The Ecology and Degree of Utilization of the Species Diversity of Epiphytes in Mt. Isarog Natural Park

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study determined the effects of ecology and the degree of utilization on the species diversity of epiphytes at Mt.IsarogNatural Park (MINP) at different sampling sites. Specifically, the study answered the following questions: What is the ecology of the epiphytes along physical and biological parameters? What is the degree of utilization of the epiphytes in the sampling sites? Is there a relationship between ecology and utilization with species diversity? Are there significant differences in the physical and biological parameters, degree of utilization and species diversity among sampling sites?

METHODS

Descriptive-Correlation research design was used in identifying the epiphytes in the four study sites at MINP: Panicuason, Naga City; Libod, Tigaon; Payatan, Goa; andvCawaynan, Tinambac.

RESULTS

The physical ecology of the epiphytes in the sampling sites had a mean 23.17 atmospheric temperature; humidity, 90.63; Sunlight exposure/Light penetration, 3.25 or Median. Biological ecology of the epiphytes, consisted of 23.75 of floral and 20.5 faunal species. Panicuason has a mean recorded utilization rating of epiphytes of 3.05; 2.75 forLibod; 2.85 for Payatan; and 2.95 for Cawaynan. Test of relationship of ecological parameters with species diversity resulted to R-values of 0.97, 0.781 and 0.683 for temperature, humidity and sunlight exposure, respectively and all values were greater than the critical value of r at 5% level of significance. Meanwhile, the test of relationship of floral and faunal species with species diversity resulted to r values of 0.683 and 0.945, respectively and both values were greater than the critical R-value. The computed F-values for the differences in the degree of utilization among sampling sites were 0.5953 and 24.7546 respectively and top 10 species diversity, among sampling sites were 1.8125 and 5.5954.

DISCUSSIONS

The physical parameters for the ecology of epiphytes were all within the tolerable limits favorable for the growth of the epiphytes and the flora and faunal species were limited in number. Epiphyte utilization in the sampling sites is high, especially inPanicuason, Naga City where the road network provides easy access for MINP visitors to reach the place and extract or gather resources from the place. There is a significant relationship between atmospheric temperature, humidity and solar irradiance with species diversity of epiphytes indicating that the more favorable the ecology of the epiphytes within their tolerance, the better is the species diversity.