Richness, endemism and conservation status of woody plants in the lowland forest over limestone of Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Northeast Luzon, Philippines

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/05/2019
Views (853)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Richness, endemism and conservation status of woody plants in the lowland forest over limestone of Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Northeast Luzon, Philippines

MA. Visitacion, D. Guingab
J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 14(5), 135-141, May 2019.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2019; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the woody species of the lowland forest over limestone in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) in Palanan, Isabela, Northeast Luzon, Philippines in order to provide information of its floral diversity, endemism and conservation status. An updated species list was provided based on the recent field survey and analysis of herbarium records. A total of 138 woody species in 92 genera and 42 families were recorded consisting of three lianas, 34 shrubs and 101 small to large trees. The ten most speciose families were Meliaceae (13 spp.) Rubiaceae (8 spp.), Annonaceae (7 spp.), Ebenaceae (7 spp.), Fabaceae (7 spp.), Dipterocarpaceae (7 spp.), Myrtaceae (6 spp.), Primulaceae (5 spp.), Rutaceae (5 spp.), and Vitaceae (5 spp.). Genus Diospyros of the family Ebenaceae had the highest number of species (7) followed by genera Ficus (6), Shorea (5), Syzygium (5), and Leea (5). The most important species was Diospyros pyrrhocarpa Miq. Species endemism is very high, 41% (56) of the total number of species, nine (9) of which are single-island endemics known only to Luzon Island. Twenty-two (22) were threatened species, one being critically endangered, two are endangered, 15 are vulnerable and four are near threatened. The information provided is crucial in the management of the natural park, which requires serious monitoring and protection.

Co LL, LaFrankie JV, Lagunzad DA, Pasion KAC, Consunji HT, Bartolome NA, Yap SL, Molina JE, Tongco MDC, Ferreras UF, Davies SJ, Ashton PS. 2006. Forest Trees of Palanan, Philippines: A Study in Population Ecology. Center for Tropical Forest Science.

DENR Administrative Order. 2017. Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their Categories. DAO 2017-11.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 2006. Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone. UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Fernando ES. 1998. Vegetation of the Philippine Islands. UPLB College, Laguna.

Gentry AH. 1995. Diversity and floristic composition of Neotopical dry forests in S.H. Bullock, H.A. Mooney and E. Medina, eds. Seasonally dry tropical forests. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Gillespie TW, Keppel G, Pau S, Price JP, Jaffré T, Meyer JY, O’Neill K. 2011. Floristic Composition and Natural History Characteristics of Dry Forests in the Pacific University of Hawai’i Press

Guingab MaVD, Welzen PCvan. 2018. Woody Flora of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Vicinity, Luzon, Philippines. ISU Publishing, Prints and Solutions.

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). 2017. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 March 2018.

Lu XT, Yin JX, Tang JW. 2010. Structure, tree specie diversity and composition of tropical seasonal rainforest in Xishuangbanna South-West China. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 22(3), 260-270.

Naidu MT, Kumar OA. 2016. Tree diversity, stand structure, and community composition of tropical forests in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 9(3), 328-334.

Zhu H, Yong C, Zhou S, Wang H, Yan L. 2015. Vegetation, floristic composition and species diversity in a tropical mountain reserve in southern Yunnan, SW China with implications for conservation. Tropical Conservation Science.

Related Articles

Agroforestry in woody-encroached Sub-Saharan savannas: Transforming ecological challenges into sustainable opportunities

Yao Anicet Gervais Kouamé, Pabo Quévin Oula, Kouamé Fulgence Koffi, Ollo Sib, Adama Bakayoko, Karidia Traoré, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(3), 10-22, September 2025.

Extreme rainfall variability and trends in the district of Ouedeme, municipality of Glazoue (Benin)

Koumassi Dègla Hervé, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(3), 1-9, September 2025.

Heterosis breeding, general and specific combining ability and stability studies in pearl millet: Current trends

Ram Avtar, Krishan Pal, Kavita Rani, Rohit Kumar Tiwari, Mahendra Kumar Yadav, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 117-124, August 2025.

Combining ability, heterosis and stability for yield and fibre quality traits in cotton: Breeding approaches and future prospects

Rohit Kumar Tiwari, Krishan Pal, R. P. Saharan, Ram Avtar, Mahendra Kumar Yadav, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 109-116, August 2025.

Bridging the COPD awareness gap in marginalized populations: Findings from a multicentre study in Khalilabad, Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Anupam Pati Tripathi, Jigyasa Pandey, Sakshi Singh, Smita Pathak, Dinesh Chaudhary, Alfiya Mashii, Farheen Fatima, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 97-108, August 2025.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer and Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer

P. Maheswari, P. Madhanraj, V. Ambikapathy, P. Prakash, A. Panneerselvam, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 90-96, August 2025.

Mangrove abundance, diversity, and productivity in effluent-rich estuarine portion of Butuanon River, Mandaue City, Cebu

John Michael B. Genterolizo, Miguelito A. Ruelan, Laarlyn N. Abalos, Kathleen Kay M. Buendia, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 77-89, August 2025.

Cytogenetic and pathological investigations in maize × teosinte hybrids: Chromosome behaviour, spore identification, and inheritance of maydis leaf blight resistance

Krishan Pal, Ravi Kishan Soni, Devraj, Rohit Kumar Tiwari, Ram Avtar, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(2), 70-76, August 2025.