Mosaic interplay of floral diversity, soil properties, disturbance intensity and elevation in the riparian ecosystem under semi-subsistence agriculture of Cordillera Central Range, Northern Philippines

• Published in: Aquatic ecology 2023-09, Vol.57 (3), p.613-631
• Main Authors: Dulnuan, Minerva M., Napaldet, Jones T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural ecosystems; Agricultural industry; Agriculture; Biological diversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon content; Ecosystems; Endemic species; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Indigenous species; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Moisture effects; Nutrients; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Plant diversity; Plant species; Plants; Riparian land; Rivers; Sandy loam; Sandy soils; Soil acidity; Soil chemistry; Soil moisture; Soil nutrients; Soil pH; Soil properties; Soil texture; Soils; Species diversity; Subsistence agriculture; Texture; Water content
• ISSN: 1386-2588; 1573-5125
• DOI: 10.1007/s10452-023-10033-x

Agricultural activities are known to have significant implications on floral diversity and edaphic condition of riparian ecosystems but the data base to elucidate this phenomenon in the tropical semi-subsistence agriculture setting is insufficient. This study documented the floral diversity and edaphic conditions in the riparian zones of Amburayan River, Northern Philippines as exposed to varying intensities of agricultural activities. A total of 249 vascular plant species belonging to 200 genera and 74 families were documented. Greater agricultural disturbance resulted to lower indigenous and endemic species, lower overall species diversity, lower shrub and tree diversity, but higher herb diversity. In terms of edaphic factors, the soil pH ranges from moderately to slightly acidic (5.37–6.43) while soil texture ranges from loamy sand and sandy loam. The soil organic carbon is lowest in the intensely disturbed stations and highest in less disturbed stations while soil moisture content is significantly higher in the less disturbed stations than in intensely and moderately disturbed stations. Lastly, the soil nutrients, N, P and K range from 0.04–0.36 mg/kg, 4.13–64.90 mg/kg and 86.67 to 253.33 cmol/kg, respectively. The study found significant correlations between the soil condition, agricultural disturbances and floral diversity of Amburayan River. These findings illustrate for the first time in available literature the mosaic interplay of intensity of disturbance, elevation and soil properties with floral diversity in riparian ecosystem under a tropical semi-subsistence agriculture setting.