Community structure of riverine mangrove stand in Brgy. Talokgangan, Municipality of Banate, Iloilo Province

Abstract

The community structure of riverine mangrove stand in Brgy. Talokgangan, Municipality of Banate, Iloilo was studied. Ten “true” mangrove species representing seven families were encountered in the “mangals” of Balandra creek community in Brgy. Talokgangan. They were Avicennia marina, <i>Avicennia lanata</i> and <i>Avicennia alba</i> representing Family Avicenniaceae; <i>Rhizophora apiculata</i> and <i>Rhizophora mucronata</i> under Family Rhizophoraceae; <i>Sonneratia alba</i> of the Family Sonneratiaceae; <i>Excoecaria agallocha</i> under Family Euphorbiaceae; <i>Camptostemon philippinense</i> of the Family Bombacaceae; one from the Family Meliaceae namely <i>Xylocarpus granatum</i>, and Family Palmae represented by <i>Nypa fruticans.</i>

Stand Basal Area was computed highest in Station 1 with 10.22 m2/ha. Station 1 was also the densest among the four stations with a density value of 2533 trees/ha. In terms of data evaluated per zone, the landward zone has a Stand Basal Area of 10.87 m2/ha which is slightly higher than the middle and riverward zones. The middle zone, however, was found to be the densest with 1850 trees/ha. The most dominant station was Station 1 with the highest Index of Dominance of 0.3319, however, was found to be the least diverse station. The highest Index of Diversity was computed in Stations 2 and 3, with diversity indices of 0.8976 and 0.8989 respectively.

<i>Avicennia marina</i> was found common in all stations and the most dominant, making it the most important mangrove species. They were found to occupy the whole site, growing abundantly in wide range of conditions from areas frequently inundated by tidal flow in Station 1 to the firmer muddy substratum in the back mangrove areas. <i>Rhizophora apiculata</i> and <i>Rhizophora mucronata</i> was observed to occupy waterlogged soil conditions. <i>Excoecaria agaliocha</i> tend to flourish in firmer muddy substratum in open sites, whereas, <i>Xylocarpus granatum</i> was observed to occupy zones where salinity is lowest in areas rarely affected by tidal flow. <i>Sonneratia alba</i> and <i>Camptostemon philippinense</i> tend to grow in zones directly inundated by tidal flow.