Research Paper

Plant species and ecosystem diversity along national road in mountain sites: The case of Kennon Road in Cordillera Central Range, Philippines

Jones T. Napaldet

Published on: 01 September 2023

Page: 339 - 348

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2023.68.339

Abstract

Mountain roads are constructed to spur economic development and alleviate poverty but they are also major drivers of biodiversity loss in mountain areas. In the Philippines, road biodiversity is poorly understood. This study aims to contribute to this gap by presenting the plant diversity along Kennon Road, a national highway in Benguet, Philippines through population counts, biodiversity indices and floristic elements. A total of 338 species belonging to 280 genera and 99 families were inventoried in five sampling stations. Majority of the plant species were indigenous (186) with 35 endemic, 29 naturalized, 88 exotic species and with 18 threatened species (5.33% of the total species). Understory plants have the highest biodiversity indices, particularly Shannon index ranging from 3.49 to 3.93 (very high diversity). On the other hand, Shannon values for shrub ranges from 2.97 (moderate) to 3.51(very high) and least Shannon values were derived from tree diversity at 2.54 (moderate) to 3.31 (high). The floristic elements along Kennon Road are dominated by native (76.33%) but a significant part (23.675) of the vegetation are either naturalized or exotic with mostly Central American and Neotropical elements. Our results show the fragmentation of the secondary forest along the road with human built-up areas and the colonization by ruderal species including non-native species.The intermingling of these colonizers with resident species results in the formation of forest road ecosystems with high species richness in Kennon Road.

Keyword: Conservation-important species, Kennon Road, Neotropical element, road biodiversity, Shannon diversity

Literature Cited

Antonelli, A., Kissling, W.D., Flantua, S.G.A., Berm?dez, M.A., Mulch, A., Muellner-Riehl, A.N., Kreft, H., Linder, H.P., Badgley, C., Fjelds?, J., Fritz, S.A., Rahbek, C., Herman, F., Hooghiemstra, H., Hoorn, C. 2018 Geological and climatic influences on mountain biodiversity. Nature Geosci. 11(10): 718–725.
DOI: 10.1038/s41561-018-0236-zView Article Google Scholar

Balangen, D.A., Catones, M.S., Bayeng, J.M., Napaldet, J.T. 2023 Intensities of human disturbance dictate the floral diversity in tropical forest: the case of a secondary forest in Benguet, Philippines. J. Mt. Sci. 20: 1575–1588.
DOI: 10.1007s11629-022-7830-7View Article Google Scholar

Batuyong, M.R., Calaramo, M.A., Alejandro, G.J.D. 2020 A checklist and conservation status of vascular plants in the Limestone forest of Metropolitan Ilocos Norte Watershed Forest Reserve, Northwestern Luzon, Philippines. Biodiversitas 21(9): 3969–3981.
DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d210907View Article Google Scholar

Buot, I.E. Jr, Okitsu, S. 1999 Leaf size zonation pattern of woody species along an altitudinal gradient on Mt. Pulog, Philippines. Plant Ecol. 145(2):197–208.
DOI: 10.1023/A:1009868305586View Article

Catford, J.A., Daehler, C.C., Murphy, H.T., Sheppard, A.W., Hardesty, B.D., Westcott, D.A., Rejm?nek, M., Bellingham, P.J., Pergl, J., Horvitz, C.C., Hulme, P.E. 2012 The intermediate disturbance hypothesis and plant invasions: Implications for species richness and management. Perspect. Plant Ecol. Evol. Syst. 14(3): 231–241.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2011.12.002View Article Google Scholar

Connell, J.H. 1978 Diversity in Tropical Rain Forests and Coral Reefs. Science 199(4335): 1302–1310.
DOI: 10.1126/science.199.4335.1302View Article Google Scholar

DAO 2017-11 Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and Their Categories

Dar, P.A., Reshi, Z.A., Shah, M.A 2015 Roads act as corridors for the spread of alien plant species in the mountainous regions: a case study of Kashmir Valley, India Trop. Ecol. 56(2): 183–190

Dar, P.A., Reshi, Z.A., Shah, A.B. 2018 Attitudinal distribution of native and alien plant species along roadsides in Kashmir Himalaya, India.Trop. Ecol. 59(1): 45–55

Dulnuan, M.M., Napaldet, J.T. 2023 Mosaic interplay of floral diversity, soil properties, disturbance intensity and elevation in the riparian ecosystem under semi-subsistence agriculture of Cordillera Central Range, Northern Philippines. Aquat. Ecol. 57(2): doi: 10.1007/s10452-023-10033-x.

Fernando, E.S 2008 Forest Formations of the Philippines. ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Unit. p232.

Fernando, E.S., Cereno, R.P. 2020 Biodiversity and natural resource management in the Mt. Pulag National Park. In: Lapitan, P.G., Fernando, E.S., Suh, M.H. et al., (eds), Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation in Protected Areas of Korea and the Philippines. ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Unit, Seoul National University, Korea. pp 120–177.

Finnie, T.J.R., Preston, C.D., Hill, M.O., Uotila, P., Crawley, M.J. 2007 Floristic elements in European vascular plants: an analysis based on Atlas Florae Europaeae. J. Biogeogr. 34(11): 1848–1872.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01750.xView Article Google Scholar

Forman, R.T.T., Alexander, L.E. 1998 Roads and their major ecological effects. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst 29(1):207–231
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.207View Article Google Scholar

Gaujour, E., Amiaud, B., Mignolet, C., Plantureux, S. 2012 Factors and processes affecting plant biodiversity inpermanent grasslands: a review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 32(1): 133–160.
DOI: 10.1007/s13593-011-0015-3View Article Google Scholar

Geneletti, D. 2003 Biodiversity Impact Assessment of roads: an approach based on ecosystem rarity. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 23(3): 343–365
DOI: 10.1016/S0195-9255(02)00099-9View Article Google Scholar

Guron, M.A., Lumpio, R.G., Napaldet, J.T. 2019 Comparison of Floral Diversity of Pine Forest, Agroforestry and Agricultural Land-Uses in Talinguroy Research Station, Benguet State University, Northern Philippines. MJSIR 79(2): 21–34.

Gul, B., Ahmad, I., Khan, H., Zeb, U., Ullah, H. 2018 Floristic inventory of wild plants of Peshawar university campus. Acta Ecol. Sin. 38(6): 375–380.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chnaes.2018.04.005View Article Google Scholar

Hellmann, J.J., Byers, J.E., Bierwagen, B.G., Dukes, J.S. 2008 Five potential consequences of climate change for invasive species. Conserv. Biol. 22(3): 534–543.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00951.xView Article Google Scholar

Hulme, P.E., Pysek, P., Nentwig, W., Vil?, M. 2009 Will threat of biological invasions unite the European Union? Science 324(5923): 40–41.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1171111View Article Google Scholar

Hussain, N.A., Ali, A.H., Lazem, L.F. 2012 Ecological indices of key biological groups in Southern Iraqi marshland during 2005-2007. Mesopot. J. Mar. Sci. 27(2): 112–125

Latumahina, F.S., Mardiatmoko, G., Sahusilawane, J. 2020 Richness, Diversity and Evenness of Birds in Small Island. J. Physics: Conf. Series 1463(1): 012023.
DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1463/1/012023View Article Google Scholar

Lembrechts, J.J., Alexander, J.M., L.A. Cavieres, Haider, S., Lenoir, J., Kueffer, C., McDougall, K., Naylor, B.J., Nu?ez, M.A., Pauchard, A., Rew, L.J., Nijs, I., Milbau, A. 2017 Mountain roads shift native and non-native plant species’ ranges. Ecography 40(3): 353–364.
DOI: 10.1111/ecog.02200View Article Google Scholar

Lisboa, P.V., Fernandes, E.H., Sottolichio, A., Huybrechts, N., Bend?, A.R. 2022 Coastal plumes contribution to the suspended sediment transport in the Southwest Atlantic inner continental shel. J. Mar. Syst 236: 103796.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2022.103796View Article Google Scholar

Lugo, A.E., Gucinski, H. 2000 Function, effects, and management of forest roads. For. Ecol. Manag. 133(3): 249–262.
DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00237-6View Article Google Scholar

Lumbres, R.I.C., Palaganas, J.A., Micosa, S.C. 2012 Floral diversity assessment in Alno communal mixed forest in Benguet, Philippines. Landscape Ecol. Eng. 10(2): 361–368.
DOI: 10.1007/s11355-012-0204-5View Article Google Scholar

Manan, F., Khan, S.M., Muhammad, Z., Ahmad, Z., Abdullah, A., Rahman, A., Han, H., Ariza-Montes, A., Contreras-Barraza, N., Raposo, A. 2022 Floristic composition, biological spectrum, and phytogeographic distribution of the Bin Dara Dir, in the western boundary of Pakistan. Front. For. Glob. Change. 5:1019139. Morente-L?pez, J., Arjona, Y., Salas-Pascual, M., Reyes-Betancort, J.A., del Arco-Aguilar, M.J., Emerson, B.C., Garc?a-Gallo, A., Jay-Garc?a, L.S., Naranjo-Cigala, A., Pati?o, J. 2023 Biogeographic origins and drivers of alien plant invasions in the Canary Islands. J. Biogeogr. 50(3): 576–590.
DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2022.1019139View Article Google Scholar

Morente-L?pez, J., Arjona, Y., Salas-Pascual, M., Reyes-Betancort, J.A., del Arco-Aguilar, M.J., Emerson, B.C., Garc?a-Gallo, A., Jay-Garc?a, L.S., Naranjo-Cigala, A., Pati?o, J. 2023 Biogeographic origins and drivers of alien plant invasions in the Canary Islands. J. Biogeogr. 50(3): 576–590.
DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13943View Article Google Scholar

Niu, Y., Yang, S., Zhou, J., Chu, B., Ma, S., Zhu, H., Hua, L. 2019 Vegetation distribution along mountain environmental gradient predicts shifts in plant community response to climate change in alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. Sci. Total Environ. 650: 505–514.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.390View Article Google Scholar

Pelser, P.B., Barcelona, J.F., Nickrent, D.L. (eds.) 2011 onwards. Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines. www.philippineplants.org.

Peterson, G., Allen, C., Holling, C. 1998 Ecological Resilience, Biodiversity, and Scale. Ecosystems 1(1): 6–18.
DOI: 10.1007/s100219900002View Article Google Scholar

Phillips, H.R.P., Newbold, T., Purvis, A. 2017 Land-use effects on local biodiversity in tropical forests vary between continents. Biodivers Conserv 26(9): 2251–2270. POWO (Plants of the World Online) 2023 Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/. Accessed June 2023.
DOI: 10.1007/s10531-017-1356-2View Article Google Scholar

Rabena, M.A.F., Macandog, D.M., Cuevas, V.C., Espaldon, M.V.O. 2015 A vegetation inventory of a traditional secondary forest (Muyong) in Kinakin, Banaue, Ifugao, Northern Luzon, Philippines. Philipp. J. Syst. Biol. 9: 10–32.

Rahbek, C., M.K. Borregaard, A. Antonelli, Colwell, R.K., Holt, B.G., Nogues-Bravo, D., Rasmussen, C.M.?., Richardson, K., Rosing, M.T., Whittaker, R.J., Fjelds?, J. 2019 Building mountain biodiversity: Geological and evolutionary processes. Science 365(6458): 1114–1119.
DOI: 10.1126/science.aax0151View Article Google Scholar

Rashid, I., S.M. Haq, Lembrechts, J.J., Khuroo, A.A., Pauchard, A., Dukes, J.S. 2021 Railways redistribute plant species in mountain landscapes. J. Appl. Ecol. 58(9): 1967–1980.
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13961View Article Google Scholar

Ruiz-Jaen, M.C., Aide, T.M. 2005 Restoration success: How is it being measured? Restor. Ecol. 13(3): 569–577.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2005.00072.xView Article Google Scholar

Salcedo, P.V.G. 2001 Floral diversity and vegetation zones of the northern slope of Mt. Amuyao, Mountain Province, Luzon (Philippines). Asia Life Sci 10(2): 119–157.

Simpson, E.H. 1949 Measurement of diversity. Nature 163(4148): 688.
DOI: 10.1038/163688a0View Article Google Scholar

Takhtajan, A. 1986 Phytogeography: Floristic Regions of the World. University of California Press, Berkeley 522 pp.

Tilman, D., Wedin, D., Knops, J. 1996 Productivity and sustainability influenced by biodiversity in grassland ecosystems, Nature 379(6567): 718–720.
DOI: 10.1038/379718a0View Article Google Scholar

Tilman, D., Reich, P.B., Knops, J., Wedin, D., Mielke, T., Lehman, C. 2001. Diversity and Productivity in a Long-Term Grassland Experiment. Science 294(5543): 843–845.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1060391View Article Google Scholar

Ullah, Z., Ahmad, M., Khan, S.M. 2015 Phytogeographic Analysis and Diversity of Grasses and Sedges (Poales) of Northern Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot. 47(SI): 93–104.

Vahdati, F.B., Mehrvarz, S.S., Naqinezhad, A.R., Shavvon, R.S. 2014 Floristic characteristics of the Hyrcanian submountain forests (case study: Ata-Kuh forest). Casp. J. Environ. Sci. 12(2): 169–183.

Vanneste, T., Govaert, S., Kesel, W., Berge, S.V.D., Vangansbeke, P., Meeussen, C., Brunet, J., Cousins, S.A.O., Decocq, G., Diekmann, M., Graae, B.J., Hedwall, P.?O., Heinken, T., Helsen, K., Kap?s, R.E., Lenoir, J., Liira, J., Lindmo, S., Litza, K., Naaf, T., Orczewska, A., Plue, J., Wulf, M., Verheyen, K., De Frenne, P., Biswas, S. 2020 Plant diversity in hedgerows and road verges across Europe. J. Appl. Ecol. 57(7):1244–1257.
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13620View Article Google Scholar

Warren, B.H., D. Strasberg, J.H. Bruggemann, Prys-Jones, R.P., Th?baud, C. 2010 Why does the biota of the Madagascar region have such a strong Asiatic flavour? Cladistics 26(5): 526–538.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2009.00300.xView Article Google Scholar

Watts, M., Hutton, C., Guel, E.M., Suckall, N., K. Peh, S.-H. 2022 Impacts of climate change on tropical agroforestry systems: a systematic review for identifying future research priorities. Front. For. Global Change. 5: 880621.
DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2022.880621View Article Google Scholar

Zhang, W., Huang, D., Wang, R., Liu, J., Du, N. 2016 Altitudinal patterns of species diversity and phylogenetic diversity across temperate mountain forests of Northern China. PLoS ONE 11(7): e0159995.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159995View Article Google Scholar