Biology of Tropical Forest Plants PDF

Forest formations and growth forms Tropical Lowland Evergreen Rainforest (lowland evergreen) Most luxuriant of all plant communities Typical tropical rainforest formation in the Philippines Tall, dense, evergreen forest to 45 m Three strata or canopy layers (top-emergent - Dipterocarpaceae; ma...

Forest formations and growth forms Tropical Lowland Evergreen Rainforest (lowland evergreen) Most luxuriant of all plant communities Typical tropical rainforest formation in the Philippines Tall, dense, evergreen forest to 45 m Three strata or canopy layers (top-emergent - Dipterocarpaceae; main stratum at about 24-36; smaller trees and saplings) occurs from coastal flats up to c. 900-1100 m altitude 3  Characteristics of vegetation: rich in tree flora, with buttresses, cauliflory, ramiflory, pinnate leaves, lamina of mesophyl size, woody vines or lianas are frequent vascular epiphytes are occasional to frequent 4  Characteristics of vegetation: rich in tree flora, with buttresses, cauliflory, ramiflory, pinnate leaves, lamina of mesophyl size, woody vines or lianas are frequent vascular epiphytes are occasional to frequent 5 Natural patch of Malabayabas Forest (Tristaniopsis decorticata) in the Quezon Protected Landscape Credit: Lerma SJ. Maldia 6 Tropical Upper Montane Rainforest (upper montane) Mossy forest (abundance of mosses and liverworts that cover the branches and trunks) Occurs on mountains above c. 1,000 m, with the upper Fernando et al. limit varying depending on 2008. the locality, size and height of the mountain Topography is often rough with steep ridges and ravines  Increase in cloudiness and climatic conditions are very moist and strong winds are frequent, hence, the mossy condition and dwarfed, crooked trees are characteristics of this formation Trees irregularly shaped and often only 10 m tall or less, rarely 20 m, with gnarled, slender stems and dense, broccoli-like subcrowns composed of twigs with shot internodes. Canopy more or less flat on the surface Tree fern: Genus Cyathea  Mt Banahaw (2,300 m) tallest tree reaches 14 m tall with many tending to lean downslope Mt Makiling – 6-8 m tall with dense covering of moss, ferns and other epiphytes Mt Data (2,200 m) – only small patches of upper montane remains, many are converted to commercial vegetable farms Fernando et al. 2008 Tropical Subalpine Forest also includes pine type forest transition of upper montane to tropical subalpine is through a gradual ecotone, thus, no general qualitative differences in the physiognomy between these two formations Stature remains short or becomes shorter; forest canopy becomes more open, leaf sizes become smaller (nanophylls); bryophytes cover and epiphytes become more sparse Many nanophylly shrubby species Tropical Subalpine Forest (subalpine) Mt Halcon (2,582 m) –summit vegetation and floristic assemblages are similar to the subalpine vegetation of Mt Kinabalu and Mt Withelm Tallest tree is up to 6 m only Elements of subalpine forest may be present in Mt Pulag (2,880 m), Mt Mantalingahan (2,085 m), and elsewhere in Fernando et al. 2008 Mindanao Forest over ultramafic Photos: E.S. Fernando  Home of Philippine ironwoods (a) X. bracteatus (CR) (b) X. fruticosus (CR) (c) X. philippinensis (CR) (d) X. speciosus (VU) Sierra Madre a ‘Mapilig’ b Mangkono c Bagoadlau (e) X. verdugonianus (E) a b c d e d Malapiga e Mangkono Photos by: Pastor L. Malabrigo, Jr. Forest over limestome Most limestone occur at lower elevations, some with unique vegetation, including forests, often with high endemism Structure varies depending on the site and physical habitat, from short stunted trees on exposed vertical cliffs up to 35 m tall in gentle slopes Molave type of forest are on limestone hills in region with seasonally dry climates Photo: LSJMaldia  This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Attribution: © Vyacheslav Argenberg / http://www.vascoplanet.com/ Forest is open, with few scattered large trees, usually with sprawling, climbing and small erect bamboos. Dominant trees are short-boled, irregular in form, with wide-spreading, often deciduous crown Beach Forest Beach forest formation forms a narrow strip of woodland along the sandy and gravelly beaches of the seacoast beyond the upper tidal limits. It can be bordered on its sides by limestones or other rocks, or it merges with the mangrove formation. Species of beach formation have fruits and seeds adapted for water dispersal Its composition is uniform throughout SE Asia, with many of the species pantropical in distribution. Mangrove forest Often referred to as the forest of the sea because it uniquely inhabits the tidal sea fringes, usually above the mean sea level in the intertidal zones of coastal marine environments and river estuaries. Trees have special adaptation that allows them to survive in the tidal wetland habitat; Tolerance to saline, unstable, water-logged oxygen-poor soils; Mangrove forest Buttresses, stilt or prop roots, knee roots, and pneumatophores for support and gas exchange are present;  Elaborate, large lenticels Water-bouyant propagules can survive dispersal by brackish and seawater for many weeks and over long distance Viviparous propagules – seeds germinated while attached to the parent tree Cryptoviviparous – seeds germinated while still attached to the parent tree but covered with intact fruit wall Nypa fruticans occur on inland edge of mangrove and upper tidal limit of estuaries especially along water courses. Credits: Upper and middle photos are from Fernando et al. 2008; Lower from Primavera et al. 2004  Peat is formed from waterlogged soils prevent dead leaves and wood from full decomposing, Peat Swamp forest which over time builds up into a thick layer of blackish substrate Occurs in areas where water table is higher than the surrounding areas, with peat often about 50 cm deep or more, acidic (pH=6) from rivers and streams with the water level fluctuating, allowing periodic drying of the soil surface. In some areas, the freshwater swamp formation may be flooded daily, or only a few days a month, or only seasonally.  The flora and structure of this formation may vary from only palms and pandans (Pandanus sp.), to low scrub with scattered trees, to forest dominated by a single species, or mixed freshwater swamp forest resembling a low evergreen rain forest. Some tree species may have stilt roots or plank buttresses. Known freshwater swamp forest; Leyte Sab-a Basin, Agusan Marsh, and Ligawasan Marsh Capture photos from Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu) is one Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Protected Area common species Management Office Main references Fernando, E.S.F., Suh M.H, Lee J., Lee D.K. 2008. Forest Formations of the Philippines. ASEAN –KOREA Environmental Cooperation Unit. Geo Book Publishing Co. Philippine Forestry Statistics 2017 Disclaimer: I do not own many photos in this presentation. The rightful owners of the illustrations are cited. Some photos are only borrowed for the sole purpose of academic learning. What is the tallest tree in the Philippines? Toog (Petersianthus quadrialatus) 5th tallest in the world TALLEST TREE IN THE WORLD Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 115.61 m WHAT IS THE WORLD’S OLDEST TREE? METHUSELAH TREE (Pinus longaeva) Great Basin bristlecone pine tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California 4845-year old