CHAPTER IV

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Species Composition and Distribution of Vascular Epiphytes

In this study, a total of 21 species of epiphytes belonging to 9 families were collected

along the riparian area of Arabunog River. Vascular species found along the riparian areas of

Arabunog River are presented in Table 1. Families of Araceae had the highest number of

genera and species, which was represented by seven genera and seven species. Followed by

four genera and four species collected under the family of Polypodiaceae and three genera

and three species collected under the family of Orchidaceae. and two genera and species

under the family of lygodiaceae.

Aspleniaceae, Bleachnaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Lindsaeceae, and Lomaripsidaceae are

the least represented family with only one genus and one species.
Table 1. Lists of vascular epiphytes species found along the riparian areas of Arabunog River,
Barugo Leyte (2022).

Family Name Scientific Name Common Name

Araceae Epipremmum pinnatum (L.) Engle. Dragon-tail plant

Pothos scandens (L.) Climbing Aroid

Epipremnum aureum (Linden &Andre) Climbing Golden pothos

Scindapsus pictus (Norman) Satin pothos

Philodendron hederaceum (Edward F.) Climbing Heartleaf

Syngonium angustatum. Schott (F.) Three fingers plant

Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Schott Giant climber plant

Aspleniaceae Asplenium nidus (L.) Berd’s nest fern

Blechnaceae Stenochlaena palustris (Burm. F.) Hagnaya

Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris sparsa (D.Don) Wood fern

Lygodiaceae Lygodium palmatum (Bernh.) Sw. American climbing fern

Lygodium circinnatum (Burn. F.) Nitong puti

Lindsaeaceae Lindsae brachypoda (Bak) Short-footed screw fern

Lomaripsidaceae Nephroplepis exaltata (L.) Boston fern

Orchidaceae Epidendrum magnoliae (L.) Green-Fly Orchid

Vanilla planifolia. (Jack) Bourbon vanilla plant

Epidendrum rigidum. (Jacq) No information

Polypodiaceae Niphidium crassifolium (L.) Graceful fern

Drynaria quercifolia (L.) Oak-leaf fern

Pyrrossia piloselloides (L.) M.G Dragon’s scale

Campyloneurum angustifolium (Swartz) Narrow-leaf strap fern

 In the Philippines, Molina R.A and Echem, R. (2018) reported a total of 13 vascular

epiphytes. These Vascular epiphytes were classified as A. asparagoides, A. drepanophyllum,

A. nidus, D. sparsisora, D. sparsa, E. aureum, E. pinnatum, F. pumila, N. exaltata, P.

scandense oxycardium, P.scandens, P. lingua, and P. nummularifolia. Some of the species

like A. nidus, E. pinnatum, N. exaltata, P. scandens were also documented in the study.

Table 2 present the absence and presence of vascular epiphytes species per plot across

all the stations of Arabunog River. Base on the table presented. Niphidium crassifolium (L.)

are only species that was present in all sampling stations and Epipremnum aureum (Linden

&Andre), Scindapsus pictus (Norman), Asplenium nidus (L.), Lygodium palmatum (Bernh.)

Sw., Lygodium circinnatum (Burn. F.), Epidendrum magnoliae (L.) and Epidendrum

rigidum. (Jacq) was only observed in Secondary forest (station 2). while Pyrrossia

piloselloides (L.) M.G was present in all plots in pasture area (station 1).
Conservation Status of Vascular Epiphytes

Table 3 shows the conservation status of vascular epiphytes based on the threatened

plants of the Philippines (2008) and follow the criteria used of the IUCN (2021, ver.).

Fernando et al. (2008) revealed that 53 species belonging to the family of orchidaceae

are one of the main families of plants that contributes to the threatened plant list. Among this

number of species, Asplenium nidus (L.) is categorized as critically endangered. Followed by

Campyloneurum angustifolium (Swartz), Nephroplepis exaltata (L.), Philodendron

hederaceum (Edward F.), Vanilla planifolia. (Jack), and Epidendrum magnoliae (L.). That

are under category of near threatened and threatened, two of these species belonging to the

family of Orchidaceae. Plant (2013) sated that orchid species are cultivated for their various

economic uses particularly in floriculture. Orchids are grown primarily as a ornamental and

many are used as a herbal medicines, foods and other cultural value by many different

cultures and tribes in the different parts of the world (Khasim and Rao, 1999). in terms of

species nativity Campyloneurum angustifolium (Swartz), Epidendrum rigidum. (Jacq),

Epipremmum pinnatum (L.) Engle., Scindapsus pictus (Norman), and Stenochlaena palustris

(Burm. F.). is categorized as native in the Philippines. Two of these species is belonging to

the family of Araceae.

Table 3. Conservation status of vascular epiphytes found along the riparian areas of
Arabunog, River, Barugo, Leyte (2022).

Species Conservation Status Nativity

Asplenium nidus (L.) Critically Endangered Non-native

Campyloneurum angustifolium (Swartz) Near threatened Native

Dryopteris sparsa (D.Don) Vulnerable Non-native

Drynaria quercifolia (L.) Least Concern Non-native

Epidendrum rigidum. (Jacq) Vulnerable Native

Epidendrum magnoliae (L.) Threatened Non-native

Epipremnum aureum (Linden &Andre) Least Concern Non-native

Epipremmum pinnatum (L.) Engle. Decreasing Native

Lygodium palmatum (Bernh.) Sw. Least Concern Non-native

Lygodium circinnatum (Burn. F.) Decreasing Non-native

Lindsae brachypoda (Bak) Least Concern Non-native

Nephroplepis exaltata (L.) Near threatened Non-native

Niphidium crassifolium (L.) Least Concern Non-native

Pyrrossia piloselloides (L.) M.G Least Concern Non-native

Philodendron hederaceum (Edward F.) Near threatened Non-native

Pothos scandens (L.) Least Concern Non-native

Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Least concern non-native

Scindapsus pictus (Norman) Least Concern Native

Stenochlaena palustris (Burm. F.) Vulnerable Native

Syngonium angustatum. Schott (F) Vulnerable Non-native

Vanilla planifolia. (Jack) threatened Non-native

Species Richness, Abundance, Dominance, and Evenness

A total of 148 individuals of 21 species belonging to 9 families of vascular epiphytes

species was recorded in all station sites. Based on the table 4 the highest number of species

present were observed in secondary forest (Station 2). The lowest species richness were

found at farm area (station 1). Lubos et al, (2015) stated that the species richness differs in

sampling sites depending on the quality and type of the riparian vegetation and land use.

According to Sanger (2016) the strong patterns found in the species richness and composition

of epiphytes over the host tree and elevation gradients suggest that moisture, temperature and

light may be one of the major influences on epiphyte distribution in the ecosystem.

Table 4. Species richness of vascular epiphytes species along the three areas in Arabunog
River, Barugo Leyte (2022).

The result for relative abundance of vascular epiphytes per plot is presented at table 5.

it revealed that the plot 2 in secondary forest (station 2) had the highest relative abundance

having 73 individuals present among all other station, followed by plot 1 in Pasture area
(station 1) having 57 individuals recorded while plot 3 in farm area (station 3) has the least

relative abundance having 18 individuals were identified. A.Asplenium nidus (L) determine

the value for relative abundance since it has the highest number of individuals observed

among all stations. According to Prassana and Anuradha (2016), A. Asplenium nidus (L) are

adaptive since they are mostly found in the crowns of the forest trees, in an open forest,

rainforest, dry rain forest, and often also on roadside and village trees.

Table 5 species abundance of vascular epiphytes found along the three areas in Arabunog
River, Barugo, Leyte (2022)

In table 6 dominance presented. It shows that in the pasture area (station 1)has the

highest species dominance (0.3838) due to the presence of Niphidium crassifolium (L.) was

the most dominant species since it occurs in all sampling plot in the riparian area in Arabunog

River.
Table 6. Species dominance of all vascular epiphytes found along the three station site in
Arabunog River, Barugo, Leyte (2022)

In table 7. Shows that farm area (station 3) has the highest value (0.8094) in terms of

species evenness among the three stations. The species in this station was evenly distributed

compared to the other station. And the lowest value (0.3995) in terms of evenness were

pasture area (station 1). Which were affected by the dominance of Niphidium crassifolium

(L.).
Table 7. Species evenness of all vascular epiphytes found along the three station sites in
Arabunog River, Barugo, Leyte (2022)

Diversity Indices (‘H)

Diversity Index for the three sampling station showed that the secondary forest

(station 2) has the highest community diversity (H’=2.215) followed by farm area (station 2)

(H’=2.091) and the least diversity value was the pasture area (station 1) (H’=1.48).

According to Stirling and Wisley (2010) species diversity is the function of species richness.

In table 6 shows the overall value for species richness, abundance, dominance, and evenness

across all the stations of Arabunog River. For species richness secondary forest (station 2)

has the highest value compared to the other station, a total of 18 species were observed in the

station. In terms of relatives abundance secondary forest (station 2) also has the highest value
with about 73 individuals has been recorded in the secondary forest alone while in the species

dominance pasture area (station 1) had the highest value among the three this may be due to

the presence

Of species that dominated across the three station sites and in the evenness farm area

(station 3) has the highest value which means that species in the site were evenly distributed.

Table 8. Values for species richness, abundance, dominance, and evenness across the three
areas in Arabunog, River, Barugo, Leyte (2022)

Diversity Indices Pasture area Secondary forest Farm area

Richness 11 18 10

Abundance 57 73 18

Dominance 0.3838 0.2149 0.1491

Evenness 0.3995 0.5087 0.8094

Shannon-weiner (H’) 1.48 2.215 2.091

In terms of height zones. Table 9 shows

Table 9. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index per height zones across all station sites (2022)

Shannon-Weiner (H’) Pasture Secondary forest Farm

Base

Trunk

Canopy

Table 10. Shows the overall values for species richness, abundance, dominance,

evenness, and diversity across the three station of Arabunog River, Barugo, Leyte. For

species richness a total of

Table 10. Overall values for species richness, abundance, dominance, evenness, and diversity
across the three stations of Arabunog River Barugo, Leyte (2022)

Diversity Indices Overall

Richness

Abundance

Dominance

Evenness

Shannon-Weiner (‘H)

Analysis of Variance was used to determine the significance differences across the

three station. It revealed that