J. Bio. & Env. Sci.

2022

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES)

ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online)
Vol. 21, No. 1, p. 146-151, 2022
http://www.innspub.net

RESEARCH
RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS

Macroinvertebrates as bio-indicator of water quality in

Estuaries

Ma Dulce C. Guillena*

College of Education, Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Katipunan Campus,

Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte Philippines

Article published on July 15, 2022

Key words: Water quality, Macroinvertebrates, Bioindicators, Estuaries, Pollution, Abundance

Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are increasingly impacting the biological, physical, and chemical conditions of aquatic
ecosystems. This descriptive research aimed to determine the water quality of estuaries in the municipality of
Manuel A. Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines by utilizing the Biological Monitoring Working Party and
Average Species Per Taxon (BMWP-ASPT) Index. BMWP-ASPT is used to evaluate water quality using families
of macroinvertebrates as biological indicators since aquatic invertebrates have different tolerance to pollution.
Data were collected through field sampling and were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. A total of twelve
families were recorded. Eight (8) of the twelve families were identified as indicator species which include
Atyidae, Penaeidae, Coenagrionidae, Gerridae, Simullidae, Lumbriculidae, Lymnaeidae, Neritidae. Pachychilidae
has the highest relative abundance value of 51.40% while Coenagrionidae has the lowest relative abundance
value of 0.22%. The BMWP-ASPT index indicated that the estuaries of Piao, Dohinob Daku, and Dohinob Diut
have scored 4.16, 4.2, and 4.5 respectively which is interpreted as good water quality. Langatian estuary scored
3.0, interpreted as moderate. The water quality and abundance of macroinvertebrates in Langatian are impacted
by the domestic waste and sewage disposal since the River traverses the town's urban barangay. It is
recommended that regular monitoring of the sampling sites will be conducted to sustain and protect those
estuaries with good water quality and improve the water quality of Langatian considering population expansion.
*Corresponding Author: Ma Dulce C Guillena  [email protected]

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Introduction Irasan, Lower Irasan, Langatian, Piao, and Nabilid

Estuaries provide vital nesting and feeding habitats which are along the coastal area. The municipality is
for many aquatic plants and animals because of the traversed by three wide rivers of Dohinob Daku River,
presence of high level of nutrients due to tidal Tangian River, and Piao River. These rivers not only
overmixing (Smith et al., 2012). However, favor the farmers in the cultivation of various crops but
contaminated urban run-off has been increasing the also serve as natural drainage. Along these riverbanks
pollution load on these aquatic habitats (Orwa, O. are strips of cultivated level ground. Domestic,
2013) thereby exposing the population of industrial, and commercial activities threaten the health
macroinvertebrates to major pollutants. Several of the aquatic environment. (LGU Roxas. html).
studies have been conducted to assess water quality
using families of macroinvertebrates as biological
indicators since it is thought that aquatic
invertebrates have different tolerance to pollution.
(Uherek, C. and Gouveia, F. 2014).

Biological parameters integrate information over

longer periods and better represent the responses of
aquatic habitats making biotic monitoring indices
excellent tools for the sustainable development of
water resources (Pereira, Couceiro, as cited by
Uherek, C. and Gouveia, F. 2014). While several
reviews suggest different bio-indicators to utilize for
the assessment of water quality, the use of aquatic
macroinvertebrates is still the best (Duran, 2011) and
it is well documented because of the amount of
sample that the researcher could get, they were
manageable and relatively easy to collect.

The study was conducted to determine the estuarine

water quality of the four river systems in the
Municipality of Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte being
the industrial center of the Dapitan-Dipolog-Polanco-
Katipunan-Roxas Manukan (DDPKaRoMa) Economic
Alliance. The result of the study is helpful in the Fig. 1. Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte; Study Site
policy and decision-making processes and guidelines (Source: Google Maps 2022).
for resources management of the estuaries.

Sampling
Material and methods Field sampling for this study was conducted from
Study area January 2020 to March 2020. Technical report
The study area is the municipality of Roxas, a second- writing and data analysis were done from May 2020
class municipality of Zamboanga del Norte. The land to July 2020. Macroinvertebrates were collected in
features of the municipality are generally hilly. Only randomly selected sites by manual collection. For
about one-third of the total land area is level ground each working pair, one member held the net with the
or flat. Most of the barangays are located on the high tip of the bag in a vertical position against the rocky
ground except for six barangays like Dohinob, Upper riverbed with the mouth facing upstream while the

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partner disturbed (by kicking, jabbing) the area All families present in the combined samples which are
upstream at a distance of about 1m, allowing the composed of all samples taken at the sampling sites are
macroinvertebrates to be transported and dislodged into listed. The ASPT was calculated by dividing the
the net. Other types of nets such as beat nets and Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) score
sweep nets were used for catching different insects. calculated by adding the individual scores of all indicator
Macroinvertebrates were collected by using forceps after organisms present by the number of families present,
pouring the net contents into a container with water for The ASPT values correspond to a water quality described
removing mud. All collected specimens were poured into by (Uherek, C. and Gouveia, F. 2014).
vials containing ethanol and transported to the JRMSU-
K laboratory after labeling for identification to the family Results and discussion
level using a hand lens, microscope, and morphology- Composition and Distribution
base identification keys. Samples were also sorted based Phylum Arthropoda was the most diverse and
on their specific habitat. Phylum Annelida was the least diverse group in the
four study sites. There were eight families of
Analysis macroinvertebrates collected in Piao, Dohinob
Descriptive analyses were done and BMWP-Average Diut, and Dohinob Daku while in Langatian there
Score Per Taxon (Arslan, N. et al., 2016) biotic index were only six families. Simuliidae was only found
was used to determine water quality. The BMWP- in Langatian while the presence of Lumbriculidae,
ASPT index is an adapted version of the BMWP index. Thiaridae, and Pachychilidae was observed in all
The system is based on ascribing scores between 1 sampling sites. The presence of indicator species
and 10 to different families of macroinvertebrates (marked with *) was recorded as a basis in
encountered. This system assumes that the determining the water quality of the estuaries.
identification of the organisms must be up to the There were seven indicator species in Piao, five in
family level. The families most sensitive to pollution Dohinob Diut, four in Dohinob Daku, and 3 in
are on the top of the list and are assigned a score of Langatian. Lumbriculidae is present in the three
10. The most tolerant families get a lower score. sampling sites except for Langatian.

Table 1. Composition and Distribution of Macroinvertebrates in the four sampling sites.

Dohinob Dohinob
Phylum Order Family Common Name Piao Langatian
Diut Dako
Arthropoda Decapoda Atyidae* Shrimps + - + -
Penaeidae* Shrimps + - - +
Panopeidae mud crab + + - +
Portunidae Crab - - + -
Odonata Coenagrionidae* Damselfly nymph - - + +
Hemiptera Gerridae* Water striders + - + +
Diptera Simuliidae* Blackfly - + - -
Annelida Oligochaeta Lumbriculidae* Aquatic worms + + + +
Mollusca Basommatophora Lymnaeidae* Pond snails + + +
+

Cycloneritida Neritidae* Snails + - + -

Sorbeoconcha Pachychilidae snails + + + +

Neotaenioglossa Thiaridae trumpet snails + + + +
*Indicator Species + Present - absent

Relative Abundance species is relative to other species in a defined

Relative species abundance is a component location or community. A total of 891 individuals
of biodiversity and it refers to how common or rare a from 12 families were collected.

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Among 12 families, Pachychilidae has the highest Atyidae and Penaeidae are widespread families of
relative abundance value of 51.40% while macroinvertebrates that have high economic value
Coenagrionidae has the lowest relative abundance (Tenorio, et al., 2015) that inhabit, rivers or estuaries.
value of 0.22%. Pachychilidae gastropods are a It was observed that these families were present in
conspicuous element of the freshwater macro- three sampling sites except in Langatian. On the other
invertebrate fauna of South-East Asia (Köhler, F.,
hand, Simullidae were recorded in Langatian. The
Dames, C., 2009).
presence of these organisms in bodies of water

Thiaridae family ranks next to Pachychilidae with a indicates urban pollution impacts (Docile, et al.,

relative abundance value of 28.17%. Thiaridae which 2015) since they can adapt in an aquatic environment
are found mostly in tropical to subtropical regions with low oxygen, high or low pH, and warmer water
worldwide, inhabit virtually all freshwater and (Walsh, 2006). Lumbriculidae was noted to be
brackish-water bodies, both in lotic (including present in Piao and Langatian. This family of
springs, creeks, rivers, and streams) and lentic macroinvertebrates is known to be pollutant-resistant
habitats (lakes and ponds) (N. Veeravechsukij, D. that can survive in an ecosystem with poor water
Krailas et al., 2018). quality (Jablonska, 2014).

Table 2. Relative Abundance of Macroinvertebrates sampled in four estuaries.

Family No. of Ind. R.A Family No. of Ind. R.A.
Atyidae 12 1.35% Pachychilidae 458 51.40%
Coenagrionidae 2 0.22% Panopeidae 5 0.56%
Gerridae 7 0.79% Penaeidae 16 1.80%
Lumbriculidae 4 0.45% Portunidae 7 0.79%
Lymnaeidae 3 0.34% Simuliidae 5 0.56%
Neritidae 121 13.58 Thiaridae 251 28.17%
Total 891 100%

Water Quality Assessment Diut and Dohinob Daku indicates a good water
The water quality of the four estuaries in the quality since this family of macroinvertebrates are
municipality of Roxas was determined using the very sensitive to water pollution. During sampling,
BMWP-ASPT index from January to March 2020. it was observed that there were no signs of human
Piao, Dohinob Daku, and Dohinob Diut scored activities and no non-biodegradable wastes found
4.16, 4.2, and 4.5 respectively which is interpreted in these two sites including Piao because these
as good water quality. The presence of rivers traverses rural barangays with few or no
Coenagrionidae (damselfly nymph) in Dohinob residents on the riverbanks.

Table 3. Comparison of Water Quality of the Four Estuaries.

Dohinob Dohinob
Piao Score Langatian Score Score Score
Diut Daku
Atyidae* + 6 - + 6 6
Penaeidae* + 6 - +
Coenagrionidae* - - + 8 + 8
Gerridae* + 3 - + 3 + 3
Simuliidae* - + 5 - -
Lumbriculidae* + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
Lymnaeidae* + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
Neritidae* + 6 - + 6 -
BMWP Score* 25 9 27 21
ASPT 4.16 3.0 4.5 4.2
Interpretation Good Moderate Good Good
Source: * Uherek, C. and Gouveia, F. 2014

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 J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2022

Langatian estuary scored 3.0, interpreted as Coen L, Brumbaugh R, Bushek D, Grizzle R,

moderate water quality. The status of water quality Luckenbach M, Posey M, Powers S, Tolley S. 2007.
could be attributed to human-related activities since Ecosystem services related to oyster restoration. Marine
the river traverses an urban barangay of the town. Ecology Progress Series 341, 303-307.
Domestic waste and sewage disposal contributed to
the pollution in the estuary thereby changing the Docile TN, Figueiró R, Gil-Azevedo LH,
abundance of macroinvertebrates (J. L. Domingo & Nessimian JL. 2015. Water pollution and
M. Nadal et al., 2009). distribution of the black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) in
the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Revista de Biología
The findings of this study showed similar results with Tropical 63(3), 683-693.
Orwa et al., (2012) in areas with higher human
disturbance compared to the less disturbed sites. Family Domingo JL, Nadal M. 2009. Domestic waste
distribution of macroinvertebrates can also be altered by composting facilities: A review of human health
unpredicted floods and other biological factors. risks. Environment International 35(2).

Conclusion Duran M. 2011. Evaluating Benthic

The BMWP-ASPT index indicated a "moderate" to Macroinvertebrate Fauna and Water Quality of
"good" water quality of the estuaries in Roxas, Z.N. The Suleymanli Lake (Buldan-Denizli) in Turkey. Acta
use of Macroinvertebrates as a bioindicator emphasizes Zool. Bulg 63(2), 169-178
its utility as a monitoring tool in assessing water systems
through time, as well as their ease of usage. Along with Jabłońska A. 2014. Oligochaete communities of highly
this, regular monitoring of the sampling sites is degraded urban streams in Poland, Central Europe.
recommended to sustain, protect those estuaries with North-Western Journal of Zoology 10(1), 74-82.
good water quality and improve the quality of impacted
waters due to anthropogenic activities. Kohler F, Dames C. 2009. Phylogeny and
systematics of the Pachychilidae of mainland South-
Acknowledgements East Asia-novel insights from morphology and
The author would like to express her gratitude to the mitochondrial DNA (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda,
Jose Rizal Memorial State University for funding this
Cerithioidea). Zoological journal of the Linnean
study through the office of the Vice President for
Society 157(4), 679-699.
Research, Development, and Extension, the local
government units of the Municipality of Roxas,
Orwa O. 2013. Use of macroinvertebrate assemblage
Zamboanga del Norte for granting the permit to
to assess the ecological integrity of Nyando wetlands,
conduct the study, the JRMSU-Katipunan Campus
Kenya. Journal of Ecology and the Natural
headed by the Campus Administrator, Dr. Carina A.
Environment 5(7), 152-164.
Romarate, for the support in the conduct of this
research project and to Dr. Maria Rio A. Naguit for
Smith TM, Smith RL. 2012. Elements of ecology.
the insights given in completion of this paper.
Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company 508-512.

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