Assessment of Trees Diversity in Mt.

Capistrano
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
YBUR CLIEVE OLSEN B. DAHILOG
JANDIE B. OBREGON
INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is a global biodiversity hotspot with high
degrees of species richness and endemism (Myers et al.,
2000)
The country is also listed as one of the most threatened
ecosystems on the planet.
Thus, there is a great urgency to document the country’s
vanishing biodiversity.
INTRODUCTION
The Island of Mindanao, specifically in Malaybalay City,
Bukidnon is one of the most naturally diverse areas in the
Philippines.
Supports numerous and diverse habitat with highly diverse
and unique species.
Thus, a study surveying the tree diversity in Mt. Capistrano
in Malaybalay City was conducted to quantify the total
number of trees within a specific domain and to
characterize various species of trees in the vicinity.
Statement of the Problem
The study aims to determine the diversity of trees in Mt.
Capistrano in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Specifically, it seeks to:

determine the species of trees found in the identified urban
forest;
determine the population of the identified trees using
Quadrat/ Transect sampling; and
determine which trees species are dominant of each plot.
Significance of the Study

Beneficial to:
agriculturist and local people
Government
LGU
future Researchers.
Scope and Limitation

Focused on the tree diversity in Mt. Capistrano in Malaybalay

City, Bukidnon.
Intended to identify the most dominant type of tree found in
Mt. Capistrano in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
METHODOLOGY

Various methods were introduced and done,

starting from the preparation of pre-requisites
needed in the study down to statistical treatment
Prerequisites
Locale of the Study

Mt. Capistrano in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Located at Barangay Simaya, Malaybalay City Bukidnon
Materials

field notebook, paper, pencil, calibrated rope, 5m x 5m

established plot along 50m transect, smart phone, and
camera
Tree Identification

Each tree that was 5 feet tall and above within the plot
Tree identification includes taxonomy, type of vegetation and
population
In naming a tree, a sample’s trunk and stem with leaves are
photo documented
Studied and identified and validated by
Mrs. Maria Melanie Guiang
Statistical Treatment
descriptive statistics
dbh
Frequency
Relative Frequency
Relative Density
Relative Dominance
Importance value
Field Methods

50m transect was established (5m x 5m quadrat along the

transect line w/ 5 m interval)
Tree species and its diameter (in cm) at breast height (dbh)
was determined
 Field Methods
•𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
  𝒇 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒
𝒇=
𝑡 𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝒇 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑  
  𝑛𝑜 . 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑫=
𝑡 𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑
 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎=𝜋 ( 𝑟 ) 2 ; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑏h/ 2
 

 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒=𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑫+𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐷 𝑜𝑚 .

𝒇  − 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 ; 𝑫 − 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 ; 𝐷𝑜𝑚 − 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑒

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Quadrat Species No. of Species Circumference dbh (cm)
1 1. Unknown Sample 1 2 18 5.73
2. Piper aduncum 5 26 8.28
3. Nauclea orientalis 2 35 11.15
4. Balete 2 56 17.83
2 1. Ficus septica 4 25 7.96
2. Piper aduncum 3 31 9.87
3. Nauclea orientalis 2 24 7.64
4. Flacortia rukam 3 27 8.60
3 1. Nauclea orientalis 1 36 11.46
2. Flacortia rukam 6 48 15.29
3. Piper aduncum 2 28 8.92
4. Balete 1 57 18.15
4 1. Catalpa bignoniodes 2 41 13.06
2. Flacortia rukam 3 52 16.56
3. Piper aduncum 2 25 7.96
4. Nauclea orientalis 2 32 10.19
5 1. Piper aduncum 4 17 5.41
2. Balete 1 67 21.34

Table 1. List of trees at the top of the Mt. Capistrano.

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Quadrat Species No. of Species Circumference  dbh (cm)
1 1. Unknown Sample 2 3 40 12.74
2. Artocarpus heterophyllus 2 51 16.24
3. Gmelina arborea 3 52 16.56
4. Mangifera indica 1 70 22.29
5. Leucaena leucocephala 1 59 18.79
2 1. Unknown Sample 3 1 36 11.46
2. Artocarpus heterophyllus 1 42 13.38
3. Sandoricum koetjape 1 34 10.83
4. Gmelina arborea 2 48 15.29
5. Leucaena leucocephala 1 39 12.42
3 1. Unknown Sample 2 1 30 9.55
2. Gmelina arborea 5 42 13.38
3. Unknown Sample 3 2 37 11.78
4 1. Unknown Sample 3 2 26 8.28
2. Piper aduncum 3 36 11.46
3. Unknown Sample 2 2 43 13.69
4. Gmelina arborea 2 40 12.74
5 1. Unknown Sample 4 3 45 14.33
2. Piper aduncum 7 37 11.78

Table 2. List of trees at the middle of the Mt. Capistrano.

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Quadrat Species No. of Species Circumferenc  dbh (cm)
1 1. Swietenia mahagoni 3 45 14.33
2. Leucaena leucocephala 1 44 14.01
3. Gmelina arborea 2 52 16.56
2 1. Swietenia mahagoni 2 43 13.69
2. Piper aduncum 2 34 10.83
3 1. Swietenia mahagoni 6 46 14.65
2. Gmelina arborea 2 39 12.42
4 1. Artocarpus heterophyllus 1 41 13.06
2. Leucaena leucocephala 1 40 12.74
3. Swietenia mahagoni 2 47 14.97
4. Gmelina arborea 1 58 18.47
5 1. Swietenia mahagoni 7 46 14.65
2. Gmelina arborea 2 38 12.10
3. Mangifera indica 2 56 17.83

Table 3. List of trees at the base of the Mt. Capistrano.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
As shown in Table 1, 2, and 3, there were a total of 51
species from each of the point and quadrats.
With a value of 22.29 cm, Mangifera indica in quadrat 3 at the
top layer of Mt. Capistrano had the highest value for the
Diameter Breast Height (DBH) while Piper aduncum had the
lowest DBH with a value of 5.41 cm.
The DBH accounts for the estimate covered area by the trees.
The average circumference for all the trees runs to 40.80 cm
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Species # of ind. Relative Density f Relative f
Artocarpus heterophyllus 4 3.23 3 5.88
Balete 4 3.23 3 5.88
Catalpa bignoniodes 2 1.61 1 1.96
Ficus septica 4 3.23 1 1.96
Flacortia rukam 12 9.68 3 5.88
Gmelina arborea 19 15.32 8 15.70
Leucaena leucocephala 4 3.23 4 7.84
Mangifera indica 3 2.41 2 3.92
Nauclea orientalis 7 5.64 4 7.84
Piper aduncum 28 22.58 8 15.70
Sandoricum koetjape 1 0.81 1 1.96
Swietenia mahagoni 20 16.13 5 9.80
Unknown Sample 1 2 1.61 1 1.96
Unknown Sample 2 6 04.84 3 5.88
Unknown Sample 3 5 04.03 3 5.88
Unknown Sample 4 3 2.42 1 1.96
TOTAL 124 100 51 100

Table 4. List of trees species showing their Frequency, Relative Frequency and Relative Density
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
As shown in Table 4, both Gmelina arborea and Piper
aduncum had the highest frequencies (both occur 8 times)
Highest total number of individuals:
Swietenia mahagoni with 5 and Leucaena leucocephala
Nauclea orientalis and Balete with 4 individuals
Lowest occurrence individuals
Catalpa bignoniodes, Ficus septica, Sandoricum koetjape,
Unknown Sample 1 and Unknown Sample 2
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Total Basal Mean
Species 1 2 3 4 5 Area Basal
Area
1. Unknown Sample 1 25.77         25.77 25.77
2. Piper aduncum 53.82 76.47 62.46 49.74 22.98 265.47 53.09
3. Nauclea orientalis 97.59 45.82   81.51   224.92 74.97
4. Balete 249.56   258.60   357.49 865.65 288.55
5. Ficus septica   49.74       49.74 49.74
6. Flacortia rukam   58.06 183.52 215.27   456.85 152.28
7. Catalpa bignoniodes       133.89   133.89 133.89
TOTAL 426.74 230.09 504.58 480.41 380.47 2022.29 778.29

Table 5. List of trees species found at top of the mountain showing their Total
Basal Area and Mean Basal Area
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Total Mean
Species 1 2 3 4 5 Basal Basal
Area Area
1. Unknown Sample 2 127.41   71.59 53.82   252.82 84.27
2. Unknown Sample 3   103.10 108.93 53.82   265.85 88.62
3. Unknown Sample 4         161.20 161.20 161.20
4. Artocarpus 207.03 140.53       347.56 173.78
heterophyllus
5. Gmelina arborea 215.27 183.52 140.53 127.41   666.73 166.68
6. Mangifera indica 390.02         390.02 390.02
7. Leucaena 277.16 121.09       398.25 199.13
leucocephala
8. Piper aduncum       103.10 108.93 212.03 70.68
9. Sandoricum koetjape   92.07       92.07 92.07
1216.8 2786.5
TOTAL 9 640.31 321.05 338.15 270.13 3 1426.45

Table 6. List of trees species found at the middle of the mountain showing
their Total Basal Area and Mean Basal Area
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Total Mean
Species 1 2 3 4 5 Basal Basal
Area Area
1. Swietenia 147.12 168.48 175.92 168.48 821.20 164.24
mahagoni 161.20
2. Leucaena 154.08     127.41   281.49 140.75
leucocephala
3. Gmelina arborea 215.27   121.09 267.80 114.93 719.09 179.77
4. Piper aduncum   92.07       92.07 92.07
5. Artocarpus   133.89     133.89 133.89
heterophyllus  
6. Mangifera indica         249.56 249.56 249.56
TOTAL 530.55 239.19 423.46 571.13 532.97 2297.3 960.28

Table 7. List of trees species found at the base of the mountain showing their
Total Basal Area and Mean Basal Area
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As shown in Table 5,6, and 7, Balete had the highest total basal
area among the 16 species w/ a value of 865.65 cm2
Unknown Sample #1 had the lowest value w/ 25.77 cm2 of the
overall 3,165.02 cm2
For the mean basal area, Mangifera indica had the highest
value which is equivalent to 390.02 cm2
Unknown Sample #1 still had the lowest mean basal area
among others.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

It is also be noted that Quadrat 1 had the highest value for the
total basal area from top to bottom sample plot which is
2174.18 cm2 while Quadrat 2 had the lowest value with only
1109.59 cm2
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Species Basal Area of Each Species Relative Dominance Importance Value Rank

Artocarpus heterophyllus 481.45 6.78 10.01 8

Balete 865.65 12.18 15.41 5
Catalpa bignoniodes 133.89 1.88 3.49 14
Ficus septica 49.74 0.70 3.93 13
Flacortia rukam 456.85 6.43 16.11 4
Gmelina arborea 1385.82 19.50 34.82 1
Leucaena leucocephala 679.74 9.56 12.79 6
Mangifera indica 639.58 9.00 11.41 7
Nauclea orientalis 224.92 3.17 8.81 9
Piper aduncum 569.57 8.01 30.59 2
Sandoricum koetjape 92.07 1.30 2.11 15
Swietenia mahagoni 821.20 11.56 27.69 3
Unknown Sample 1 25.77 0.36 1.97 16
Unknown Sample 2 252.82 3.56 8.40 10
Unknown Sample 3 265.85 3.74 7.77 11
Unknown Sample 4 161.20 2.27 4.69 12
TOTAL 7106.12 100 200  

Table 8. List of trees species showing their Relative Dominance and Importance Value.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 8, shows 16 individuals in all established plot
Gmelina arborea had the highest values for all the quantities of
density, relative density, number of species, frequency, relative
frequency, cover and relative cover.
It was also the most important species among the 16 species
with a value of 34.82 followed by Piper aduncum with an
Importance Value of 30.59.
Unknown Sample #1 ranked 16th among all the species which
means that it was the least important species recorded in the
forest with an Importance Value of 1.97.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Due to its rapid growth rate, G. arborea is a tree which has been widely
used in reforestation programs in tropical and subtropical regions of the
world and as a source of commercial timber and cellulose (Dvorak,
2004; Rojas-Rodríguez et al., 2004; Silva et al., 2005; USDA-ARS,
2016). This species produces large numbers of fertile fruits that are
easily dispersed by birds and bats, spreading seedlings quite far from
the parent tree (Orwa et al., 2009). In this way, G. arborea has
escaped from plantations and entered wild habitats where it is now
replacing native trees and becoming invasive (IUCN, 2013). Currently,
it is listed as invasive in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ghana,
Australia and the Cook Islands (Chacón and Saborío, 2012; Mir, 2012;
IUCN, 2013; PIER, 2016; Weeds of Australia, 2016). It is also
separately reported as invasive in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
On the other hand, Piper aduncum is a shade-tolerant shrub and
tree native to the West Indies and tropical America. It was both
intentionally (as an ornamental species) and accidentally (on
packing material) introduced into a number of countries outside
of its native range where it has naturalized and become invasive.
P. aduncum is a pioneer species colonizing areas of bare ground,
with high levels of sunlight.
Meanwhile, Unknown Sample # 1” which ranked as the least
important among the 16 species sampled. This due to its low
count density, and frequency along with Sandoricum koetjape,
Catalpa bignoniodes, and Ficus septica.
CONCLUSION
In the study, 51 individuals were recorded in
Quadrat/Transect sampling method. Out of these, 12 species
were identified and 4 species were still unidentified
the identified species are namely Artocarpus heterophyllus,
Balete, Catalpa bignoniodes, Ficus septica, Flacortia rukam,
Gmelina arborea, Leucaena leucocephala, Mangifera indica,
Nauclea orientalis, Piper aduncum, Sandoricum koetjape, and
Swietenia mahagoni.
CONCLUSION

Of the 17 species, Gmelina arborea was the most important

species because of its large significant density, frequency and
cover among the other species present in the forest.
Meanwhile, Unknown sample # 1 was the least important
species in the transect accounting for the least value of its
Importance Value Index.
Documentation
 Documentation
Picture w/ the landmark
of Mt. Capistrano
 Documentation
Establishing the Plot
 Documentation
Sample Picture of the
Trunk (left) and Stems w/ Leaves (right)
 Documentation
@ the Base (left)
Starting to Climb (right)
Documentation
 Documentation
#The Struggle
@ the Top of Mt.
Capistrano
 Documentation
Mt. Musuan
TEAM CAPISTRANO
REFERENCES
Krebs, Charles J. 1985. Ecology, the experimental analysis of distribution and
abundance, 3rd edition. Harper & Row, New York.
Kricher, John C. 1988. A Field Guide to the Eastern Forests: North America. The
Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston,
Massachusetts, 368 pages.
Ricklefs, R. E. 2001. The Economy of Nature. 5th Edition. W.H. Freeman and
Company, New York, NY 550 pages.
Smith, R.L. and T. M. Smith. 2001. Ecology and Field Biology, 6th edition.
Addison Wesley Longman, San Francisco, 771 pages.