Authors : Arianne Kate D. Exala; Rizza Mae D. Hernandez; Ma. Paola Andrea S. Oteyza; Jhon Harold G. Pacelo; Jeremiah C. Talion; Dulce Marie P. Nisperos

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/y4db3hka

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/3xvuv3uc

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec1097

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : The Monopterus albus, or the rice paddy eel, is one of Asia's most economically important freshwater-farmed species and is found in various aquatic settings. They have a unique adaptation that allows them to thrive in different environments. However, as predators, the M. albus is considered a threat to their environment and biodiversity. The study aims to further investigate the impact of the presence of the introduced M. albus species in the rice paddies of Luzon Island by looking into the diet composition and feeding habits of the species. It is important to understand how the species survives in its new environment based on feeding habits, as such studies in the Philippines are limited. The feeding behavior and food intake of the species through gut content analysis were employed to investigate the diet composition in complexity. The role of diet analysis can simply identify the constant consumed prey in the stomach. Hence, the current study was conducted to investigate M. albus' diet composition and habits in Northern and Southern Luzon at different seasons. In this study, a random sampling of a total of 167 M. albus specimens was collected from two sites in Luzon: (1) Mexico, Pampanga province (N=85), and in Victoria, Laguna province (N = 82), and were sampled once in October 2022 and March 2023. The gut content analysis showed that M. albus feeds mostly on snails, fish, insects, and debris. However, most of the collected specimens contain debris that may be composed of mud and partially digested materials. In order to determine if there is a significant difference in the gut contents between the two sites (Pampanga and Laguna) and between the two seasons (wet and dry), this study utilized inferential statistics using a 2-tailed independent T-test and one-way ANOVA. The findings of the study provided important evidence that shows that the distribution of gut content in Pampanga and Laguna is affected by the season. Results show that a higher number of gut contents (snail, fish, insect, and debris) can be seen during the wet season, with a p-value of 3E-6 for Mexico, Pampanga, and 4E-23 in Victoria, Laguna. The t-test results showed that in Pampanga, there is a significant difference in the gut contents between seasons with a t-value of 4.5312 and a p-value of 9.74427E-06. Similarly, the t-test result showed that in Laguna, there is a significant difference in the gut contents between seasons with a t-value of 3.6320 and a p-value of 0.000247415. In conclusion, the food intake of M. albus was more pronounced during the rainy season in both Pampanga and Laguna, owing to the abundance of food supplies and favorable natural conditions for both prey and M. albus. The food availability varies depending on location and climatic factors such as temperature and water level. The result of this scientific study may contribute to the information needed in the proper management of M. albus as an introduced species in the Philippines.

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