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Small Maar Lakes of Luzon Island, Philippines: Their Limnological Status and Implications on the Management of Tropical Lakes – A Review

Milette U. Mendoza1,6*, Jonathan Carlo A. Briones1,2,3,
Masayuki Itoh4, Karol Sophia Agape R. Padilla1, Jaydan I. Aguilar1,
Noboru Okuda5, and Rey Donne S. Papa1,2,3

1The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas 1015 Philippines
2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Santo Tomas 1015 Philippines
3Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas 1015 Philippines
4School of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo,
1-1-12 Shinzaike-Honcho, Himeji 670-0092 Japan
5Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama,
Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8047 Japan
6Department of Environmental Science, School of Science
& Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University 1108 Philippines


*Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 


ABSTRACT

In developing countries such as the Philippines, the inadequacy of even the most basic limnological datasets available has hindered planning and implementation of science-based management policies for inland waters. This situation is aggravated by overutilization of natural resources for ecosystem services such as water usage, aquaculture, fishing, and tourism. We reviewed published researches related to the Seven Maar Lakes (SMLs) in Luzon Is., Philippines to summarize information invaluable for the protection and sustainable use of these resources. Popular scientific search engines were utilized to gather peer-reviewed research articles and reports from both private institutions and government agencies. Literature and timeline from the 1930s to 2019 was classified into topics – namely socioeconomics, fisheries, biodiversity, and environment. Based on the literature survey, a variety of challenges, knowledge gaps, and promising research directions were identified, which are essential to the sustainable ecosystem management of the SMLs. Aquaculture practices impacting the lakes and its underestimated biodiversity were described. Measured vertical profiles of dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, conductivity, pH, and salinity was supplemented by our preliminary limnological survey in the SMLs. Past and present monitoring data of selected physicochemical parameters were assessed from which the changing limnological status of the lakes was determined. We recommended measures motivated by strategic environmental assessments while still considering maintained economic yields. A sustained collaborative effort from different sectors is strongly suggested not only to manage the SMLs but also to address trade-offs among critical ecosystem services. Aside from the need for well-designed, long-term water quality monitoring, we also stress the synergistic interpretation of all available knowledge, which can contribute to the resolution of environmental issues at both local and global scales.

 

INTRODUCTION

Freshwater lakes are essential to humanity as they provide critical ecosystem services and serve as sentinels and integrators of a range of environmental processes (Williamson et al. 2008). Small lakes in the Philippines – defined here with surface area (SA) of ≤ 2,000,000 m2 (Brillo 2016a, b) – often receive less research and management attention compared to bigger lakes, even though they are equally important for conservation (Briones et al. 2016, Scheffer et al. 2006). Intensive and systematic limnological research is needed for a better understanding of the small lakes, as these ecosystems are more vulnerable than larger lakes to human activities in the catchment and are more sensitive to the resultant environmental changes (Brillo 2015a). Sixty-three percent of the Philippine lakes are classified as small (Brillo 2015b), suggesting its advantage since small aquatic ecosystems have great importance and global impact in nutrient spiraling and retention of important materials, as well as in biotic complexity and richness (Downing 2010). . . . read more

 


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