The scientific community faces the challenge of measuring progress toward biodiversity targets and indices have been traditionally used.However,recent inventories in secondary tropical mountain forests using tradition...The scientific community faces the challenge of measuring progress toward biodiversity targets and indices have been traditionally used.However,recent inventories in secondary tropical mountain forests using traditional biodiversity indices have yielded results that are indistinct with primary ones.This shows the need to develop complementary indices that goes beyond species count but integrates the distribution and conservation status of the species.This study developed endemicity and conservation importance index for tropical forest that incorporated the distribution and conservation status of the species.These indices were applied to Mt.Natoo,a remnant primary mossy forest in Buguias,Benguet,Philippines,that resulted to endemicity index of 81.07 and conservation importance index of 42.90.Comparing these with secondary forest sites with comparable Shannon-Wiener,Simpson,Evenness and Margalef’s indices,our endemicity and conservation indices clearly differentiates primary forest(our study site)with higher values from secondary forests with much lower values.Thus,we are proposing these indices for a direct but scientifically-informed identification of specific sites for conservation and protection in tropical forests.Additionally,our study documented a total of 168 vascular plant species(79 endemic and 12 locally threatened species)in Mt.Nato-o.Majority are of tropical elements for both generic and species levels with some temperate elements that could be attributed to the site's high elevation and semi-temperate climate.These are important baseline information for conservation plans and monitoring of tropical mossy forests.展开更多
Coriaria,the only genus under family Coriariacea,receives a lot interest among botanist due to its controversial taxonomic treatment and unique phytochemistry that could be commercially important.The populations of Co...Coriaria,the only genus under family Coriariacea,receives a lot interest among botanist due to its controversial taxonomic treatment and unique phytochemistry that could be commercially important.The populations of Coriaria japonica subsp.intermedia in Cordillera Central Range(CCR),Philippines had never been studied in detail.With the need for more information on this controversial genus,the study deemed it necessary to present the distribution and morpho-anatomical description of C.japonica subsp.intermedia in CCR.A total of 123 populations were documented,found at an elevation range of 1334 to 2494 m asl and stretched between16°31’37.7"to 17°5’47.8"N and 120°39’40.3"to120°55’48"E.Mapping these populations showed a narrow linear pattern of distribution concentrated at the southern portion of CCR.The plant is a shrub with simple leaves,collateral buds,raceme inflorescence,bisexual flowers with persistent perianth forming an accessory fruit after fertilization.In terms of anatomy,much are of the usual dicot characters such as dorsiventral leaf with stomata concentrated in the lower epidermis,eustele with pith in the stem andpresence of secondary growth both on old stem and old root.Interesting findings of the study include the123 populations,the larger leaf measurements,longer petals and larger fruits than the original description given by Matsumura.Also,the paracytic type of stomata and presence of pith in the primary roots of C.japonica subsp.intermedia are interesting since these are common monocot characters while the plant is dicot.These findings are additional information that could help clear the controversies on the genus Coriaria.More importantly,our results could provide essential information for understanding the plant and for developing conservation strategies not just for this plant but also for the other related plants in the CCR biogeographical zone.展开更多
文摘The scientific community faces the challenge of measuring progress toward biodiversity targets and indices have been traditionally used.However,recent inventories in secondary tropical mountain forests using traditional biodiversity indices have yielded results that are indistinct with primary ones.This shows the need to develop complementary indices that goes beyond species count but integrates the distribution and conservation status of the species.This study developed endemicity and conservation importance index for tropical forest that incorporated the distribution and conservation status of the species.These indices were applied to Mt.Natoo,a remnant primary mossy forest in Buguias,Benguet,Philippines,that resulted to endemicity index of 81.07 and conservation importance index of 42.90.Comparing these with secondary forest sites with comparable Shannon-Wiener,Simpson,Evenness and Margalef’s indices,our endemicity and conservation indices clearly differentiates primary forest(our study site)with higher values from secondary forests with much lower values.Thus,we are proposing these indices for a direct but scientifically-informed identification of specific sites for conservation and protection in tropical forests.Additionally,our study documented a total of 168 vascular plant species(79 endemic and 12 locally threatened species)in Mt.Nato-o.Majority are of tropical elements for both generic and species levels with some temperate elements that could be attributed to the site's high elevation and semi-temperate climate.These are important baseline information for conservation plans and monitoring of tropical mossy forests.
基金financial support provided by Benguet State University though the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Extension headed by Dr.Carlito P.Laurean。
文摘Coriaria,the only genus under family Coriariacea,receives a lot interest among botanist due to its controversial taxonomic treatment and unique phytochemistry that could be commercially important.The populations of Coriaria japonica subsp.intermedia in Cordillera Central Range(CCR),Philippines had never been studied in detail.With the need for more information on this controversial genus,the study deemed it necessary to present the distribution and morpho-anatomical description of C.japonica subsp.intermedia in CCR.A total of 123 populations were documented,found at an elevation range of 1334 to 2494 m asl and stretched between16°31’37.7"to 17°5’47.8"N and 120°39’40.3"to120°55’48"E.Mapping these populations showed a narrow linear pattern of distribution concentrated at the southern portion of CCR.The plant is a shrub with simple leaves,collateral buds,raceme inflorescence,bisexual flowers with persistent perianth forming an accessory fruit after fertilization.In terms of anatomy,much are of the usual dicot characters such as dorsiventral leaf with stomata concentrated in the lower epidermis,eustele with pith in the stem andpresence of secondary growth both on old stem and old root.Interesting findings of the study include the123 populations,the larger leaf measurements,longer petals and larger fruits than the original description given by Matsumura.Also,the paracytic type of stomata and presence of pith in the primary roots of C.japonica subsp.intermedia are interesting since these are common monocot characters while the plant is dicot.These findings are additional information that could help clear the controversies on the genus Coriaria.More importantly,our results could provide essential information for understanding the plant and for developing conservation strategies not just for this plant but also for the other related plants in the CCR biogeographical zone.
