BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

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.

Assess the diversity of agroforest landscape ecosystem species in the watershed and their ecological uses, status and economic importance.

Specific Objectives:

Identify the composition of phytoplankton species in the watershed creek as bio-indicator for water pollution.

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.

METHODOLOGY

Camaman-an (upstream)

Agora(Downstream)

Limketkai & MPSC

Tierra del Puerto, Maria Reyna Hospl.(Midstream

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.

Collection of Ecological data

Quadrant / Plot Sampling Establishment of the 20x10 m plot

Collection of specimens

10.0 meter

20.0 meter

Standard protocols in taking Floral Diversity Richness

Process/Procedures in Taking Plankton Analysis

1. Sample Collection (Grab Sampling)

2. The Sample was preserved and allowed to stand for a week in a dark area.

3. After a week, the supernatant of samples was decanted.

Figure 3. Collection of water sample for plankton analysis

4. The samples were examined under a compound microscope under high power objective.

5. The counting was done in a counting chamber through Sedgewick-Rafter Counting Chamber.

6. 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

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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

exposed, dried-up riverbeds with patches of shallow wells that people used as a source of water in their homes

Brief description of the middlestream of the Bitan-ag Creek

(Tierra Del Puerto):

Brief description of the lower stream (Agora) of the Bitan-ag Creek:

muddy

zero turbidity level

domestic wastes are being disposed to the creek due to poor sanitation

kkjjhAgroforest Species in

Bitan-ag Creek

Pterocarpus indicus “Narra”Endangered, Economically Important (lumber, medicinal)

Terminalia catappa“Talisay”Economically Important (used for light construction/ shading purpose)

a. Trees

Ficus septicaHauiliMedicinal, water indicator

Artocarpus blancoiAntipoloEndemic, Economically Important (lumber)

Cananga odorata Hook. F. & ThomsonIlang-ilangEndemic, Economically Important

Persia americana “Avocado”Economically Important

Gmelina arboreaGemelinaEconomically Important (lumber)

Bixa orellana AtsweteEconomically Important (Food Coloring)

Jatropha sp. Tuba-tuba, Kasla Medicinal and potential source of biodiesel

Resinus communis Castor bean Source of biodiesel

b. Shrubs

Theobroma cacao Cacao Economically Important

Moringa citrifolia Bankoro Medicinal, Economically Important

Lantana camara Baho-baho Ornamental

Iresini hersbtii Dugo-dugoan Ornamental, Medicinal

c. Herbs

c. Ferns

Lygodium cercinnatum Nito Economically Important (use for handicraft making)

Adiantum philippense Maiden hair fern Endemic, Ornamental

Nephrolipis hersutula Sword fern Ornamental

Asplenium linearis Ornamental

Calamus merrriliiRattan Endemic, Endangered Economically Important (furniture making)

Pandanus cubicus Pandan Pandan Ornamental, use for basket making

d. Vines

Table 1. Floral Diversity Species Identified and Species Richness in Upper Stream and Middle Stream of Bitan-ag Creek, Cagayan de Oro City

SPECIES COMMON NAME

UPPER STREAM

MIDDLE STREAM

A. TreesCrysophyllum cainitoSandoricum koetjapeFicus septica Burm. F.Ficus sp.Ficus minahassaeFicus pseudopalmaAcalypa amentacaeaeMuntingia calaburaCananga odorata Spathodea campanulata.Persia americana Artocarpus blancoi

Caimeto Santol Baliti

BogusDatilesIlang-ilangAfrican tulipAvocadoAntipolo

++++++++++++

+++-+-++++++

Legend: + present - absent

SPECIES COMMON NAME

UPPER STREAM

MIDDLE STREAM

Artocarpus heterophyllusCocus nucifera Polyschias nodosaPterocarpus indicus Macaranga bicolorBambusa sp. Mangifera indicaLaportea sp. Pinanga sp. Canna sp. B. Shrubs Morinda cetriifoliaMelanolepis multiglandulosa Ficus cumingiiPsidium guajavaSterculia sp. Bauhinia malabaricaCoffea arabica

Langka LubiMalapapaya Narra Macaranga KawayanManggaAlingatongPalmCentennial plant

Bangkoro AlimBalitiBayabasTambalau

Kape

+++-+++-+-++++++-+

++++-+-++++++++-+-

Legend: + present - absent

Continuation …..Table 1

Continuation …..Table 1

SPECIES COMMON NAME

UPPER STREAM

MIDDLE STREAM

C. HerbsChromolaena odorataIresini herbstiiMemusa pudicaLantana camara Amaranthos speciousosCorchorus acutangulus D. FernsLygodium circinnatumPneumatopteris nitidulaAdiantum capillus-vebenerisE. VinesPandanus sp. Pandanus cubicusCalamus ornatus

HagonoyDugo-dugoanMakahiya Baho-bahoKolites Saloyot

NitoMaiden hair fern

Pandan Pandan Oway

+-+++-

++-

+++

++++++

--+

---

Total: 35 Total: 30

Legend: + present - absent

Table 2. Floral Species of Bitan-ag Creek and their Corresponding Ecological Status and Economic Importance

SPECIES COMMON NAME

ECOLOGICAL USES ECOLOGICAL STATUS

A. TreesCrysophyllum cainitoSandoricum koetjapeFicus septica Burm. F.Ficus sp.Ficus minahassaeFicus pseudopalmaAcalypa amentacaeaeMuntingia calaburaCananga odorata Spathodea campanulata.Persia americana Artocarpus blancoiArtocarpus heterophyllus

Caimeto Santol Baliti

BogusDatilesIlang-ilangAfrican tulipAvocadoAntipoloLangka

Economically important Economically importantWater indicatorWater indicatorWater indicatorWater indicator

Wildlife foodMedicinalMedicinal Economically important Lumber and Furniture Economically important

CommonCommon Common Common Common Common CommonCommonEndemicCommon CommonEndemicCommon

Cont. Table 2.

SPECIES COMMON NAME

ECOLOGICAL USES ECOLOGICAL STATUS

Cocus nucifera Polyschias nodosaPterocarpus indicus Macaranga bicolorBambusa sp. Mangifera indicaLaportea sp. Pinanga sp. Canna sp. B. Shrubs Morinda cetriifoliaMelanolepis

multiglandulosa Ficus cumingiiPsidium guajavaSterculia sp. Bauhinia malabaricaCoffea arabica

LubiMalapapaya Narra

KawayanManggaAlingatongPalmCentennial plant

Bangkoro Alim

BalitiBayabasTambalau

Kape

Economically important

Economically important

Economically importantEconomically importantWildlife foodOrnamental Ornamental

Medicinal Economically importantEconomically important Lumber and furniture OrnamentalEconomically important

Common Common CommonEndemicCommonCommonRare Common Common

Common Common Common Common Common Ornamental Common

SPECIES COMMON NAME

ECOLOGICAL USES ECOLOGICAL STATUS

C. HerbsChromolaena odorataIresini herbstiiMemusa pudicaLantana camara Amaranthos speciousosCorchorus acutangulus D. Ferns Lygodium circinnatumPneumatopteris nitidulaE. Vines Pandanus sp. Pandanus cubicusCalamus ornatus

HagonoyDugo-dugoanMakahiya Baho-bahoKolites Saloyot Nito

Pandan Pandan Oway

Medicinal Medicinal &

ornamental Ornamental Edible Edible, medicinal

For handicraft making

Food flavoringFor basket and mat

makingFor furniture

Common CommonCommon Common CommonCommon

Rare

CommonCommonDepleted,

endemic

Cont. Table 2.

Table 3. Soil Test Data of Bitan-ag Creek

Field/Area % OM % P ppm

% K ppm

pH

A. Tierra del Puerto Creek Bed Site (Upstream)

3.7 Medium 87 High 500++ Sufficient 6.78

B. Tierra del Puerto Creek Bank Site (Upstream)

0.8 Low 32 High 360 Sufficient 6.81

C. Tierra del Puerto Creek Side, 1m from Water (Upstream)

0.3 Low 26 Medium 320 Sufficient 6.99

D. Tipolohon Site, Creek Bed (Upstream)

0.6 Low 5 Low 200 Deficient 7.34

E. Dongallo Hilltop Area Creek Bank – Culbert (Midstream)

2.7 Medium 22 Medium 139 Deficient 7.12

F. Tipolohon Site, Creek Bank (Upstream)

1.2 Low 15 Medium 616 Sufficient 7.17

G. Tipolohon (Upstream) 2.9 Medium 36 High 413 Sufficient 6.91

H. Dongallo Hilltop Area Creek Bed (Midstream)

2.2 Medium 77 High 500++ Sufficient 7.36

Source: Bureau of Soils Region X, August 2006

Tree Profile Diagrams Upperstream of Bitan-ag Creek

Distribution of Trees Species

5

20

0 10

Acalypa amentacaeae

Polyschias nodosa

Ficus minahassae

Artocarpus odoratissimus

Cocos nucifera

Bambusa sp.

Coffea arabica

Sandoricum koetjape

Mangefera indica

Artocarpus blancoi

Ficus septica

Legend

Spathodea campanulata

Tree Profile Diagrams Middle Stream of Bitan-ag Creek

Distribution of Tree Species

5

20

0

10

Pterocarpus indicus

Intsia bijuga

Canarium sp.

Artocarpus odoratissimus

Cocos nucifera

Bambusa sp.

Coffea arabica

Sandoricum koetjape

Mangefera indica

Artocarpus blancoi

Ficus septica

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. B. Pleurosigma navicilaceum Gomphonema sp 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

Chodatella sp.

Gomphonema sp

Spyrogyra sp.

Pleurosigma navicilaceum

B. Phytoplankton Species Identified in the Middle Stream of Bitan-ag Creek

Gomphonema sp Clorococcum sp Nitzschia sp. Pediastrum duplex

Navicula sp. Unidentified sp Unidentified sp Nitzschia 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.

Pediastrum duplex

Clorococcus sp

Gomphonema sp

Nitzschia sp.

Navicula sp 1

Unidentified sp1

Unidentified sp2

Prorocentrum compressum

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

Microcystis aeruginosaChlorella sp Nitzschia sp Nostoc sp.

Prorocentrum compressum Pediastrum duplexPleurosigma falx

Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton Species in Agora (Lower stream)

Chlorella sp

Microcystis aeruginosa

Eunotia exigua

Nitzschia sp1

Nostoc sp.

Nitzschia sp2

Pleurosigma falx

Pleurosigma navicilaceum

Prorocentrum compressum

Unidentified sp

Nostoc sp Produced hepatotoxins (liver tumor causing substances). The presence of this Nizschia species, indicates that the water is polluted and eutrophic. Prorocentrum compressum toxic if algal bloom happen (red-tide causing dinoflagellate). Pediastrum duplex are pollutant-tolerant species.Pleurosigma falx are 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.

Ecological Implications:

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION

S

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.

CONCLUSION

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.

The trend of soil test analysis from middle stream going to upstream areas indicated that the soil along the Bitan-ag Creek generally showed a very good ranged of soil pH values from 6.78-7.36 (close to soil neutrality) which are appropriate to Agricultural and Cash crops. As such, the percentage organic matter or Nitrogen content is moderate, % Phosphorous is moderately high and % Potassium is sufficient. In terms of the downstream portions of the Bitan-ag Creek obviously, plant species are totally depleted due to high incidence of soil acidity.

The dynamics of agroforest species and watershed interactions could generally viewed on the dominance of floral and fauna species situated in the middlestream and upperstream of the Bitan-ag Creek. This implies that the sufficiency of water supply in the Bitan-ag environs creates higher incidence of biodiversity species distributions and richness.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

These findings recommend for immediate conservation and protection of species in the urban environment.

This recommends further study in the conduct of another phytoplankton analysis specifically on its abundance and distribution in the downstream affecting seasonal variations in light, temperature and nutrients.

It is recommended that Policies bearing Ecological Solid Waste Management Act / Republic Act 9003 should be implemented fully. Local residents, Barangay Captains and City Officials who are actors in the implementation of this policy should coordinate each other and unify common goals and objectives of Bitan-ag Creek Rehabilitation Program.

Periodic soil test analysis will be conducted.

In a nutshell, there is a need to strengthen coordination, linkages and cooperation of all programs and projects of City Government re: rehabilitation of watershed or Bitan-ag Creek including fund complementation and supplementation.

Mabuhay !

Salamat.