Vascular Plant Species Inventory of a Philippine Lowland Rain Forest and its Conservation Value |
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Authors: | Gerhard Langenberger Konrad Martin Joachim Sauerborn |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics (380), Agroecology Section, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany |
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Abstract: | The Philippines are one of the most important biodiveristy hotspots on earth. Due to the extraordinary rate of environmental
destruction, leaving only 3% of the land with primary forest, this biodiversity is at high risk. Despite that situation information
on Philippine forest vegetation is fragmentary and focused on trees. This study aimed at analysing forest remnants in the
Leyte Cordillera on the Island of Leyte, and at evaluating their role as refuge to the largely destroyed lowland forest vegetation.
A total of 49 plots (100 m2 each) between 55 and 520 m a.s.l. were studied. All vascular plant species except epiphytes were included. Records include
685 taxa from 289 genera and 111 families, representing nearly 8% of the known Philippine vascular plant species. More than
half (52%) of the species are Philippine endemics. A number of 41 tree species, or 6% of all taxa recorded, are included in
the IUCN red list, either as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Life form composition was dominated by phanerophytes
(65.3%), followed by lianas and chamaephytes (17.1 and 16.9%, respectively). The most common families were the Rubiaceae with
35 and the Euphorbiaceae with 32 species. All five Philippine dipterocarp forest types as well as the molave forest type were
represented by typical tree species. The area provides an important gene bank of the highly threatened Philippine lowland
forest vegetation and is of high value for biodiversity conservation. Additionally, it can play an important role as seed
source of valuable tree species for the increasing initiatives to rehabilitate and reforest degraded land with native species. |
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Keywords: | Conservation value Dipterocarp forests Gene bank Molave forest Native species Species richness Tropical rain forest Vascular plant species |
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