour catchment.
Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage Supervising Scientist.
Pierre, J., B. Ometo, L. Martinelli, M.V. Ballester, A. Gessner, A. Krusche, R. Victoria, and M.
Williams. 2000. Effects of Land Use on Water Chemistry and Macroinvertebrates in Two
Streams of the Piracicaba River Basin, South-east Brazil. Blackwell Science Ltd.
Richards, C. and G. Host. 1994. Examining Land Use Influences on Stream Habitats and
Macroinvertebrates: A GIS Approach.Water Resources Bulletin.American Water Resources
Association.
Rios, S. and R. Bailey. 2006. Relationship Between Riparian Vegetation and Stream Benthic
Communities at Three Spatial Scales. Hydrobiologia (2006) 553:153-160, Springer.
Saway, L. A. And F.S. Mirasol, JR. 2004. Decentralizing Protected Area Management A Mt.
Kitanglad Range Natural Park Experience. Earthscan, London, UK. pp.269-281
Scalley, T. and T.M. Aide. 2003.Riparian Vegetation and Stream Condition in a Tropical
Agriculture-Secondary Forest Mosaic.Ecological Society of America. pp. 225-234.
Sharma, N.K and S. Bhardwaj. 2011. An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Phytoplankton
Community of Mahi River (India). Geneconserve 10(40):154-164
Soiland Water Conservation Societyof Metro Halifax (SWCSMH). 2013. Order Hemiptera.
Freshwater Benthic Ecology and Aquatic Entomology Homepage.Retrieved on August 19, 2013
from the lakes.chebusto.org/ZOOBENTH/BENTHOS.vi.html
Stomp, M., J. Huisman, G. Mittelbach, E. Litchman and C. Klausmeier. 2011. Large-Scale
Biodiversity Patterns in Freshwater Phytoplankton (p.2096-2107). Ecological Society of America.
Tumanda, M. JR., E.C Roa, J.G. Gorospe, M. Daitia, S. Dejarme, and R. Gaid. 2005. Limnological
and Water Quality Assessment of Lake Mainit.Mindanao State University at Naawan.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 1986. Quality Criteria for Water for
1986. Office of Water Regulations and Standards. Washington, DC.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2002. Guidelines on Environmental
Data Verification and Data Validation. EPA-QA/G-8.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2012. Chapter 7: Benthic
Macroinvertebrate Protocols. Retrieved on July 7, 2013 from the
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/monitoring/rsl/bioassessment/ch07b.cfm
Plate 1. Fish and Phytoplankton in Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon.
Plate 2. Macroinvertebrates in Alanib River, Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon. (A) Caddisfly, (B) Caddisfly with stone case, (C) Caddisfly with wood
case, (D.1) Whirligig beetle dorsal view, (D.2) Whirligig beetle ventral view, (E.1)Creeping water bugs lateral view, (E.2) Creeping water
bugs ventral view, (F.1) Damselfly dorsal view, (F.2) Damselfly ventral view, (G.1) Dragonfly dorsal view, (G.2) Dragonfly ventral view,
(H.1) Stonefly dorsal view, (H.1) Stonefly ventral view, (I.1) Mayfly dorsal view and (I.2) Mayfly ventral view.
... Primary studies were included in the review if they satisfied the following criteria: (1) included the location and/or the name of the studied river or stream, (2) data on benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and measured physicochemical parameters are available, and (3) identified macroinvertebrates at the family, genus or species level. However, erroneously retrieved studies such as intertidal zone (e.g., Medrano, 2015;Walag and Canencia, 2016), estuary (e.g., Superada and Tampus, 2015), and reservoir (Magbanua et al., 2015), and those studies that used algae (e.g., Vocal et al., 2018), plankton (e.g., Galinato and Evangelio, 2016;Opiso et al., 2014;Ramayla et al., 2021), macrophytes (e.g., Napaldet and Buot, 2019), fish (e.g., Corpuz et al., 2016aCorpuz et al., ,2016bOpiso et al., 2014), bioassays or biomarkers (e.g., Alam et al., 2019;Bajet et al., 2012;Mababa et al., 2018), and faecal and total coliforms (e.g., Oporto-Bensig et al., 2014;Bensig et al., 2014) as bioindicators of stream or river health were not included in this review. ...
... Primary studies were included in the review if they satisfied the following criteria: (1) included the location and/or the name of the studied river or stream, (2) data on benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and measured physicochemical parameters are available, and (3) identified macroinvertebrates at the family, genus or species level. However, erroneously retrieved studies such as intertidal zone (e.g., Medrano, 2015;Walag and Canencia, 2016), estuary (e.g., Superada and Tampus, 2015), and reservoir (Magbanua et al., 2015), and those studies that used algae (e.g., Vocal et al., 2018), plankton (e.g., Galinato and Evangelio, 2016;Opiso et al., 2014;Ramayla et al., 2021), macrophytes (e.g., Napaldet and Buot, 2019), fish (e.g., Corpuz et al., 2016aCorpuz et al., ,2016bOpiso et al., 2014), bioassays or biomarkers (e.g., Alam et al., 2019;Bajet et al., 2012;Mababa et al., 2018), and faecal and total coliforms (e.g., Oporto-Bensig et al., 2014;Bensig et al., 2014) as bioindicators of stream or river health were not included in this review. ...
Article
Streams and rivers are the most threatened and exploited freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Land-use changes, particularly the conversion of forests to agricultural, residential, and industrial areas, have greatly impacted them, leading to declining water body quality and biodiversity loss. Thus, evaluating rivers and identifying threats is crucial to protect and rehabilitate them adequately. A combination of physical, chemical, and bio- logical indicators in assessing the ecological conditions of aquatic ecosystems is now a prerequisite. Most river biomonitoring studies focus on benthic macroinvertebrates. However, river biomonitoring is not commonly practiced in the Philippines as it is not implemented regularly and officially. This review aims to determine macroinvertebrate families that could serve as sensitive bioindicators of river ecosystem health, determine the overall status of streams and rivers based on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, and identify research gaps to guide the development of a macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring tool. Using Google Scholar, we conducted a quantitative search of studies that assessed water body quality and condition of streams and rivers in the Philippines using benthic macroinvertebrates published from January 2000 to December 2021. Of the 945 search results, 23 studies satisfied the criteria for inclusion in this review. These studies covered 35 Philippine rivers distributed in Luzon (18), Visayas (10), and Mindanao (7). Of the 166 benthic macroinvertebrate families, one family (Hebridae; velvet water bugs) was found solely in the Class AA water body (waters in uninhabited wa- tersheds or declared protected areas based on the Philippine water quality guidelines), 18 in A (intended as a source of drinking water), 17 in C (boating, fishing, aquaculture, agriculture, irrigation and livestock watering), and only one (Amnicolidae; freshwater snail) was found in D (navigable waters). However, none of the studies assessed streams or rivers solely under Class B (intended for primary contact recreation). In addition, several single-metric biotic indicators commonly used in the Philippines varied in their evaluation of the stream con- dition. Thus, we propose developing a macroinvertebrate-based, multimetric biotic index to assess stream and river health in the Philippines.
... Hubilla-Travis (2008) makes an inventory of freshwater fauna in Agusan Marsh and was able to document a total of11 freshwater fishes. In Bukidnon, studies on freshwater ecosystem were limited mostly on the water quality (Adajar et al., 2018;Bertomen et al., 2018;Marin & Jamis 2016;Opiso et al., 2014) and land management practices (Puno 2018) of major rivers in the province. Quimpang et al. (2015) was able to document a total of 34 freshwater fish species in five established long-term ecological research (LTER) sites in Mindanao. ...
Article
Full-text available
In this study, research on the fish composition and abundance in the freshwater ecosystem of Mount Timolan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines is presented. The Mount Timolan Protected Landscape is reported as a forest reserved because of its watershed importance. However, studies on fish fauna on its freshwater ecosystem have never been studied. Monthly sampling of fish fauna was conducted in the four established stations in the MTPL from December 2018 to May 2019 revealed a total of 2,422 individuals representing 12 species from 9 families. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index ('H) and Simpsons Dominance (D) was found to be high with values of 2.59 and 1.02, respectively. Interestingly, this study revealed an established population of native of species in Upper Nilo stream with no other introduced species found. Monitoring study is further recommended to evaluate the current status of the fish species of freshwater ecosystem of Mount Timolan Protected Landscape.
... Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (Gascon et al. 2013), Rasa Island and Wildlife Sanctuary (Sopsop 2011), Samar Island National Park (Quimio 2016), Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park(Opiso et al. 2014), and Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape(Obemio et al. 2016). ...
Article
Full-text available
Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary (MCWS) is regarded as home to more than a hundred species of plants, but its floristic composition, vegetation structure, and diversity pattern remained unclear since its declaration as a protected area. After the recent plant diversity assessment conducted following the prescribed methodology by the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, the conservation value of the mountain was emphasized. This paper provides a concrete evidence that MCWS is home to diverse yet unique species of plants. A total of 181 morpho-species belonging to 67 families were recorded. MCWS now holds a large number of species of at least 250 morpho-species based on the assessment and gathered secondary data. Thirty-three (33) are threatened and forty-six (46) species are endemic to the Philippines. Four (4) species are known to occur only in MCWS, namely-Ardisia calavitensis Merr., Peristrophe cordatibractea Merr., Urophyllum mindorense Merr., and Cyrtochloa mindorensis S. Dranf. Majority of the species (about 67%) recorded are non-endemic indigenous. Dominant species in MCWS from 200 masl to 600 masl were also revealed. Mostly are species belonging to Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, and Sterculiaceae. MCWS, being comprised of a mosaic of different vegetation from grassland to secondary forest, has generally a stunted vegetation due to harsh environmental condition. The stratum of the forest of MCWS is unique because some species were recorded to a particular forest layer, allowing other species to coexist. Plant diversity pattern of MCWS showed weak correlation to elevation. The need to protect the mountain is further supported by the computed Shannon index (H =4.41) that indicates very high diversity.
... Disturbance of drainage basins includes various types of agriculture as well as areas impermeable to runoff, including urban areas. Thus, negative impacts of agriculture on aquatic species diversity was reported by Carvalho et al. (2011), Opiso et al. (2014), and Kim et al. (2016); the influence of urban areas was characterized by Beixin et al. (2012), Lakew & Moog (2015). Urban areas exert multiple pressures on river ecosystems, undermining their biodiversity (Rusanov & Khromov, 2016;Grizzetti et al., 2017;Kuzmanovic et al., 2017). ...
Article
Full-text available
Biodiversity of aquatic organisms is formed under the influence of not only natural, but also anthropogenic factors. In this work, the influence of the flow velocity, river size, flow regulation and urbanization on various groups of aquatic organisms was studied in several lowland rivers. The study was conducted in 2013 on six tributaries of the Upper Sukhona River. Five sampling sites were in different parts of the Vologda River and five sites on small rivers, Losta, Lukhta, Komya, Chernyj Shingar, and Belyj Shingar (one site per river). Phytoplankton, zooplankton and zoobenthos were sampled six times, from April to October, and macrophytes were studied in August. In total, 469 species of aquatic organisms were found in the tributaries of the Upper Sukhona River, belonging to the following phyla: Cyanophyta (5 species), Chrysophyta (8), Bacillariophyta (62), Xanthophyta (1), Cryptophyta (10), Dinophyta (4), Euglenophyta (12), Chlorophyta (17), Streptophyta (1), Bryophyta (2), Marchantiophyta (3), Equisetophyta (1), Magnoliophyta (63), Rotifera (22), Cnidaria (1), Platyhelmintes (1), Annelida (29), Mollusca (33), Arthropoda (194). The maximum number of species was found in the Vologda River, the largest of all the tributaries. The number of zoobenthos species was similar at different sites in the Vologda River and in the small rivers. The number of species of other groups of aquatic organisms in the small rivers was lower than those registered in the Vologda River. The greatest number of macrophyte and zoobenthos species was recorded in the Upper Vologda River and Belyj Shingar River, where the flow is strong all the year round. The greatest number of phyto- and zooplankton species was found at the extra-city sites where current is almost absent. In the dam backwater, species richness was higher than that registered downstream of the dam. At the same time, the species richness of macrophytes and zoobenthos in the dam backwater was lower. The smallest number of species was found in the Vologda River, downstream of the city of Vologda. Decreases in the species richness and Shannon’s biodiversity index were witnessed in the Vologda River city site and in the small rivers, as they get closer to the city. Cluster analyses performed for the studied groups of aquatic organisms showed dissimilar results; however, the studied sites on the Vologda River having the highest anthropogenic load formed a cluster. Aquatic organisms of the Upper Sukhona tributaries experience both natural (flow velocity and size of the watercourse) and anthropogenic factors (proximity to the city and flow regulation).
Article
Full-text available
Rivers are known to be the emitters of waste in the world’s oceans. Most of the top ten rivers that contribute to the waste in the world’s oceans are situated in the Philippines indicating poor solid waste management in the country. Studies focusing on the pro-environmental behaviors among the riverside communities in the country are very limited. Thus, this study investigates the factors affecting the intention to implement pro-environmental behaviors among the riverside communities along the Cotabato City rivers, Mindanao Island. This study utilizes the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to determine the factors affecting the intention to implement pro-environmental behaviors (n = 387). Results showed that Attitude (ATT) and Subjective Norms (SN) have significant direct effects on the intention to implement pro-environmental behaviors among the respondents. Moderation analysis showed that gender has significant effects on the relationship between Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) and Intention (IN) to implement pro-environmental behaviors. The results of this study may provide insights into the policy design to promote and enhance the resident’s intention to implement pro-environmental behaviors for river conservation and protection. Extending the TPB model to assess other internal and external factors that may affect pro-environmental behaviors is recommended for future studies.
Article
An updated checklist of freshwater fishes occurring in the Philippines is presented, with notes on their distribution and conservation status. Information was systematically and comprehensively reviewed, and compiled from current and historical sources including published literature, institutional reports, museum records, and online databases. Results indicate a total of 374 fish species within 29 orders and 78 families to occur in the country. Two hundred and twenty-five (60.16%) species are native, of which 85 (22.73%) are endemic; and an additional 64 (17.11%) are non-native. Gobiiformes is the most diverse order (114 species, 5 families), followed by Cypriniformes (54 species, 4 families) and Perciformes (28 species, 13 families). The most speciose family is Gobiidae (89 species), which represents 23.80% of the total fish diversity. Conservation status based on the IUCN Red List indicates that 57 (15.24%) fish species are assessed as “Data Deficient”, 188 (50.27%) are “Least Concern”, nine (2.41%) are “Near Threatened”, 22 (5.88%) are “Vulnerable”, 20 (5.35%) are “Endangered”, 10 (2.67%) are “Critically Endangered”, 15 (4.01%) are “Extinct”, and the conservation status of a further 53 (14.17%) have not been assessed (Not Evaluated). The relatively high number of ‘Data Deficient’ species emphasizes the lack of information on the taxonomy, distribution, life history and population status of many species in the archipelago. Detailed studies on various aspects of the biology and threats is highly recommended to advance the scientific understanding of, and develop conservation plans for the freshwater fish species of Philippines.
Article
Isoetes L. is a relict genus of Isoetaceae which is of great value to study the systematic evolution of ferns and the flora of East Asia. Due to the impact of human activities on aquatic habitats, the population of Isoetes L. in China is decreasing. In this paper, based on environmental variables including bioclimate, soil factors, elevation, UV-B radiation and human footprint index, the potential distribution of Isoetes L. was simulated using MaxEnt and GARP. Results showed that the AUC and Kappa values of MaxEnt and GARP under human activities were higher than that without human activities. The suitable habitat of Isoetes L. simulated by GARP was much wider than by MaxEnt. By comparison, MaxEnt had more accurate prediction results. Furthermore, the MaxEnt model results showed that, the highly suitable habitats were mainly distributed in western Sichuan, central and northern Yunnan, eastern Tibet, central and eastern Hunan, most of Zhejiang, western Guizhou, southern Anhui and eastern Hebei, with a total area of 55.45×10⁴ km². Under the influence of human activities, the area of highly, moderately and poorly suitable habitats decreased by 61.14%, 44.28% and 56.72%, respectively. Protection gap areas of Isoetes L. were mainly located in western Sichuan, northern Yunnan, western Guizhou, eastern Tibet, central and eastern Hunan and most of Zhejiang. Precipitation of warmest quarter, human footprint index, min temperature of coldest month, precipitation seasonality, elevation and mean UV-B of highest month were the main variables influencing the distribution of Isoetes L. Our results provide a favorable basis for the effective conservation of wild resources of Isoetes L. in China.
Article
Full-text available
Cabadbaran River, located in Cabadbaran City, Philippines, is one of the residents’ primary sources of their livelihood. It also serves as the foundation of its tributary streams in Mt. Hilong-hilong which supports a rich diversity of endemic plants and animals in the area and serves as a source of potable water for its nearby community. Thus, the main objective of the study was to assess the water quality and rivers’ health of Cabadbaran and to further help establish protocols which will avoid pollution and further damage to the river. Results of the physicochemical parameters show that the water of the river was within the standard ranges set by the DAO-2016-08 of the DENR for freshwater bodies. Taxa 2 were found to be the richest from the collected macro invertebrates inhabiting the river which indicates a moderate quality as habitat for these organisms. In conclusion, the Cabadbaran River had been disturbed by anthropogenic inputs such as artificial interventions along the river banks and improper waste disposal, but is still sufficient in sustaining the organisms and the environment relying on it. However, it can further cause damage if intensive industrialization occurs. Efforts on restoring and maintaining the quality of the river must be continued to preserve the function of the Cabadbaran River.
Article
Full-text available
The water quality of Mananga River was assessed between February and December 2006 using selected physicochemical factors in combination with macroinvertebrate composition and diversity indices. Three sampling stations, each 100 m long, were established. Alkalinity, total phosphates and nitrate-nitrogen were similar in all sampling stations. The significant variation in stream depth, width and stream bed profile resulted in diminishing velocity but increasing discharge downstream. These physical characteristics led to increased total suspended solids, water temperature, and biological oxygen demand, but decreased pH and dissolved oxygen levels downstream. The physicochemical factors influenced the composition and diversity of macroinvertebrates in Mananga River. A total of 37 families representing 15 orders were recorded. Aquatic insects (Class Hexapoda) made up 58.6% of total abundance followed by the gastropods (Class Gastropoda) at 39.9%. The order Ephemeroptera of Hexapoda had the highest abundance (47.6% of total) and highest richness (6 families). Family Thiaridae was the most persistent and the most abundant macroinvertebrate taxa followed by Caenidae. Almost all taxa were represented in the upper stations, except for Neritidae, Grapsidae and Nereididae, which were limited to the downstream station. Macroinvertebrate richness and diversity were significantly higher in the upper stations, but there was an apparent lack of seasonal variation. Signs of increasing water quality deterioration were evident in the results of the physicochemical analyses, and validated by the diversity index where the upper stations came out as moderately polluted, and the downstream station as moderately to highly polluted.
Article
Full-text available
We review patterns of plant species richness with respect to variables related to resource availability and variables that have direct physiological impact on plant growth or resource availability. This review suggests that there are a variety of patterns of species richness along environmental gradients reported in the literature. However, part of this diversity may be explained by the different types and lengths of gradients studied, and by the limited analysis applied to the data. To advance in understanding species richness patterns along environmental gradients, we emphasise the importance of: (1) using variables that are related to the growth of plants (latitudinal and altitudinal gradients have no direct process impact on plant growth); (2) using multivariate gradients, not single variables; (3) comparing patterns for different life forms; and (4) testing for different shapes in the species richness response (not only linear) and for interaction between variables.
Article
Full-text available
Freshwater fishes are highly vulnerable to human-caused climate change. Because quantitative data on status and trends are unavailable for most fish species, a systematic assessment approach that incorporates expert knowledge was developed to determine status and future vulnerability to climate change of freshwater fishes in California, USA. The method uses expert knowledge, supported by literature reviews of status and biology of the fishes, to score ten metrics for both (1) current status of each species (baseline vulnerability to extinction) and (2) likely future impacts of climate change (vulnerability to extinction). Baseline and climate change vulnerability scores were derived for 121 native and 43 alien fish species. The two scores were highly correlated and were concordant among different scorers. Native species had both greater baseline and greater climate change vulnerability than did alien species. Fifty percent of California's native fish fauna was assessed as having critical or high baseline vulnerability to extinction whereas all alien species were classified as being less or least vulnerable. For vulnerability to climate change, 82% of native species were classified as highly vulnerable, compared with only 19% for aliens. Predicted climate change effects on freshwater environments will dramatically change the fish fauna of California. Most native fishes will suffer population declines and become more restricted in their distributions; some will likely be driven to extinction. Fishes requiring cold water (
Article
Full-text available
Rivers are increasingly fragmented by dams, resulting in disruption of natural dispersal pathways and subsequent changes of riverine communities. We assessed the effect of dams as barriers to plant dispersal along rivers by comparing the flora of vascular plants between pairs of run-of-river impoundments in northern Sweden. Adjacent impoundments in similar environmental settings develop different riparian floras because species with poor floating capacity become unevenly distributed among impoundments. Such discontinuities were not found along a free-flowing river, suggesting effective dispersal of riparian plants in the absence of dams. Given that dams regulate most of the world’s rivers, floristic disruptions of riparian corridors may be a global phenomenon. The extensive fragmentation of other ecosystems may have caused similar obstructions to organism dispersal, with subsequent changes in species composition.
Article
Algae are an ecologically important group in most aquatic ecosystems but are often ignored as indicators of aquatic ecosystem change. Biological assessment is a useful alternative tool for assessing the ecological quality of aquatic ecosystems since biological communities integrate the environmental effects of water chemistry. The physico-chemical parameters of Mahi river, Gujarat, India were investigated during March-2006 to February-2007. Along with the physico-chemical parameters water samples were also characterized for Phytoplankton community composition and density. Result from water analysis showed by reduction in temperature, TS, TDS, TSS, BOD, COD, total hardness, total alkalinity, chloride and oil & grease whereas pH, DO, nitrate, phosphate and silicate were found to be increased. The dominance groups among phytoplankton community were Blue green algae and diatoms. Agmenellum sp., Oscillatoria sp., Lyngbya sp., Anabena sp., Microspora sp. Navicula sp., Anacystis sp., Phormidium sp. encountered abundantly during the study period. Beside, Green algae like Pandorina sp., Scenedesmus sp., Stigeoclonium sp. also occurred frequently. Rise in DO and nutrient levels of nitrate, phosphate and silicate suggested favorable conditions for plankton growth. The most tolerant genera and species of four groups of algae were recorded. The phytoplankton encountered in the water body reflects the average ecological condition and therefore, they may be used as indicator of water quality.
Article
Changes in land cover from forest to agriculture often alter riparian vegetation, which modifies the physical conditions of streams. To understand the impacts of different categories of land cover on riparian and stream habitats, we sampled riparian vegetation and stream conditions in three adjacent watersheds in southeastern Puerto Rico. Land cover categories (pasture, mixed, and forest) were determined using aerial photographs. Vegetation structure and composition and characteristics of streams were assessed for 35 riparian sites. Sites were located along first-order streams, at 400-600 m elevation in the wet-forest life zone. Understory vegetation in the forest sites was mainly shrubs, herbs, and ferns, whereas the mixed and pasture sites were dominated by grasses, vines, and bare soil. Syzygium jambos and Spathodea campanulata, nonnatives, and Guarea guidonia, a native, were the most common tree species in the riparian areas. Surrounding land cover explained >60% of the variation among stream sites. There was a positive relationship between tree cover and percentage of dissolved oxygen, and a negative relationship between tree cover and percentage of substrata covered by sediments from eroded soil. The amount of woody debris in the streams tended to increase with forest cover. Overall, land cover is a landscape feature that effectively characterized riparian understory cover, tree species composition, and stream condition.
Article
Many studies have investigated the ecological changes that occur below dams that release cold, hypolimnetic water, but very few studies have looked at the effects of the release of warm, surface waters. The effect of small, surface release dams on downstream thermal regimes is a major habitat concern for many cold-water systems, however. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of summer temperature increases due to impoundment on downstream fish and macroinvertebrate communities in cold-water streams. We sampled fish, macroinvertebrates and habitat upstream and downstream of dams on ten rivers during the summers of 1998 and 1999. Changes in mean summer temperature downstream varied from a cooling of 1 ° C to an increase of more than 5 ° C. Increasing temperatures downstream coincided with lower densities of several cold-water fish species, specifically brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) while overall fish species richness increased downstream. Density of mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi), another cold-water species, was not related to temperature changes below the dams. Macroinvertebrates showed shifts in community composition below dams that increased temperature. This study provides information useful for determining the extent of impact of these small, surface release dams, which are abundant across the country.
Article
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to assess the relationships between land use patterns and the physical habitat and macroinvertebrate fauna of streams within similar sized watersheds. Eleven second or third order watersheds ranging from highly urbanized to heavily forested were selected along Lake Superior's North Shore. Land use patterns within the watersheds were quantified using readily available digital land use/land cover information, with a minimum mapping resolution of 16 ha. Physical habitat features, describing substrate characteristics and stream morphology, were characterized at sample points within each stream. Principle component and correlation analyses were used to identify relationships between macroinvertebrates and stream physical habitat, and between habitat and land use patterns. Substrate characteristics and presence of coarse woody debris were found to have the strongest correlations with macreinvertebrate assemblage richness and composition. Agricultural and urban land use was correlated with substrate characteristics. Algal abundance, associated with macroinvertebrate compositional differences, was correlated with housing density and non-forest land covers. The use of readily available spatial data, even at this relatively coarse scale, provides a means to detect the primary relationships between land use and stream habitat quality; finer-resolution GIS databases are needed to assess more subtle influences, such as those due to riparian conditions.