Mangrove-epiphytic Plants in Selected Mangrove Rehabilitation Areas of Davao Occidental, The Philippines

The study was conducted in the mangrove rehabilitation sites of Malita, Davao Occidental, Philippines particularly Sitio Agdao of Brgy. Tubalan, Sitio Baybay of Brgy. Buhangin and Sitio Lahusan of Brgy. Fishing Village from October to December 2020. Preliminary stations were established: Station 1 in Sitio Agdao, Station 2 in Sitio Baybay and the Station 3 in Sitio Lahusan. These sites are considered to be a slightly undisturbed mangrove forest dominated by species of mangrove trees. The free exploration method was carried out first before the conduct of the study. Samples consisted of host plants and their associates (epiphytes) are collected for proper identification. Three study areas were assessed by the number of individual species to calculate their relative abundance and density. A total of 7 species identified individually among of the three-study areas. The study also shows that species of mangrove epiphytes in the study area composed of 3 to 5 species per station and exhibit 1 to 3 identified species per plot and individual species per station revealed that Davalia denticulata and Aglaomorpha quercifold were the most common species of mangrove epiphytic plants in almost all three study areas. However, Lahusan sampling station occurred numerous quantities of Mangrove epiphytic plants species among 3 identified study areas including Imprerata cycindrica that cannot be found in Agdao and Baybay Stations. Statistically, no significant difference was observed among study areas.