Diversity of Tree Species Within an Urban Forest Fragment in Albay Province, Eastern Philippines

Abstract

Forest fragments in urban areas are important in many aspects of the urban landscape. In this study, tree species within the Bicol Kalikasan Park—an urban forest fragment in the province of Albay, Eastern Philippines—were accounted for the first time. Its community structure was assessed using the PointCentered Quarter Method (PCQM). Diversity, dominance, and evenness indices were likewise computed. Results indicated that the 25 recorded tree species were distributed to at least among 25 families. There is moderate diversity (H’ = 2.84), very high evenness (J = 0.88) and very low dominance (D = 0.08) in the sampled forest. The species Ficus septica (IV = 28.93), Melanolepis multiglandolosa (IV = 9.74) and Omalanthus populneus (IV = 2.94) are indicative of a facilitated regrowth forest. Invasive species such as Gmelina arborea (IV = 40.12) and Swietenia macrophylla (IV = 21.75) were recorded, with importance values (IV) ranked first and sixth, respectively. Tree diversity within the Bicol Kalikasan Forest Park was suggestive of the diversity of other organisms that were dependent on the tree species. Existing threats to the forest fragment, such as the expansion of the city and an adjacent university campus may be addressed by a strong policy that defines the extent of expansion and urbanization.

Patterns of Genomic Diversity in a Fig-Associated Close Relative of Caenorhabditis elegans

“…F. septica leaves have been reported as a treatment of illnesses in Papua New Guinea ( Holdsworth et al 1980 ; Holdsworth and Lacanienta 1981 ) and the Solomon Islands ( Altschul 1973 ). Beyond historical uses, contemporary human activity may likewise influence nematode migration patterns as the introduction of nonnative Ficus species to new localities does occur ( Galias et al 2018 ; Peniwidiyanti et al 2022 ). Additionally, as F. septica syconia are frequently consumed by bats ( Shilton et al 1999 ), this interaction may also facilitate fig nematode migration.…”

Imperata vegetation succession and carbon stocks on degraded land of beach forest in Marsegu Island, Maluku, Indonesia

“…Furthermore, its rhizosphere soil hosts a plethora of beneficial bacterial organisms, enhancing soil biological fertility and adapting to nutrient-deficient conditions (Wemedo and Onolleka, 2012), while the leaves serve as valuable biochar (Ighalo et al, 2021;Jabar et al, 2022). On the other hand, Sterculia ceramica, a fast-growing species found in primary forests, sandy, and rocky beach areas, demonstrates resistance to drought and thrives in soils with a high sand fraction (Galias et al, 2018;Romeroso et al, 2021). Meanwhile, Cassia fistula, belonging to the Fabaceae family, forms a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enriching sandy soil with nitrogen and making it a favorable species for enhancing soil quality (Vishnoi et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2021;Mathesius, 2022).…”