Diversity of Macroinvertebrate Fauna in Nasuli Spring, Bangcud, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Abstract

The study assessed the diversity of macroinvertebrate fauna in Nasuli Spring, Bangcud, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Specifically, the study aimed to: a) Determine the morpho-species composition of macroinvertebrates; b) determine the species diversity of macroinvertebrates; and c) assess the local status of macroinvertebrate species in the study area. The study was done during the month of March 2022 with a sampling effort of 12.5 hours per day once a week. Three different study stations were made. Station 1, the upstream, was geographically located at 8°00'02.8"N 125°07'36.3"E. Station 2, the midstream, was geographically located at 8°00'02.8"N 125°07'35.9"E and Station 3, the downstream was geographically located at 8°00'03.0"N 125°07'35.6"E. Dip netting, surface netting, rock rubbing, light trapping and opportunistic sampling method was employed. A total of 1,924 individuals were collected in three stations belonging to ten order and thirteen families. Common families present in all stations were the family Atyidae, Platycnemididae, Hydraenidae, Culicidae, Thiaridae and Viviparidae. Of all taxa recorded, only Melanoides sp. (36%), Caridina sp. (26%) and Sinotaia sp. (9%) were the most represented taxa. Overall, the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in Nasuli Spring is low based on the classification scheme for the Shannon-Weiner diversity index of the Kruger scale. Signs of human disturbances were evident in the results of decreasing macroinvertebrate diversity. Berger-Parker Index showed that Station 1 is the most disturbed (69.602%), followed by station 2 (62.369%) and station 3 at 43.099%. The assumption that the aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity is high in Nasuli Spring, Bangcud, Malaybalay City is not accepted.