Exploring ecosystem health through physico-chemical parameters and bioindicators in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines: A preliminary study

Ecological health surveys are crucial for evaluating the well-being of ecosystems, as they provide essential insights through surrogate indicators, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable environmental management and conservation. This study conducted an ecosystem health survey in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines, with specific objectives including the evaluation of physico-chemical parameters, identification of plankton at the family level, microbiological analysis, and detection of photosynthetic bacteria in selected sites. Four sites were chosen, and physico-chemical parameters in sites 1 and 4 were almost identical. Plankton presence was observed, but quantification was not conducted. Microbiological analysis in Site 1 indicated that the total plate count was 105 CFU mL-1. Growth of photosynthetic bacteria was observed in samples with sediment after 14 days. Despite limitations in site coverage and real-time insight, the study highlights the presence of bioindicators, offering valuable groundwork for future research and the need for comprehensive analysis across all sites.