Mosses and More: Exploring the Bryophyte Flora of Kalikasan Park | InformativeBD

Daile Meek Salvador-Membreve, Erwin N. Baňares, and Jonathan Jaime G. Guerrero, from the institute of Philippines. wrote a Research article about, Mosses and More: Exploring the Bryophyte Flora of Kalikasan Park. Entitled, Bryophyte Flora of Kalikasan Park, Albay, Philippines. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Bryophytes are nonvascular plants that have ecological and medicinal value. The present study assessed the diversity and ecological status of bryophytes flora in Kalikasan Park, Albay. Sampling plots were established based on the dominant vegetation types in the Park. Collections were made in 20 x 20m in the sampling plots. A total of eight species (8) with five (5) mosses and three (3) species of liverworts were collected in all sampling areas. Microhabitats observed in the study were decayed woods, tree trunks, wet rocks and moist soils. A high index value (2.29) with evenness index of 0.996 was observed in the study area with trees having a much higher index compared to bryophytes found in fern plots. From the species, two (2) species were found to be possibly endangered with one (1) possibly near threatened of IUCN status. Also, three bryophytes found in the area were known to have medicinal value. To date, this is the first record of bryophyte flora in Kalikasan Park.

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Introduction

Bryophytes are small, photosynthetic, nonvascular and spore-bearing plants. They encompass the terrestrial plants which include mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They occupy various environments from polar to arid conditions but are at their greatest abundance and diversity in tropical rainforests (Valente, Porto and Bastos, 2017). They thrive in trees, rocks, soil, logs and even surfaces of the leaf (Vanderpoorten, Papp and Gradstein, 2010). Bryophytes are known to be indicators of environmental conditions. They are indicator species for air and water quality, heavy metal contamination and climate change (Azuela et al., 2016, Carreon, 2016). Also, they provide habitat and food for arthropods and amphibians (Azuela et al., 2016). Bryophytes are therefore significant for ecological balance. Hence, assessment of bryophytes is thus important.

Kalikasan Park is a man-made forest situated at the back of the Bicol University main campus. It has a total area of ten hectares and the border lies on the Sagumayon River. It is characterized by shrubs, ferns and endemic and non-timber forest trees such as bamboo and rattan. Border areas of the Park are lined with human settlements and agricultural lands.

Infrastructure developments are occurring in the area which might pose a threat to population of bryophytes. Hence, this study aimed to document and determine ecological status of the bryophytes in the Park. This is the first account of bryophytes in the said area.

Reference

Arróniz-Crespo M, Núñez-Olivera E, Martínez-Abaigar J, Becker H, Scher J, Zapp J, Beaucourt N. 2006. Physiological changes and UV protection in the aquatic liverwort Jungermannia exsertifolia subsp. cordifolia along an altitudinal gradient of UV-B radiation. Functional plant biology 33, 1025-1036.

Azuelo A, Manual A, Obemio CD, Oconer E, Gubalane R, Lobredo G. Bryophyte flora of Mt. Matutum protected landscape, South Cotabato, Philippines. 2016. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 9, 1-12.

Azuelo A, Sariana L, Pabualan M. 2010. Diversity and ecological status of bryophytes in Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon. Asian Journal of Biodiversity 1, 49-71. Azuelo A, Sariana L, Pabualan M. 2011. Some medicinal bryophytes: their ethnobotanical uses and morphology. Asian Journal of Biodiversity 2, 49-80.

Benítez Á, Prieto M, Aragón G. 2015. Large trees and dense canopies: key factors for maintaining high epiphytic diversity on trunk bases (bryophytes and lichens) in tropical montane forests. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research 88, 521-527.

Carreon H, Morales N, Cabras A, Medina MN. 2016. Preliminary list of bryophytes in Tagbaobo, Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines. University of Mindanao International Multidisciplinary Research Journal 1, 152-157.

Gradstein SR, Churchill SP, Salazar Allen N. 2001. Guide to the Bryophytes of Tropical America. The New York Botanical Garden Press, New York.

He X, He K, Hyvönen J. 2016. Will bryophytes survive in a warming world? Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 19, 49-60.

Hespanhol H, Séneca A, Figueira R, Sérgio C. 2011. Microhabitat effects on bryophyte species richness and community distribution on exposed rock outcrops in Portugal. Plant Ecology & Diversity 4, 251-264.

Hipol R, Tolentino D, Fernando E, Dadiz NM. 2007. Life strategies of mosses in Mt. Pulag, Benguet province, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science 136, 11-18.

Kato-Noguchi H, Seki T. 2010. Allelopathy of the moss Rhynchostegium pallidifolium and 3-hydroxy-β-ionone. Plant signaling & behavior 5, 702-704.

Kumar PREM, Chaudhary BL. 2010. Antibacterial Activity of moss Entodon myurus (Hook) Hamp against some against some pathogenic bacteria. Bioscan 5, 605-608.

Linis VC. 2011. Biogeographical Notes on the Moss Floras of Bicol Penizula in Luzon and Catanduanes Islands, the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science 142, 119-133.

Valente EDB, Pôrto KC, Bastos CJP. 2017. Habitat heterogeneity and diversity of bryophytes in campos rupestres. Acta Botanica Brasilica 31, 241-249.

Vanderpoorten A, Papp B, Gradstein R. 2010. Sampling of bryophytes. Manual on field recording techniques and protocols for all taxa biodiversity inventories and monitoring 340-354.

Yayintas OT, Sogut O, Konyalioglu S, Yilmaz S, Tepeli B. 2017. Antioxidant activities and chemical composition of different extracts of mosses gathered from Turkey. AgroLife Scientific Journal 6, 205-213.

 Article source : Bryophyte Flora of Kalikasan Park, Albay, Philippines 

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Deadwood, Living Value: Acacia Litter and Biodiversity in Central Tanzania | InformativeBD

Elkana Hezron and Julius W Nyahongo, from the institute of Tanzania.  wrote a Research article about, Deadwood, Living Value: Acacia Litter and Biodiversity in Central Tanzania. entitled, Quantification of deadwood littered by Acacia spp. in semi-arid ecosystems of central Tanzania: . This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Deadwood (DW) is an important carbon component for conservation and management of biodiversity resources. They are ubiquitous in many semi-arid ecosystems although its estimation is still posing lots of challenges. At Chimwaga woodland in Dodoma Region of Central Tanzania, seasonal quantification of DW produced by two Acacia spp. was done to evaluate the influence of each tree species, Dbh and canopy area on DW biomass and to determine their ecological role in conservation of semi-arid ecosystem. Both purposive and random sampling techniques were used in the course of a completely randomized design (CRD). Thirty trees from each species of Acacia tortilis and Acacia nilotica were studied. Results portray that DW biomass was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the dry season than in the rain season whereby A. tortilis produced 669.0 ± 135.90kg DM/ha (dry season) and only 74.3 ± 135.90kg DM/ha (rain season) while A. nilotica produced 426.1 ± 135.90kg DM/ha (dry season) and 36.5 ± 135.90kg DM/ha (rain season). DW biomass did not correlate significantly (P > 0.05) with Dbh and canopy area. Inter-specific interactions were encountered from experimental areas where DW was littered that facilitated ecosystem balance in semi-arid areas. This information is important for estimating amount of dead wood biomass required to be retained in the forest provided that, at the expense of ecology, they are refuge for arthropods, fungi, bryophytes and other important soil microbes representing primary components of Biodiversity in semi-arid ecosystems.

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Introduction

Natural treasures and heritage such as those of semiarid areas rich in deadwood (DW) materials are rapidly utilized and depleted by living organisms globally while facing an extinction rate of about 100- 1000 times compared to the rate before 150,000 years ago of human life time (Baharul & Khan, 2010). Thousands of organisms depend on DW as an important key for biodiversity in forest ecosystems (Harmon & Sexton, 1996; Pyle & Brown, 1999). Africa and other continents such as Australia and America are comprised of such resources at large although they are faced with many challenges from anthropogenic activities (IUCN, 2017). Tanzania in East Africa is one among rich countries in terms of natural resources and biodiversity comprising semiarid woodlands (URT, 2014). Vast of Ecological, environmental and botanical studies have been done purposely to determine total area covered by forests, identify and estimate species diversity, abundance and distribution (Malimbwi & Zahabu, 2014; Monela, Chamshama, Mwaipopo, & Gamassa, 2005). Other studies are done to assess ecosystem goods and services obtained from these resources (Dharani, 2006; FAO, 2010; Monela et al., 2005; Sharam, Sinclair, Turkington, & Jacob, 2009). In disparity to the reported information, studies on DW production that estimate the biomass in semi-arid areas are scarce. Fewer research reports are available to describe the ecological importance contributed by DW and their role in biodiversity conservation for prevalence of savanna dry lands as well as sustainable use of forest products in semi-arid regions.

Earlier than 2007, many communities around the world considered DW as of less significant in the ecosystems (Stachura, Bobiec, Obidziñski, Oklejewicz, & Wolkowycki, 2007). These resources were regarded as uneconomical, obstacles to silviculture and reforestation that were reflected to a cause of abiotic disturbance that threatened the health of terrestrial ecosystems by catching fire easily (Pfeifer et al., 2015; Thomas, 2002; Travaglini et al., 2007; Travaglini & Chirici, 2006). Additionally, stumps from dead trees seemed to be source of injuries that endangered the public safety (Peterken, 1996; Thomas, 2002).

Dead Wood pieces and stumps are cleared from forests as a sanitary strategy (WWF, 2004). Collections of wood fuels increased from 243.3 million m3 (in 1990) to 313.9 million m3 (in 2005) in the Eastern and Southern African forests (Monjane, 2009). These actions lowered the quantity of DW and their ecological significance in the ecosystems (Travaglini et al., 2007). It is further reported that there were a stable quantity of harvestable DW produced from 1992/93 to 1995/96 regardless of partial variation from year to year in the African woodlands as indicated in Table 1 (Collins, 1977; Malaisse, Alexandre, Freson, Goffinet, & MalaisseMousset, 1972; Malaisse, Freson, Goffinet, & Malaisse-Mousset, 1975; Shackleton, 1998).

In recent years since 2000 up to date, conservationists have become alarmed about the role of DW in the natural ecosystems (Rondeux & Sanchez, 2009; MCPFE, 2002; Humphrey et al., 2004; Schuck, Meyer, Menke, Lier, & Lindner, 2004). Leaders in the developed and developing countries are encouraged by the WWF to call foresters, environmentalists, agriculturists and ecologists to conserve biodiversity by increasing DW in the forests to 20-30 m3/ha by 2030 (WWF, 2004; Marage & Lemperiere, 2005; Zielonka, 2006; Vandekerkhove et al., 2009; Humphrey & Bailey, 2012).

It is reported that the available information on DW production is limited to total harvestable and standing DW with scarce data on the biomass produced by DW in semi-arid ecosystems under the influence of natural factors (Malaisse et al., 1972; Collins, 1977; Shackleton, 1998; Chojnacky & Heath, 2002; WWF, 2004).

Hence, the study aimed to (1) quantify the amount of DW biomass produced by Acacia spp. during dry and rain seasons, (2) evaluate the influence of each tree species, Dbh and canopy area on DW biomass and (3) to determine the ecological role of DW in conserving biodiversity of semi-arid ecosystem through provision of nutrients to decomposers.

Reference

Baharul C, Khan ML. 2010. Conservation and Management of Endangered Plant species. India: Global Science Books.

Barbosa-Silva AM, Vasconcellos A. 2019. Consumption Rate of Lichens by Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Isoptera): Effects of C, N, and P Contents and Ratios, Insects, DOI: 10.3390/ insects1001002

Chojnacky DC, Heath LS. 2002. Estimating down dead wood from FIA forest inventory variables in Maine, ELSEVIER-Environmental pollution, USA

Collins NM. 1977. Vegetation and litter production in southern Guinea savanna. Plant Molecular Biology 28(2), 163-175.

Cunningham AB. 2001. Applied Ethnobotany; “People, wild plant use and Conservation”, Earthcam from routledge, UK & USA

Dharani N. 2006. Field guide to Acacias of East Africa. Nairobi-Kenya: Struik Publishers.

Fagg CW, Greaves A. 1990. Acacia nilotica 18691988, CABI/OFI, Annotated bibliography No. F42. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK 77 p.

FAO. 2010. Global forest resources assessment (FRA) Main report The Forest Resources Assessment Programme (pp. 378). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Harmon ME, Sexton J. 1996. Guidelines for Measurements of Woody Detritus in Forest Ecosystems. U.S. LTER Publication 20, 79.

Hodge SJ, Peterken GF. 1998. “Deadwood in British Forests: Priorities and a Strategy.” Forestry 71(2), 99-112. doi:10.1093/forestry/71.2.99.

Humphrey J, Bailey S. 2012. Managing Deadwood in Forests and Woodlands:  Practice Guide. Edinburgh: Forestry Commission.

Humphrey JW, Sippola AL, Lemperiere G, Dodelin B, Alexander KNA, Butler JE. 2004. Deadwood as an indicator of biodiversity in European forests: from theory to operational guidance. EFI Proceedings 51, 193-206

IUCN. 2017. Table 1: Numbers of threatened species by major groups of organisms (1996–2017). In I. U. f. C. o. Nature (Ed.), (pp. 1-2): IUCN 2017.

Laudenslayer WFJr, Shea PJ, Valentine BE, Weatherspoon CP, Lisle TE. 2002. Proceedings of the symposium on the ecology and management of dead wood in western forests: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-181 p. 949

Malaisse F, Alexandre R, Freson R, Goffinet G, Malaisse-Mousset M. 1972. The miombo ecosystem: a preliminary study United States of America: Georgia Press.

Malaisse F, Freson R, Goffinet G, Malaisse-Mousset M. 1975. Litter fall and litter breakdown in miombo. Heidelberg: Springer.

Malimbwi RE, Zahabu E. 2014. NAFORMA Process and Biophysical Results. Morgoro-Tanzania: Sokoine University of Agriculture.

Marage D, Lemperiere G. 2005. The management of snags: A comparison in managed and unmanaged ancient forests of the Southern French Alps. Annals of Forest Science 62(2), 135-142

MCPFE. 2002. Improved Pan-European indicators for sustainable forest management as adopted by the MCPFE Expert Level Meeting 2002, Available from http://www.mcpfe.org/system/files/u1/Vienna_Improved_Indicators.pdf

Merganičová K, Merganič J, Svoboda M, Bače R, Šebeň V. 2012. Deadwoodin Forest Ecosystems, Forest Ecosystems – More than Just Trees, Dr Juan A. Blanco (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51- 0202-1, InTech,

Monela GC, Chamshama SAO, Mwaipopo R, Gamassa DM. 2005. A Study on the Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts of Forest Landscape Restoration in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania (pp. xvii-205). Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania: Forestry and Beekeeping Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, of Tanzania, and IUCN.

Monjane M. 2009. Eastern and Southern Africa Forest and Woodlands Situational Analysis. Zambia: IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa regional office.

NAFORMA. 2015. Field manual Biophysical survey, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism-forestry and beekeeping division, Tanzania

Pearson T, Walker S, Brown S. 2005. Sourcebook for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Projects. World Bank

Peterken GF. 1996. Natural woodland. Ecology and conservation in northern temperate regions (Vol. 4 ). Cambridge University-U.K: Cambridge University Press.

Peterken GF. 1996. Natural woodland: Ecology and conservation in northern temperate regions. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press

Pfeifer M, Lefebvre V, Turner E, Cusack J, Khoo MS, Chey VK, . . . Ewers RM. 2015. Deadwood biomass: an under-estimated carbon stock in degraded tropical forests. IOP Publishing house 1-11. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/10/4/044019

Pyle C, Brown MM. 1999. Heterogeneity of wood decay classes within hardwood logs. Forest Ecology and Management 114(2-3), 253-259. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00356-9

Rondeux J, Sanchez C. 2009. Review of indicators and field methods for monitoring biodiversity within national forest inventories. Core variable: Deadwood. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 164(1-4), 617-630

Schuck A, Meyer P, Menke N, Lier M, Lindner M. 2004. Forest biodiversity indicator: dead wood – a proposed approach towards operationalising the MCPFE indicator. EFI-Proceedings 51, 49-77

Shackleton CM. 1998. Annual production of harvestable deadwood in semi-arid savannas, South Africa. ELSEVIER-Wits Rural Facility & Centre for African Ecology 112, 139-144.

Sharam GJ, Sinclair ARE, Turkington R, Jacob AL. 2009. The savanna tree Acacia polyacantha facilitates the establishment of riparian forests in Serengeti National Park Tanzania Journal of Tropical Ecology Cambridge University Press, U.K 25(1), 31-40. doi: 10.1017/S0266467408005683

Stachura K, Bobiec A, Obidziñski A, Oklejewicz K, Wolkowycki D. 2007. Old trees and decaying wood In forest ecosystems of Poland “Old Wood”. A toolkit for participants.

Stevenson AW. 2002. Life in the deadwood; A guide to managing deadwood in forestry commission Forest Enterprise – Environment & Communications, Edinburgh.

Svensson M. 2013. Occurrence Patterns of Dead Wood and Wood-dependent Lichens in Managed Boreal Forest Landscapes, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala-Sweden.

Thomas JW. 2002. Dead Wood: from Forester’s Bane to Environmental Boom. Paper presented at the Ecology and Management of Dead Wood in Western Forests, Reno, Nevada. Technical Report retrieved from

Travaglini D, Chirici G. 2006. Forest BIOTA project. Forest Biodiversity Test phase Assessments: Deadwood assessment (pp. 1-20).

Travaglini D, Barbati A, Chirici G, Lombardi F, Marchetti M, Corona P. 2007. ForestBIOTA data on deadwood monitoring in Europe. Official Journal of the Societa Botanica Italiana 141(2), 222-230.

URT. 2014. Fifth National Report on the Implementation of the Conventionon Biological Diversity. Dar es Salaam: Vice President’s Office, Division of Environment.

Vandekerkhove K, Keersmaeker De L, Menke N, Meyer P, Verschelde P. 2009. When nature takes over from man: Dead wood accumulation in previously managed oak and beech woodlands in North-western and Central Europe, Forest Ecology and Management 258, 425-435

Wu J, Guan D, Han S, Zhang M, Jin C. 2005. “Ecological Functions of Coarse Woody Debris in Forest Ecosystem”, Journal of Forestry Research 16(3), 247-52.

WWF. 2004. Living forests: The importance of veteran trees and deadwood to biodiversity. Gland, Switzerland: World Wide Fund for Nature

Zielonka T. 2006. Quantity and decay stages of coarse woody debris in old-growth subalpine spruce stands of the western Carpathians, Poland, Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36, 2614-2622.

Article source : Quantification of deadwood littered by Acacia spp. in semi-arid ecosystems of central Tanzania:The role of deadwood in biodiversity conservation

 

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Marantaceae in Central Gabon: Identification and Marketing | InformatoveBD

Pamphile Nguema Ndoutoumou, Gino Boussiengui Bousssiengui, Armelle Lyvane Ntsame Affane, Charlène Kady Ignanga Mouyombi,  and Crépin Ella Missang, from the different institute of the Gabon. wrote a research article about, Marantaceae in Central Gabon: Identification and Marketing, entitled, Identification and marketing of Marantaceae in the Ndjolé area, in central Gabon. This research paper published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR.  an open access scholarly research journal on Agronomy, under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The forests of the Congo Basin cover an area of 200 million hectares, of which just over 10% is in Gabon. In this country, crop products and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are abundant because of its favourable climate. There is significant biodiversity and great potential for non-timber forest products. This study is interested in the identification and the supply chain of the Marantaceae, one of these NTFPs of plant origin in central Gabon, whose exploitation is national. Through a survey of the main actors in the sector and field visits in the locality of Bifoun, it emerges the existence of three large groups of exploited marantaceae, whose harvest and transport are mainly done by women, in various containers. The storage of this NTFPs does not exceed four days, with the risk of losing its commercial value due to drying out. The uses of this resource are multiple: processing cassava, cooking food, making handicrafts, etc. The income it provides to producers is mainly use towards small family expenses but helps to monetize the rural world. The difficulties inherent in the distance from harvesting points, the low price of the product and the impossibility of long-term storage of the marantaceae leaves constitute a brake on the development of this activity. It would therefore be wise to envisage the domestication of the species listed for a sustainable use of this plant genetic resource. 

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Introduction

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), through their multiple uses, contribute to the subsistence of populations and provide them with income (Shankar et al., 2001; Walter, 2001; Mbolo et al., 2002; Biloso & Lejoly, 2006; Vermeulen et al., 2009). The use of various categories of non-timber forest products is sometimes the only source of income for some rural populations (Nguenang et al., 2010; Thiombiano et al., 2010; Ngoya-Kessy, 2011). In recent years, NTFPs have considerably aroused interest worldwide as it contribution to household economy and food security is increasingly recognized (Lescuyer, 2010; Loubelo, 2012), as well as to the achievement of environmental objectives such as the conservation of plant biodiversity (Arnold & Ruiz, 2001; Doucet, 2006; Tchatat & Ndoye, 2006). According to the abovementioned authors and Lehoux and Chakib (2012), these products play a role in terms of food, economic value and their usage for divers purposes (Sunderland et al., 2003; Tchiegang & Mbougueng, 2005; Betti & Lejoly, 2010; Priso et al., 2011). 

According to Tchatat and Ndoye (2006), the question of reasonable management of NTFPs is of great importance in meeting sustainable development objective. Vermeulen et al. (2009) point out the need to know the techniques used for the exploitation of plant genetic resources on the one hand, and the promotion of the domestication of these resources in their different regions, on the other hand. Plants of the Marantaceae family are mainly distributed across the ecologies of tropical America and Africa (Cabezas et al., 2005; Tchatat & Ndoye, 2006).

These are monocotyledons with fairly significant genetic variability, which offers many uses to the populations. For example, the use of Haumania liebrechtsiana (De Wild. & T. Durand) is preferred over other Marantaceae because of its flexible stem used for building huts, basketwork and making fishing vessels. The bevelled pieces of internodes are also used to build cages for rat traps. The stem rings can be made and used to hold bundles of wood and leaves (Tchatat & Ndoye, 2006). According to the same authors, the stems of Hypselodelphys violacea (Ridl.) are also used for traps making. The rings formed with these stems are used to hold together bundles of wood and leaves. The strips detached from the petiole of Marantochloa manii (Benth.) are used in basketry, in cooking as ties for cassava sticks and various packets of food, as well as ties for bundles Marantaceae leaves. 

According to Ndouano & Ada-Ntoutoume (2002), the leaves of Megaphrynium macrostachyum (Benth.) were used as vegetable roof tiles to cover huts or waterproof clothing. However, the most prominent use of those leaves is for food packaging (e.g., cassava sticks) as well as food storage and food cooking of various types of food products. The cortical strips of the petioles (free from the pith) are used for weaving fishing tools, but also as ties to fix the leaves on the roofs or consolidate bundles. The short leaves of Sarcophrynium brachystachys (Benth.) are widely used by women for wrapping short cassava sticks.

The aim of this present study is twofold: firstly, to identify the species of Marantaceae exploited by the peasants in the central Gabon, and secondly laying the foundations of the domestication of this perishable resource. This study is therefore of multiple interest, from a social, economic, ecological and scientific standpoint.

Reference 

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Biloso A, Lejoly J. 2006. Etude de l’exploitation et du marché des produits forestiers non ligneux à Kinshasa. Tropicultura 24(3), 183-188.

Cabezas FJ, De la Estrella M, Aedo C, Velayos M. 2005. Marantaceae of Equatorial Guinea. Ann. Bot. Fennici 42, 173-184. ISSN 0003-3847.

Doucet JL. 2006. L’alliance délicate de la gestion forestière et de la biodiversité dans les forêts du Centre du Gabon. Thèse de doctorat, Faculté Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux, Belgique. 390 pp.

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Mbolo M, Walter S, Lejeune J. 2002. La collecte et l’analyse des données statistiques sur les Okafor JC, 1980. Edible indigeneous woody plants in the rural economy of the Nigerian forest zone. For. Ecol. Man 3, 45-65.

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Nguenang GM, Fongnzossie FE, Nkongmeneck BA. 2010. Importance des forêts secondaires pour la collecte des plantes utiles chez les Badjoué de l’Est Cameroun. Tropicultura 28(4), 238-245.

Nyare EN, Bouanga E, Ntoutoume C. 2012. Stratégie nationale et plan d’actions pour le développement du secteur des produits forestiers non ligneux en République Gabonaise. Projet GCP/ RAF/441/GER.

Priso RJ, Nnanga JF, Etame J, Din-Ndongo, Amougou-Akoa. 2011. Les produits forestiers non ligneux d’origine végétale : valeur et importance dans quelques marchés de la région du Littoral – Cameroun. J. of Appl. Biosci. 40, 2715-2726.

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 Source : Identification and marketing of Marantaceae in the Ndjolé area, in central Gabon

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Biliran's Mangroves: Diversity and Conservation Status | InformativeBD

Litlen P. Dapar, Romel Quinte, Ma Opelia M. Moreno, Melanie P. Moncada, and Florante P. Sabejon, from the different institute of the Philippines. wrote a research article about, Biliran's Mangroves: Diversity and Conservation Status. entitled, Diversity, distribution and conservation status of mangrove species in the Municipality of Biliran, Biliran Island, Philippines. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity, under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

We determined the diversity of mangrove species and their conservation status in the municipality of Biliran to serve as baseline for conservation and protection of mangal ecosystems in the island. Thirty-two quadrats with a size of 10×10 m were established and each mangrove tree inside the plots was identified. The numbers of individuals per species were counted and diversity indices were computed. Results revealed 13 mangrove species belonging to 7 families including Avicennia rumphiana, A. marina, A. alba, Rhizophora apiculata, R. stylosa, R. mucronata, Ceriops tagal, Bruguiera sp., Sonneratia alba, Exoecaria agallocha, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Xylocarpus granatum, and Brownlowia tersa. Majority of the mangrove species belonged to Rhizophoraceae family. R. apiculata was the most abundant while B. tersa was the least abundant species. Mangroves like C. tagal, R. apiculata, and A. marina were generalist species because they were found in all of the study sites, whereas A. rumphiana, A. alba, S. hydrophyllacea, B. tersa, R. mucronata, and Bruguiera sp. were specialist because they were only found in 1 study site. A. rumphiana was the only mangrove listed as Vulnerable (VU) based on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The mean values of the following indices were obtained: H’= 1.1984, DMn= 0.7124, J= 0.6877 and D= 0.3877. Mangrove diversity in Biliran municipality was very low with a highly even distribution of species and uniform distribution of individuals. Since mangal ecosystems in the municipality of Biliran are facing natural and anthropogenic disturbances, the local government unit should prioritize mangrove forest conservation and rehabilitation. 

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Introduction

Mangroves ecosystems are mostly composed of halophytic tree and shrub species that are regularly expose to fluctuations in water level, hydrodynamic energy, salinity, nutrient availability, and anoxia (Friess, 2016). Despite thriving in a dynamic and physiologically stressful location, a plethora of coastal and terrestrial fauna are associated with this vegetation including fish, crustaceans, snakes and mammals. In addition to their unique biodiversity value, mangroves are largely important habitats due to some tangible provisioning ecosystem services they provide to the local coastal populations such as timber, charcoal, non-timber forest products and fish/shellfish. The United Nations Environment Programme (2014) further cited that mangrove ecosystem provides millions of people with food, clean water, raw materials and resilience against future climate change impacts including increasing storm intensity and sea level rise. For instance, when super typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines, areas with mangrove forests suffered significantly less damage as the trees acted as shield from the strong winds and waves (Ranada, 2014).

Faustino et al. (2020) noted that mangrove forests in the Philippines have been continuously dwindling in terms of forest cover and diversity due to anthropogenic activities which include cutting of trees for the production of firewood, charcoal, and building materials, and residential, urban and industrial development, and conversion to agriculture (Maneja, 2006; Bitantos et al., 2017) as well as natural disturbances. In view of these challenges, it is important to conduct baseline studies to give not only a benchmark of an area’s biodiversity but a picture of its overall importance in the landscape (Flora and Fauna International, 2014). A baseline study can highlight areas of importance for biodiversity conservation, identify threats to species and habitats, and help understand how local communities use and value resources.

Fortes and Salmo (2017) cited that mangrove studies in the Philippines are initially categorized under seven topics including taxonomy, physiology, economic uses, biogeography, ecology, biodiversity, and conservation and management. However, information on species composition and diversity studies of mangroves from the different parts of the country remains limited and scarce (Baleta and Casalamitao, 2016). Recent local biodiversity studies and vegetational analysis on mangroves have been carried out in Surigao del Norte (Goloran et al., 2020), Camarines Sur (Faustino et al., 2020), Oriental Mindoro (Raganas et al., 2020), Palawan (Dangan-Galon et al., 2016), Camotes island (Lillo et al., 2022), Timaco Mangrove Swamp in Cotabato City (Cano-Mangaoang et al., 2022), Samar island (Mendoza and Alura, 2001), Zamboanga Sibugay (Bitantos et al., 2017), Pangasinan (Rosario et al., 2021), Aurora (Rotaquio et al., 2017), Cagayan Valley (Calicdan et al., 2017), Isabela (Baleta and Casalamitao, 2016), Aklan (Barrientos and Apolonio, 2017), Quezon province (Abantao et al., 2015), and Leyte island (Bobon-Carnice et al., 2021). To date, mangrove studies on the island of Biliran is not documented, particularly in the municipality of Biliran where a large portion of mangrove forest in the village of Sangalang became a wasteland when many mangrove trees and associated species died during the onslaught of tropical depression (TD) Urduja in 2017. Thus, this study was conducted to gather scientific-based data that can serve as a baseline in determining the diversity and conservation status of mangrove species based on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Such baseline can be used in prioritizing areas for conservation and protection of mangal ecosystems in the island, especially with the ongoing threats of both anthropogenic and natural disturbances.

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Source : Diversity, distribution and conservation status of mangrove species in the Municipality of Biliran,Biliran Island, Philippines 

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