Physico-chemical Analysis and Species Inventory Assessment of Two Caves in Barangay Tinalon, Senator Ninoy, Sultan Kudarat

The study described the biology of two caves in Barangay Tinalon, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat through assessment and classification of organism based on ecological type and zonal distribution. It also includes the description of physico-chemical profile of the two caves with air, soil and water as samples for analysis. The two caves studied namely Tinalon Cave and Catajay Cave. Inventory assessment of cave species was conducted in the two study sites. Sample specimens were collected and preserved for documentation and identification. Air temperature and relative humidity were measured. Soil and water samples were also subjected to physico- chemical analysis which includes pH, relative humidity, organic matter (OM%) and inorganic matter including phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in soil and in water including the carbonate (C * O_{3} ^ - 2) carbonic acid (HC*O_{3}) chloride (CL), sulfate (S*O_{4} ^ - 2) phosphorus (P). In the aspect of its physico-chemical profile Tinalon Cave and Catajay Cave have almost the same temperature and humidity. The soil in the Tinalon Cave is alkaline as well as in the soil in the Catajay Cave. Low amount of organic matter, Phosphurus and pottasium are also observed. Both Tinalon and Catajay Cave has the basic property of water. Twilight zone of the Tinalon cave has the high HC O 3 ^ - Dark zone has the high content of chlorine among the two zones. And it has low amount of S * O_{4} ^ - 2 and Phosphorus. In the Catajay Cave the only zone that contained water is the dark zone. It has high content of carbonic acid, low amount of chlorine, S * O_{4} ^ - 2 and phosphorus.
Based on the species inventory, six species of cave fauna were found in the two caves. These species are cave spider, cave cricket, glow worms, crab, fish and frog and distibuted in three different zones, Entrance, Twilight and dark zone. They are classified based on its Ecological types, Trogloxenes, Troglophiles and Troglobites. The result of this study shows that Tinalon Cave has the most abundant species of organisms compared to Catajay Cave.