Community Structure of Phytoperiphyton in “Lab-lab” (Algal Mat) in Brackishwater Ponds in Relation to Water Depth
Norma R. Fortes1 and Lily Anne G. Piñosa2
1Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences,
University of the Philippines Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo
2Brackishwater Aquaculture Center, Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Leganes, Iloilo
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
The diversity, a univariate measure of both the number of genera present (richness) and their distribution (evenness), of the phytoperiphyton community of a brackishwater pond that received water from a river and the sea was studied during dry and wet seasons. The algal mat (“lab-lab”) was sampled when the pond was filled to depths of 5, 10, 15, and 30 cm during 2 and 7 days of submergence to determine the effect of seasons, depth and submergence on the diversity and relate it to the trophic status of periphyton-based pond and quality of “lab-lab” as fish food. Generic diversity and evenness declined with increased depth and colonization time during the dry season but not during the wet season. Richness was affected by depth which was significantly different (p≤0.05) at 2 days submergence, and highly significant (p≤0.01) at 7 days submergence. The index of diversity was moderate ranging from 1.0 – 3.2 during dry season and 1.2 - 2.2 during wet season. Richness ranged from 0.7 - 1.4 during dry season and 0.7 - 1.0 during wet season. There were low stabilized genera with evenness that ranged from 0.3 - 0.5 during dry season and 0.2 - 0.5 during wet season. A more diverse community prevailed during the dry season than during the wet season due to differences in environmental conditions.
INTRODUCTION
“Lab-lab” is a local name in the Philippines for the algal mat adhering on the pond bottom like a green pasture under water. “Lab-lab” is technically known as periphyton which is a biological complex of minute plants (phytoperiphyton) and animals (zoooperiphyton) attached to submerged surfaces . . . .
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