Biodiversity Assessment of Mt. Banahaw de Dolores

A study was conducted to assess the diversity of biological communities at Mt. Banahaw de Dolores in Sitio Kinabuhayan, Sta Lucia, Dolores, Quezon; the area was characterized by identifying the forest trees present, species richness and diversity, and dominance. This was after a 5, year moratorium visitation in the national park. The forest inventory used the quadrat sampling method. Wildlife inventory and insect collection were conducted within 700 masl to the peak of Mt. Banahaw de Dolores. Result revealed a total of 455 trees belonging to 92 species and representing 37 families. A total of 16 families of birds represented by 30 species, 5 species of bats, 3 species of amphibians and 2 reptiles were recorded. Similarly, a total of 285 insects representating more than 104 families and 17 orders were identified. Result also showed high values for Shannon-Weiner index (H) and species richness (d). Species were evenly distributed among areas sampled as reflected by high values of Eveness index. These values indicate high species variation and diversity.

 

Keywords - Mt. Banahaw de Dolores, biodiversity, Mt. Banahaw, species richness, Shannon-Weiner index