Systematic Analyses of Selected Shorea Roxb. ex C.F. Gaertn. Species in Comparison with the Wingless Dipterocarp Found in Negros, Philippines

Serica Joy Compendio

Generally, the objective of the study is to identify and conserve the unidentified wingless dipterocarp species in Siaton, Negros Oriental Province, Philippines. Moreover, the study specifically envisions to do the following:

1. Mapping and habitat characterization through ground coordinate reading for the distribution of the remaining mother trees in the area;
2. Construct a phylogenetic tree analysis through the results from morphological and DNA sequence of selected species of Shorea, and;
3. Conduct a conservation management plan through identification of human threats which will involve survey questionnaires given to the community including the Provincial, Municipal and Barangay LGU.

Buttress of the first mother tree visited in the survey.

Buttress of the first mother tree visited in the survey.

Among the other genera of Dipterocarpaceae, the study focuses only on selected Shorea species. However, unlike the other description of the family, the species from Negros Oriental was found to be rare due to the absence of fruit calyx on its nut. Nonetheless, there is still no record of this kind of dipterocarp species in Negros island, indicating that the said species in the province needs to have a further assessment and study to verify its taxonomic identity and perhaps conserve the remaining mother trees in the area.

In connection to this, the diversity of the family, is under assault from deforestation and habitat alteration. It is thus necessary to try to understand how the morphological or biological characters (which constitute the base of the taxonomic divisions and systematic affinities) are related to the survival of plants in a given habitat. With this, identification and quantification of threat or human disturbance in the site will also be determined and recorded through direct observation, including a personal communication with the people concerned, and a survey to the community level. These recorded threats and disturbance will serve as possible hindrance on the survival and existence of the Shorea sp. in the area thus, a conservation and management plan will also be done with the concerned villagers and local government units to protect the remaining mother trees in the site.

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