Floristic Composition and Physiognomy of Pagbilao Mangrove, Quezon Province, Philippines

Abstract

The species composition, physiognomy and importance value of PagbilaoMangrove, a typical satoumi site in southern Luzon, Philippines was determinedfrom May 2009 to August 2010. Vegetation analysis was done within a 20x20mquadrat established in each of the landward, middleward and seaward zones.A total of 37 species were identified in all zones comprising 744 individualsbelonging to 28 genera and 18 families. Using Shannon Index of diversity, thelandward zone has the highest diversity followed by the seaward zone. The leastdiverse was the middleward zone. There was a similar trend in the proportion ofvarious tree heights and diameter in seaward, middleward and landward zones.The density of small trees was higher than those of the big ones. The IV ofthe species varied within the zones. In the order of decreasing IV A. marina> A. floridum > Sonneratia alba in seaward zone. In the middleward zone, A.officinalis > C. decandra > S. hydrophyllacea. At the landward zone, X. granatum> A. officinalis > R. mucronata > A. marina var. rumphiana. The current floristiccomposition of Pagbilao mangrove indicates that this ecosystem is still diversebased on the number and kinds of species present. With the satoumi frameworkin place, there is much hope in the conservation and management of thismangrove ecosystem.Keywords: Ecology, mangrove, floristic composition, physiognomy, species composition,physiognomy, importance value, descriptive design, Philippines