Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2007

Gut analysis on 46 Trichogaster pectoralis and a local fishing survey were conducted in Lake Mihaba to infer some of its notable diet characteristic. Food items in the guts were sorted and classified using light microscopy to obtain the percentage of occurrence and number of each food type. Also, individual weights were acquired using centrifugation and an electronic balance and the percentage by weight was calculated. About 91% of the catch was made between 3AM to 3PM, implicating that t. pectoralis is a diurnal species. A total of 16 food categories (n1 = 38180) were noted in the gut of snakeskin gouramy fishes. Optimal foraging theory predicted that T. pectoralis employs generalist strategy. Relative importance index reveals that detritus, diatoms, and plant fibers are the most significant contribution to the diet in all seasons with mean values of 17.09%, 15.97% and 13.41% respectively. Having mixed diet of plant fibers, detritus and some micro- and macro invertebrates recorded, T. pectoralis is a euriphagous omnivore. On the other hand, Indigenous Knowledge Survey (IKS) shows that T. pectoralis is far less economically important due to its rapid flesh deterioration. However, due to its high accessibility, it is also significantly exploited