Assessment and Monitoring of Fish Species in the Mountain Streams and Lake of Mindanao LTER Sites

Assessment and Monitoring on fish species was conducted in five (5) Longterm Ecological Research (LTER) sites in Mindanao, Philippines. These LTER sites were Mt. Apo in North Cotabato, Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental, Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Musuan in Bukidnon, and Mt. Malindang in Misamis Occidental. Streams and Lakes of these sites were sampled to assess the fish species found in each sites and its significance in the aquatic ecosystem. There were 13 fish families found from the five LTER sites. One endemic species Puntius bantolanensis was found only in two mountain sites Mt. Apo and Mt. Hamiguitan. Ten native species were distributed among all sites. Seven were unclassified for its occurrence. Out of the 34 species, 15 were introduced. However, these introduced species have only diminutive individual counts per site of which they occur. The study revealed that Mindanao streams were composed of diverse fish species. Endemic and native fish species has the need to be protected and ecosystem must be conserved. Some introduced fish species are invasive and that might disturb and affect aquatic ecosystem. Bray Curtis cluster analysis reveals that Mt. Musuan and Mt. Malindang shows similarity of species. Mt. Kitanglad has the least similar species compared to the other four mountains. Some physico-chemical characteristics vary from each stream in all sites and somehow affect presence of fishes.

 

Keywords: aquatic ecosystem, freshwater fishes, water quality, endemic, native