Identification of microalgae isolated from floating plastics found along Iloilo estuary and cultured in CM and F/2 media

FRENSEL MAE R. YEBAN, CATHY LYN P. BARANDA, VINCE ROLLY P. ANTENOR, and RAMON ANGELO N. SINCO
Philippine Science High School – Western Visayas Campus, Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute, Philippines

Abstract
Microalgae has been considered as a microorganism having potential to degrade plastic. This organism was able to attach itself to a substratum, forming a biofilm. It is vital to determine the microalgae present thriving in the surrounding environment, as the organism’s characteristics contribute to its biofilm-formation properties. In this study, suspended plastics in the Iloilo river were collected. The microalgal organisms in the plastics were scraped, cultured, serially diluted, and identified. After identification, the genus-level taxonomic identification of isolates was analyzed, and the most common genus were named. From the data acquired, Nitzschia sp. was the most prevalent in all of the samples collected and was seen both in CM and F/2 media. Following Nitzschia sp. is Navicula sp., with six (6) samples containing such. Most of the Navicula sp. were found in Conditioned media. Anabaena sp. were present in five of the samples identified.

Keywords: plastic, biodegradation, microalgae, Nitzschia sp., Navicula sp.