Abstract
Physicochemical Characteristics and Fish Fauna Composition of Lake Duminagat, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, Philippines
Victoria T. Quimpang1, Maricris G. Cudal1, Emmanuel P. Leaño1,2,Einstine M. Opiso3, Verne Lloyd B. Calunsag1 and Victor B. Amoroso1,2
Study on physicochemical properties and freshwater fish was conducted in
Lake Duminagat, a lone small crater lake of Mount Malindang Natural Park
with a total area of 8.04 hectares. Temperature, pH, oxidation reduction
potential (ORP), electrical conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and
total dissolved solids of (TDS) were the water parameters analyzed. The
survey was undertaken in May 2013. The pH, turbidity, and DO in Lake
Duminagat fall within the permissible limit for Class AA water body
classification intended primarily for waters having watersheds that are declared
as protected areas, whereas temperature and TDS were below the standards.
Not all of the water parameters analyzed showed significant relationship with
water depth. A total of six species of freshwater fish belonging to three
families was collected. Diversity Index was found to be high (1.63). The most
abundant species in the lake are the native Barbodes binotatus (34.43%) and
the exotic Xiphophorus helleri (21.31%), whereas the native Anguilla
marmorata (4.92%) was found to be the least abundant. Interestingly, three
new exotic freshwater fish species were recorded, the Xiphophorus helleri,
Xiphophorus maculatus, and Poecilia reticulata. This study provides an
important update of the status of Lake Duminagat.
KEYWORDS: diversity, freshwater, species, temperature, turbidity
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