Name: Nicole B. Enriquez Professor: Mr.

Parmis
Course & Section: BSESSDP-T-2A Date: 06-23-2022

CRITIQUE PAPER
The study, titled "Phytoplankton Community in Aquaculture and Non-Aquaculture Sites of
Taal Lake, Batangas, Philippines," was written by Airill L. Mercurio, Blesshe L. Querijero, and Johnny
A. Ching and was published online on February 20, 2016. The purpose of this research was to study
the phytoplankton populations of Taal Lake's aquaculture and non-aquaculture locations. So,
phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, seem to be similar to terrestrial plants in that they have
chlorophyll and need sunlight to survive and thrive. Phytoplankton are autotrophic components of
the plankton community and an important component of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. Because
the Taal Lake offers different benefits to diverse users, including fisheries, aquaculture has grown
quickly over the years it is fit to their study. Also, the lake is also utilized for pleasure, tourism,
navigation, and as a water supply for adjacent communities and agricultural lands.
The research shows to have a sample duration of 10 months, from August 2013 to May 2014.
Three sampling stations were set up at aquaculture locations to gather phytoplankton samples for
quantitative and qualitative analysis, whereas a single station was set up at a non-aquaculture site.
There are a total of 12 subsampling sites in the research area, three located at each of the 6 sampling
stations. That's what they employ the relative values of the frequency, density, and abundance of the
various plankton species collected from the lake were added together to conduct a quantitative
analysis of the phytoplankton's importance value. The phytoplankton density in aquaculture and
non-aquaculture areas of Taal Lake were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, and a significant
difference was found between the two. “Phytoplankton community structure of Lake Paoay and Lake
Mohicap “That is related to the article because it talks about phytoplankton. The article says that
phytoplankton is a key part of the aquatic ecosystem's food chain, helps with primary productivity,
and is a link between biogeochemical changes.

When the results of this study were analyzed, they showed that 39 genera of phytoplankton
from four major groups—Chlorophyta, Chrysophyta, Cyanophyta, and Pyrrophyta—were found in
aquaculture and non-aquaculture sites in Taal Lake. Out of the total number of genera that were
found, 36 were found at aquaculture sites and only 30 were found at other sites. And in all of the
major types of phytoplankton, the density of phytoplankton is much higher in the aquaculture
sampling stations than in the non-aquaculture sampling stations. Due to sulphur upwelling, the
summer months of March to May 2014 also had the highest monthly density. January 2014 was the
month with the lowest density. Microcystis was the most important phytoplankton at both sampling
sites, followed by Merismopedia in aquaculture sites and Oscillatoria in nonaquaculture sites. All
three belong to the division Cyanophyta, which shows that Taal Lake is becoming more polluted and
richer in nutrients.

The relevance of the research may be gleaned from the fact that it focuses on phytoplanktons,
which are important indicators of both the water quality and the trophic state of a lake, and the fact
that the study is trying to place attention to them. This study is also a great way to learn more about
phytoplankton, which is important because they are some of the most important organisms on Earth
and need to be studied and understood. They make about half of the oxygen in the air, which is as
much as all land plants do in a year. Phytoplankton are also at the bottom of almost every food web
in the ocean. In response, the article's strength is that it gives useful information, while the article's
weakness is that although the presented ideas and insights for action are useful, much more
information is required.

As a result, consistent environmental monitoring of the lake is strongly suggested at this time.
In addition, the number and dispersion of phytoplankton community structure as well as the fact
that additional algae species were appearing in both lakes in unusual ways demonstrated that the
lakes still need regular monitoring. Phytoplankton are among the most important creatures on Earth;
hence it is essential to research and comprehend them. They produce around half of the atmosphere's
oxygen annually, the same amount as all terrestrial plants. It has been shown that a significant
amount of the oxygen found in the air and in the water, column originates from the process of
photosynthesis carried out by phytoplankton.

References:
Sambitan K. Papa R. & Baldia S. (2014). Phytoplankton community structure of Lake Paoay and Lake
Mohicap with notes on the first record of Ceratium (Dinophyta) in Lake Paoay. Acta Manilana 63
(2015), pp. 51–60.
https://actamanilana.ust.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/20156351-
60_PapaRDSBaldiaSF.pdf
Querijero B. Mercurio A. & Ching J. (2019). Phytoplankton Community in Aquaculture and Non-
Aquaculture Sites of Taal Lake, Batangas, Philippines. Journal of Experimental Biology and
Agricultural Science. (4) 1.
file:///C:/Users/nicole/Downloads/Phytoplankton%20Community%20in%20Taal%20lake.pdf