Physico-chemical factors affecting the vascular plant diversity of a lowland forest in mount Tabunan, Cebu island, Philippines

Issue Date

1-2011

Abstract

Tabunan Forest, Cebu Island is one of the identified biodiversity conservation priority areas in the Philippines with an extremely high critical priority rank. This being the case, it is therefore important to understand the interplay of the physico-chemical factors impinging upon this forest ecosystem. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that among the physico-chemical factors, namely: temperature, elevation, topography, slope gradient and soil factors which include soil water-holding capacity, the last-named factor had the greatest contribution (r = 0.697) to the attainment and maintenance of a high species diversity in Tabunan Forest (S = 288 species in 135 genera and 68 families; H' = 2.419-4.095 and D' = 0.771- 0.979). Furthermore, it was shown that the values of species richness (S), Shannon index of diversity (H') and Simpson index of diversity (D') tend to increase with increasing complexity of forest topography. © Rushing Water Publishers Ltd. 2011.

Source or Periodical Title

Asia Life Sciences

ISSN

0117-3375

Issue

6

Page

1-12

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

maps, tables, graphs

Language

English

Subject

Cebu flowerpecker, Cebu island, Conservation status, Dicaeum quadricolor, Diversity indices, Elevation, Forest-over-limestone, Mount tabunan, Philippines, Physico-chemical factors, Protected area, Regression analysis, Slope gradient, Soil factors, Tabunan forest, Temperature, Threats, Topography, Vascular plants, Water-holding capacity

Digital Copy

yes

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS