Comparative study of the chemical accumulation, population, and morphology of Banisil (Faunus ater) within Barangay Odiongan and Barangay Anakan, Gingoog City

Faunus ater is a gastropod mollusk, crucial to tropical East Asian ecosystems, especially in the Philippines. This study investigates its potential as a bioindicator by analyzing chemical accumulation, population, and morphology within Barangay Odiongan and Barangay Anakan in Gingoog City during wet season. The analysis revealed significant findings in chemical accumulation, population, and morphology. The total population of F. ater in Barangay Odiongan was 226, while Barangay Anakan had 316. Morphological characteristics of F. ater were larger in Anakan, with mean values (length: 78.79 mm, width: 15.18 mm, wet weight: 9.68 g) compared to Odiongan (length: 56.20 mm, width: 11.79 mm, wet weight: 8.01 g). Both barangays showed no detectable cadmium (Cd), but lead (Pb) levels varied, with Odiongan at 0.28 µg/g and Anakan at 0.27 µg/g, indicating higher levels in Odiongan. In the comparison of chemical accumulation and population of F. ater, data showed that despite Odiongan's lower population, it had higher Pb levels than Anakan. For the comparison of chemical accumulation and morphology of F. ater, Anakan, with no Cd detected, displayed larger morphology than Odiongan, which also showed no Cd but had smaller morphology. In comparing population and morphology of F. ater, both population and morphology in Anakan showed higher mean values than Odiongan. Adhering to Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) standards, Cd and Pb concentrations in both barangays are below tolerance limits, ensuring safety for F. ater and its habitat. The study suggests analyzing morphology and population using SPSS. Future research should include coliform analysis or occur during the dry season.