Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Bonti-bonti (Paratherina striata) an Endemic Fish in Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi. Bonti-bonti (Paratherina striata) is an endemic fish species in Towuti and Mahalona Lake. This fish included into vulnerable species. It should be protected from decreasing of fish population due to increasing exploitation and habitat quality changes. The objective of this research to study on spatial and temporal distribution of the fish, as a basic information for its

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... tion. Samples were collected from May 2006 to April 2007 using experimental gillnet mesh size 0.625, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 inches at five stations. Fish number and size captured during 15 hours. Water quality parameters that analyzed were temperature, conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen using water quality checker-Horiba, alkalinity used titration methode, while water level and rain fall obtained from PT. Inco. Distribution of fish abundance was analyzed with Mann-Whitney non-parametric test. Water quality parameters that influencing fish abundance were analyzed by multivariate analysis. The results show that the distribution of bonti-bonti spreading widely starting from lakeside to middle of the lake. The highest abundance of the fish are in inlet with sand, gravel, and stone substrat. Fish size was obtained more various at the inlet station than other stasions and it predicted as main habitat. Water qualitiy parameters of were not factors influencing difference of spatial distribution but it was influenced by behavior of habitat selection. The highest temporal distribution of the fish abundance in November and December influenced by dissolved oxygen and high water level.