PLANKTONIC CENTRIC DIATOMS FROM THE VOLCANIC LAKE TAAL, PHILIPPINES

Lake Taal phytoplankton species composition and biovolume was investigated within the framework of a multidisciplinary limnological study. This study covered all the major components of the pelagic food web from plankton to fish. Lake Taal is geologicalla young lake situated at 2.5 m above sea level. Its basin was formed after a volcanic eruption forming a caldera, initially filled with seawater. Following separation from the sea a desalinization process took place.