Mangrove ecosystem is a unique community of trees with substantial ecologic and economic significance. A non-destructive belt transect was utilized in determining the Mangrove species composition and diversity. Different parts of the mangrove trees were photographed for proper identification, taxonomic classification and morphological description. These studies revealed that the Mangrove Vascular Flora of Pangasihan mangrove forest consists of 11 species and were spread in three zones: landward, middle, and seaward. There were eight (8) true mangrove species, including Avicennia marina, Ceriops decandra, Lumnitzera littorea, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia alba, Xylocarpus granatum, and Xylocarpus moluccensis as well as three (3) mangrove associates, including Hibiscus tiliaceus, Nypa fruticans and Pongamia pinnata respectively. R. apiculata and R. mucronata were not observed in the landward zone while N. fruticans was observed both in middle and landward zones. L. littorea, X. granatum and X. moluccensis were not found in the seaward zone. All these taxa were taxonomically classified and morphologically described based on their growth form, trunk, leaf arrangement, fruit, leaves, and inflorescence type. The three zones exhibit very low diversity indexes (1.149, 1.691, and 1.609, respectively), which may be due to ongoing natural and anthropogenic processes. The middle and landward zones have a similarity rate of 34%, whereas the seaward zone has a similarity rate of only 12%. Given the study’s low diversity and similarity indices, integrated conservation methods may be developed to increase biodiversity protection and conservation while also fulfilling the economic needs of vulnerable coastal communities.

The post Composition and diversity of mangrove vascular flora in coastal area of Pangasihan, Gingoog City, Philippines appeared first on International Network for Natural Sciences | Research Journal.