Development of endemicity and conservation importance indices for tropical forests and the floral diversity assessment of Mt.Natoo in Benguet,Philippines

The scientific community faces the challenge of measuring progress toward biodiversity targets and indices have been traditionally used.However,recent inventories in secondary tropical mountain forests using traditional biodiversity indices have yielded results that are indistinct with primary ones.This shows the need to develop complementary indices that goes beyond species count but integrates the distribution and conservation status of the species.This study developed endemicity and conservation importance index for tropical forest that incorporated the distribution and conservation status of the species.These indices were applied to Mt.Natoo,a remnant primary mossy forest in Buguias,Benguet,Philippines,that resulted to endemicity index of 81.07 and conservation importance index of 42.90.Comparing these with secondary forest sites with comparable Shannon-Wiener,Simpson,Evenness and Margalef’s indices,our endemicity and conservation indices clearly differentiates primary forest(our study site)with higher values from secondary forests with much lower values.Thus,we are proposing these indices for a direct but scientifically-informed identification of specific sites for conservation and protection in tropical forests.Additionally,our study documented a total of 168 vascular plant species(79 endemic and 12 locally threatened species)in Mt.Nato-o.Majority are of tropical elements for both generic and species levels with some temperate elements that could be attributed to the site's high elevation and semi-temperate climate.These are important baseline information for conservation plans and monitoring of tropical mossy forests.

Intensities of human disturbance dictate the floral diversity in tropical forest:the case of a secondary forest in Benguet, Philippines

This study inventoried the floral diversity of a secondary forest in Tuba,Benguet,Philippines as affected by different intensities of human disturbance.This study is unique from other land use studies in Southeast Asia in having conventional farms as the most disturbed land use while other sites have oil palm plantations.A total of 267 species belonging to 222 genera and 78 families was documented.Results showed that the level of human disturbance is the major factor affecting the floral diversity while the effect of elevation is secondary.The level of human disturbance is significantly associated with species richness,species composition,dominant species and biodiversity indices.Greater human disturbance,as in the case of conventional farms,results in lower species richness,predominantly weed composition,dominant weed species and lower biodiversity indices.On the other hand,lesser human disturbance(as in the case of secondary forest)leads to higher species richness,greater native species composition,dominance of indigenous species,and higher diversity indices.The most disturbed land use experienced the greatest loss of species richness,change in floristic composition and vegetation structure,as well as a shift from native to alien-dominated plant communities.These results showed that the effect of land use change is not limited to species richness but also to species composition,dominant species and biodiversity indices.Locally,the study is an important baseline data for biodiversity conservation of the Marcos Highway Watershed Forest Reserve.

Distribution and morpho-anatomical characterization of ’Beket’(Coriaria japonica subsp. intermedia(Matsum) T.C. Huanh) in Cordillera Central Range, Northern Philippines

Coriaria,the only genus under family Coriariacea,receives a lot interest among botanist due to its controversial taxonomic treatment and unique phytochemistry that could be commercially important.The populations of Coriaria japonica subsp.intermedia in Cordillera Central Range(CCR),Philippines had never been studied in detail.With the need for more information on this controversial genus,the study deemed it necessary to present the distribution and morpho-anatomical description of C.japonica subsp.intermedia in CCR.A total of 123 populations were documented,found at an elevation range of 1334 to 2494 m asl and stretched between16°31’37.7"to 17°5’47.8"N and 120°39’40.3"to120°55’48"E.Mapping these populations showed a narrow linear pattern of distribution concentrated at the southern portion of CCR.The plant is a shrub with simple leaves,collateral buds,raceme inflorescence,bisexual flowers with persistent perianth forming an accessory fruit after fertilization.In terms of anatomy,much are of the usual dicot characters such as dorsiventral leaf with stomata concentrated in the lower epidermis,eustele with pith in the stem andpresence of secondary growth both on old stem and old root.Interesting findings of the study include the123 populations,the larger leaf measurements,longer petals and larger fruits than the original description given by Matsumura.Also,the paracytic type of stomata and presence of pith in the primary roots of C.japonica subsp.intermedia are interesting since these are common monocot characters while the plant is dicot.These findings are additional information that could help clear the controversies on the genus Coriaria.More importantly,our results could provide essential information for understanding the plant and for developing conservation strategies not just for this plant but also for the other related plants in the CCR biogeographical zone.

Morpho-anatomical characterization of Rhododendron subsessile Rendle,an endangered species of the Cordillera Central Range,Philippines

Conservation of endangered plant species requires a prerequisite basic knowledge of their taxonomy and ecology.Unfortunately in the Cordillera Central Range,several species have not been studied,even though this area harbors a unique type of vegetation not found in other parts of the Philippines.This study documents the morpho-anatomical characteristics of Rhododendron subsessile Rendle,one of the unique and endangered fl ora in the area.The species exhibits a morphology typical of plants in high elevations,being a hardy shrub with small tough leaves,and showy pink fl owers that rival those of commercial rhododendron species.New fi ndings on the species morphology include a variable number of corolla lobes,stamens and a description of its fruits and seeds.The anatomical features of the species are reported here for the fi rst time.The plant exhibits a typical dicot anatomy with dorsiventral leaves,woody stem and root system with the usual arrangement of periderm followed by secondary phloem,vascular cambium,secondary xylem with vessel elements and pith(in the case of the stem).A unique characteristic was identifi ed as the biseriate upper epidermis of the leaf.Documenting themorphological and anatomical features of the species should prove valuable as input baseline information in formulating measures for its conservation.