The mangal flora diversity of Del Carmen Forest on Siargao Island, Philippines

By

Cortez, Genea Nichole G.
Ordas, Jorge Anton D.
Zamudio, Sarah Grace S.
Caguioa, Carmela Dawn D.
Rodriguez, Mary Ashley A.
Rubite, Rosario R.
Tandang, Danilo N
Moran, Cecilia B.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023-12-7

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

19

Series / Issue

Issue: 6

Pages

983--1011

Subjects

Checklist , mangroves , Philippine biodiversity , protected area , Surigao del Norte , vegetation analysis

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/19.6.983

 

Abstract

The municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Island, hosts one of the Philippines’ most important contiguous mangrove stands. However, there is limited knowledge about the area’s floral assemblages and communities. Hence, we provide a comprehensive species list through exhaustive botanical explorations within its 11 barangays. We report 166 species in 145 genera and 73 families, of which 20 are true mangrove species. Twenty species are Philippine endemics, and seven are threatened based on the IUCN listing. The most dominant families in the area in terms of density are Rhizophoraceae and Rubiaceae, and the dominating species include Rhizophora mucronata Lam. and R. apiculata Blume. Our results exhibit a very high diversity for the entire municipality, with barangays Del Carmen and Katipunan demonstrating the highest diversity among the 11 barangays. We emphasize the value of floristic surveys as essential baseline information in formulating effective conservation and management strategies for these vital wetland ecosystems.