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Agroforest diversity is one of the foundations of healthy and functioning ecosystems, the foundation of opportunity for all people. Rich soils, clean air and water, abundant forests – the complexity of nature and the myriad of species it supports are essential for stable and thriving societies. One important aspect under the Agroforest landscape is the species that composed it. Species generally vary in its type, size, shape, abundance, distribution, trophic requirements or ecological role. It is a fact that there are species that perform very important roles in their respective habitat, otherwise if its population decreases, a marked change on other species would happen. It is on this context of ecological role that this study on agroforest diversity assessment of upper Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City and plankton analysis in an urban creek in Cagayan de Oro City has been conducted.
There are six identified creeks in Cagayan de Oro City. Bitan-ag Creek belongs to the landscape of Agroforest species and is the longest and most polluted of all the creeks, river and main drainage. It passes through Barangay Camaman-an, down to Agora, Lapasan, This area shows trends of growing human population, that in the words of one resident, the creek used to be a small stream with flowing potable freshwater. Current conditions of the creek is the result of anthropogenic activities namely the introduction of factory effluents and city sewerage system dumped into it. This results in the further pollution of seawater affecting aquatic ecosystem.
Agrodiversity species associated with creek watershed provides the basis for a functioning planet, buffering change and conferring resilience over all levels of biological organization. The many direct and indirect benefits of agroforest species include all the resources and processes required for human existence such as, oxygen production, pollination of plants, global climate control, filtration and storage of water by wetlands and soil production and fertility are all benefits of the biological diversity of the Earth.
While greater loss of biodiversity or Agroforest species in the Bitan-ag Creek may have partially contributed to higher incidence of flooding, soil erosion, clogging, fresh and marine water encroachment and among others, this study is appropriate and timely endeavor for the urgency of providing appropriate rehabilitation measures are needed in the aforementioned area as well as tributaries of the creek – watershed. Such measures aim to restore the deteriorating area into its original or even better state involving the use of vegetation, engineering structure or a combination of both, hence this study.
Specific Objectives: • Identify the composition of phytoplankton species in the watershed creek as bio-indicator for water pollution. • Assess the diversity of agroforest landscape ecosystem species in the watershed and their ecological uses, status and economic importance. • Determine the soil status of the upper and midstream portions of the Bitan-ag creek. • Draw-out ecological and policy implications on the dynamics of biodiversity and creek watershed interactions.
Agora(Downstream) Limketkai & MPSC Tierra del Puerto, Maria Reyna Hospl.(Midstream Camaman-an (upstream) METHODOLOGY Fig. 1. Bitan-ag Creek Research Sites
A. Participatory Involvement of Research Team • Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted among the different stakeholders of the Bitan-ag Creek Rehabilitation Program composed of: a) LGU’s; b) Industry Sectors; c) Government Organizations; d) NGO’s and d) Academic Institutions (MUST, XU, and CHED Reg. 10). • Implementation of the Republic Act (RA 9003) known as ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM • MUST identified researchers served as the facilitator in the discussion and consensus decision was made through signing of MOA.
20.0 meter Standard protocols in taking Floral Diversity Richness 10.0 meter Quadrant / Plot Sampling Establishment of the 20x10 m plot Collection of Ecological data Collection of specimens
Process/Procedures in Taking Plankton Analysis 1. Sample Collection (Grab Sampling) Figure 3. Collection of water sample for plankton analysis • The Sample was preserved and allowed to stand for a week in a dark area. • After a week, the supernatant of samples was decanted.
The samples were examined under a compound microscope under high power objective. • The counting was done in a counting chamber through Sedgewick-Rafter Counting Chamber. • The cells were counted at a specified strips.
Collection and Preparation of Soil Test Analysis Figure 3. Soil Collection along Bitan-ag Creek Tierra del Puerto Site
Brief description of the upstream of the Bitan-ag Creek: • existence of quarrying activities • on the riverbank are sprouts of endemic, economical and medicinal floral species
Brief description of the middlestream of the Bitan-ag Creek (Tierra Del Puerto): • exposed, dried-up riverbeds with patches of shallow wells that people used as a source of water in their homes
Brief description of the lower stream (Agora) of the Bitan-ag Creek: • domestic wastes are being disposed to the creek due to poor sanitation • zero turbidity level • muddy
kkjjh Agroforest Species in Bitan-ag Creek
a. Trees Pterocarpus indicus “Narra” Endangered, Economically Important (lumber, medicinal) Terminalia catappa “Talisay” Economically Important (used for light construction/ shading purpose)
Artocarpus blancoi Antipolo Endemic, Economically Important (lumber) Ficus septica Hauili Medicinal, water indicator
Cananga odorata Hook. F. & Thomson Ilang-ilang Endemic, Economically Important Persia americana “Avocado” Economically Important
Bixa orellana Atswete Economically Important (Food Coloring) Gmelina arborea Gemelina Economically Important (lumber)
b. Shrubs Resinus communis Castor bean Source of biodiesel Jatropha sp. Tuba-tuba, Kasla Medicinal and potential source of biodiesel
Theobroma cacao Cacao Economically Important Moringa citrifolia Bankoro Medicinal, Economically Important
c. Herbs Iresini hersbtii Dugo-dugoan Ornamental, Medicinal Lantana camara Baho-baho Ornamental
c. Ferns Adiantum philippense Maiden hair fern Endemic, Ornamental Lygodium cercinnatum Nito Economically Important (use for handicraft making)
Nephrolipis hersutula Sword fern Ornamental Asplenium linearis Ornamental
d. Vines Calamus merrrilii Rattan Endemic, Endangered Economically Important (furniture making) Pandanus cubicus Pandan Pandan Ornamental, use for basket making
Table 1. Floral Diversity Species Identified and Species Richness in Upper Stream and Middle Stream of Bitan-ag Creek, Cagayan de Oro City Legend: + present - absent
Continuation …..Table 1 Legend: + present - absent
Continuation …..Table 1 Legend: + present - absent
Table 2. Floral Species of Bitan-ag Creek and their Corresponding Ecological Status and Economic Importance
Table 3. Soil Test Data of Bitan-ag Creek Source: Bureau of Soils Region X, August 2006
Ficus septica Artocarpus blancoi Sandoricum koetjape Coffea arabica Bambusa sp. Mangefera indica Cocos nucifera Artocarpus odoratissimus Ficus minahassae Acalypa amentacaeae Polyschias nodosa Spathodea campanulata Legend 20 0 5 10 Distribution of Trees Species
Ficus septica Artocarpus blancoi Sandoricum koetjape Coffea arabica Bambusa sp. Mangefera indica Cocos nucifera Artocarpus odoratissimus Intsia bijuga Canarium sp. Pterocarpus indicus 20 0 5 10 Distribution of Tree Species
Composition of Phytoplankton Species in the Bitan-ag Creek as Bio-indicator of Water Quality
Phytoplankton is • a collective term for free-floating organisms that are suspended in a water column their distribution is controlled by physical processes such as water current and pollution • a number of algae that can concentrate in some heavy metals and radioactive wastes and these play an important role in their transfer in the food chain. • Water bio-indicator
A. Phytoplankton Species Identified in the Upperstream of Bitan-ag Creek A. Chodatella sp. Gomphonema sp B. Pleurosigma navicilaceum Spirogyra sp Ecological Implications: This species are sensitive to the presence of heavy metals and pollution. They are naturally occurring in clean water. The dominance of the aforementioned species would give some implications that the upper stream of the Bitan-ag was still free from pollution.
Abundance and Distribution Phytoplankton Species found in Bitan-ag Creek
B. Phytoplankton Species Identified in the Middle Stream of Bitan-ag Creek Nitzschia sp. Gomphonema sp Clorococcum sp Pediastrum duplex Unidentified sp Unidentified sp Nitzschia sp. Navicula sp.
Ecological Implications: The presence of this Nizschia and Navicula species, indicates that the water is polluted and eutrophic. The appearance of these species would provide indication of the water quality in the middle stream of Bitan-ag Creek is polluted. Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton Species in Middle Stream of the Bitan-ag Creek
B. Phytoplankton Species Identified in the Lower Stream of Bitan-ag Creek Nostoc sp. Chlorella sp Nitzschia sp Microcystis aeruginosa Pleurosigma falx Pediastrum duplex Prorocentrum compressum
Ecological Implications: Nostoc sp Produced hepatotoxins (liver tumor causing substances). The presence of this Nizschia species, indicates that the water is polluted and eutrophic. Prorocentrum compressumtoxic if algal bloom happen (red-tide causing dinoflagellate). Pediastrum duplexare pollutant-tolerant species.Pleurosigma falxare found in and in very dirty waters.The appearance of these species would provide indication of the water quality in the lower stream of Bitan-ag Creek is polluted. Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton Species in Agora (Lower stream)
CONCLUSION • Agroforest diversity species identified in the urban mountain revealed that there are 36 common species. These species were identified as 19 economically important species, 10 ornamental species, 4 endemic species, 2 rare species and 1 endangered species. These findings recommend for immediate conservation and protection of species in the urban environment.
The composition, population, abundance and distribution of plankton/phytoplankton as bio-indicator of water pollution varies from one stream to the other or varies horizontally, vertically, seasonally and depends on availability of light. This was revealed when Nitzchia and Navicula species of phytoplankton dominated the middle stream and Microcystis aeruginosa and Nitzchia sp. at the downstream, These species are pollution tolerant species respectively and were known to release toxins (red-tide causing) which are major cause of fish kills.