Baseline Survey of Lichen Flora in the Montane Forests of Mt. Mayo Range, Tarragona, Davao Oriental
Roland Odelmo Tacan | Princes Luise Dela Tina-Picaza | Sheryl Rose Joy Leysa-Yama | Nelmmy Cardinas
Discipline: Forestry and Arboriculture
Abstract:
This study presents a baseline survey of lichen flora in the montane forests of Mt. Mayo Range, Tarragona, Davao
Oriental, an understudied region in southeastern Mindanao, Philippines. Lichens, known bioindicators and key
ecological contributors, are increasingly threatened by deforestation and climate variability, yet little is known about
their distribution in many Philippine montane ecosystems. Using a transect walk sampling method, 54 lichen
specimens were collected, of which 16 species were identified across 7 families and 11 genera, indicating moderate
species richness. Lobariaceae and Parmeliaceae showed the highest genus richness (3 genera each), while Physciaceae
exhibited the greatest species count within a single genus (4 species), suggesting adaptability and ecological resilience.
Diversity indices—Shannon (H = 1.787), Simpson’s dominance (D = 0.188), and Evenness (E = 0.918)— revealed a
moderately diverse and balanced community structure. These results highlight the ecological stability of Mt. Mayo's
montane habitat and its potential for hosting diverse lichen communities. This initial inventory fills a critical data gap
and underscores the need for extended lichenological surveys and conservation strategies across Mindanao’s
unexplored forest ecosystems. The findings provide foundational data for future ecological assessments, conservation
planning, and possible ethnobotanical applications of lichens known for their bioactive compounds.
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