5/20/2010

REGENERATION DYNAMICS OF
FOREST TREES IN PERMANENT FIELD
LABORATORY AREAS AT MT.
MAKILING FOREST RESERVE

by

A.C. Luna, N.M. Pampolina & B.A. Punzalan

PFLAs in Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve

 Established as venues for gathering
data in order that the dynamics of
forest ecosystem may be better
understood

 Gathered data from PFLAs will help

the College become more effective
in forest and natural resources
instruction, research and
management

 PFLAs is a realization of the long-

term objective of the College to use
MFR as a training laboratory for
graduates of forest and natural
resources management

 As envisioned, appropriate
laboratory exercises will be
conducted in these PFLAs

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Mt Makiling • located 14°08 N

́ , 121° 11 E
́
Forest Reserve
Luzon Island • 65 km southeast of M.M.
4,244 hectares
Established 1910
 • highest peak at 1090 m asl

Average annual rainfall of 239.7 cm

Temperature is 25.5oC to 27.5oC

Climate is tropical monsoon, two pronounced

seasons, wet from May to December and dry
from January to April.

Soil is clay loam, derived from basalt and

andesite

Mt. Makiling Forest

Saran Reserve
Pansol
Dampalit
Tigbi Molawin
Puting
Maitim
Lupa
Sipit
Salusan
Cambantoc
Kabaong
Pangaw

CFNR Admin.

MCME CFNR Campus

PFLA 1

PFLA 2
PFLA 3

Location of Permanent Field Laboratory Area (PFLA) in MFR

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Objectives of the project

General Objective:
 Monitor the forest dynamics of PFLA in Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve,
including the demographic characterization of major component tree
species.
Specific Objectives:
 Characterize the structure, composition, and mechanisms that
explain the species diversity in PFLA.

 Analyze regeneration traits of major component tree species by

studying survival of wildlings and sapling.

 Evaluate micro-environmental factors that affects regeneration and

successional patterns in PFLA; and

 Recommends ecological and silvicultural approaches for sustainable

management of PFLA.

Materials and Methods

Site selection and identification
of main component trees
 Criteria: maturity of the stand,
topography, elevation, and
accessibility

 Main component trees are those of

which importance values (IV)
belongs to top ten highest values

 Species were already matured and

produced regenerations in the area

 Described in term of species,

height, diameter at breast height
(DBH), plant diversity, and
phenology (eg. flowering and
fruiting)

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Establishments of sampling plots and regeneration plots

 A permanent plot of three 1-ha

was surveyed and gridded

 For the investigation on seedling

demography, 12 regeneration
quadrats (2m x 3m) were
established, seedlings were
identified and measured for
height and root collar diameter

 Succession of regenerants on
the forest floor was monitored,
including their growth and
survival

Comparative description of the PFLAs in MFR

PLFA Size of Watersh Toporaphy Elevation Vegetation Accessibility

Initial ed Area (m asl)
Plot

1 1 ha. Molawin Steep slope 160 natural 5 minute walk from CFNR
secondary Forest Science Building
forest

2 1 ha. Maitim Moderate to 260-265 natural 15 to 20 minute walk from

steep secondary PFLA No.1
forest

3 1 ha. Maitim rolling 270 core area is 100 m away from PFLA No. 2
topography a 70-year old
mahogany
plantation

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PFLA 1
MFR

PFLA 3 PFLA 2

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Litterfall collection and production

 Litter was collected at

interval of one month from
August 2006 to July 2007
using 0.5 m2 traps

 Sampled litters were sorted

separately into leaf and non-
leaf part and then placed in
properly labeled paper bags
and oven-dried for 48 hours
at 700C

 Total litter was obtained by

adding their weights and
expressed in g m2

Litter decomposition
The litter bag technique was used
to monitor the rate of leaf litter
decomposition, using a 20 x 20 cm
litter bag with mesh of 1.5 mm

Approximately 15 grams of leaf

litter were placed in every bag

The rate of decomposition was

expressed as percent loss in initial
weight over oven-dry weight

Monthly change in weight was

monitored and determined

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Monitoring of microclimate
 Environmental factors like, light
intensity, relative humidity, and
air temperature were quarterly
measured and recorded.

 The amount of light intensity in

lux was determined using a light
meter.

 The digital thermohygrometer

was used to measure the relative
humidity and air temperature.

 These environmental factors will

be correlated with the possible
influence on seedling growth,
survival of the regenerations,
and volume of litterfall.

Results and Discussion

 Basic structure and composition

140 122
120
97 96
100 87
78 Family
Number

80 63
Genera
60 42 38 Species
40 31
20
0
PFLA 1 PFLA 2 PFLA 3
PFLA

PFLA site- dominated by Celtidaceae, Meliaceae and Tiliaceae

Tallest trees recorded is narra (49.8m) and biggest dbh in kanapai (171 cm)

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Population structure dynamics of main component trees in PFLA 1

Mean Density BA RD Rdom RF IV
Species
DBH (ha-1) (m2 ha-1) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Celtis luzonica 9.7 108 0.79 11.0 3.2 11.0 25.2
Swietenia macrophylla 11.2 103 1.02 10.5 4.1 10.5 25.1
Parashorea malanonan 33.9 24 2.16 2.4 8.7 2.4 13.6
Triplaris cumingianus 5.5 71 0.17 7.2 .7 7.2 15.1
Pometia pinnata 20.3 33 1.07 3.4 4.3 3.4 11.0
Pterocarpus indicus 28.4 23 1.46 2.3 5.9 2.3 10.6
Strombosia philippense 11.0 37 0.35 3.8 1.4 3.8 9.0
Diplodiscus paniculatus 19.4 27 0.79 2.7 3.2 2.7 8.7
Pouteria duclitan 16.2 28 0.57 2.9 2.3 2.9 8.0
Knema glomerata 11.0 32 0.30 3.3 1.2 3.3 7.7
Stand density (ha-1) 984

Total basal area (m2 ha-1) 24.9

IV provide an overall estimate of the influence or importance of tree species in a community

Summary of survival rate by species of regenerants in PFLA 2

# of # of
seedlings seedlings Survival
Species
rate (%)
8/1/2006 12/1/2006

Celtis luzonica 33 31 93.94

Strombosia philippinensis 27 24 88.89
Diplodiscus paniculatus 5 5 100.00
Swietenia macrophylla 2 2 100.00
Papulathia lanceolata 2 1 50.00
Aglaia iloilo 1 1 100.00
Nephelium mutabile 1 1 100.00
Palaquium philippense 1 1 100.00
Aglaia diffusa 1 1 100.00
Drypetes maquilingesis 1 1 100.00
Total 82 85 92.39

Mortality of old regenerations was compensated by the number of new

regenerations although not of the same species.

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Summary of survival rate by species of regenerants in PFLA 3

# of # of
seedlings seedlings Survival
Species
rate (%)
8/1/2006 12/1/2006
Swietenia macrophylla 240 162 67.50
Strombosia philippinensis 33 30 90.91
Artocarpus ovata 5 5 100.00
Diospyros pilosanthera 3 3 100.00
Streblus asper 2 2 100.00
Garcinia biunucao 2 2 100.00
Parashorea malaanonan 2 2 100.00
Ficus nota 1 1 100.00
Aglaia diffusa 1 1 100.00
Neotrewia cumingii 1 1 100.00
Artocarpus blancoi 1 1 100.00
Spathodea campanulata 1 1 100.00
Total 293 212 72.35
Mahogany seedling were present in all PFLA sites because nearest potential mother trees
were located in all plots. Mahogany seeds are wind dispersed thus they can travel several
meters before reaching the ground for germination

Distribution of seedling height of PFLA sites in Mt. Makiling.

300

250

200

PFLA1
Number

150
PFLA2
PFLA3

100

50

0
0-50 50-100 1-300 above 300

Height (cm)
Most of seedling height were distributed from 0-50cm. Showed
typical reverse-J-shape

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Distibution of seedling root collar diameter of PFLA sites in Mt. Makiling.

300

250

200

PFLA1
Number

150
PFLA2
PFLA3

100

50

0
1-10mm 10-20mm 20-30mm above 30mm

Diameter (mm)

Seedling root collar diameters concentrated on 1-10 mm. Pattern

showed typical reverse-J-shape.

Litterfall production in the PFLA sites

(Values in italics represent percentages of each litter components)
Leaf Non-Leaf Total
Site
(g m2 yr-1) (g m2 yr-1) (g m2 yr-1)

PFLA 1 992 (75.95) 314 (24.04) 1306

PFLA 2 1254 (80.49) 304 (19.51) 1558

PFLA 3 981 (75.57) 317 (24.42) 1298

Leaf litter constituted 76%-80%, while non-leaf ranged from 19-24% of the total
litterfall.
Non-leaf part was higher PFLA 3 maybe because of bigger biomass prod’n of
mahogany plantation.
In contrast of Cuevas and Sajise that mature trees produced 3 x more than the
young trees.

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300

250

200
Litterfall (g/m2/yr)

150
PFLA 1
PFLA 2
PFLA 3
100

50

0
September November January, 2007 March May July
August, 2006 October December February April June

Seasonal variation in leaf litterfall in the PFLA sites in Mt. Makiling. Month

Two peaks of litterfall, dry season (Jan-April) and start rainy season (September),
much higher in dry season.
Highest in Feb/March for PFLA 3 because trees shed their leaves and maybe due
to water stress and maturity of leaves.

100

90

80

70
PFLA 1
PFLA 2
60
PFLA 3
Litterfall (g/m2/yr)

50

40

30

20

10

0
September November January, 2007 March May July
August, 2006 October December February April June
Seasonal variation in non-leaf litterfallMonth
in the PFLA sites in
Mt. Makiling.

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350

300

250

200
Litterfall (g/m2/yr)

PFLA 1
150 PFLA 2
PFLA 3

100

50

Seasonal variation in total litterfall in the PFLA sites in

Mt.
0
Makiling.
September November January, 2007 March May July
August, 2006 October December February April June

Month

Litter decomposition (remaining weights in litter bag)

16.00

14.00

12.00

10.00
Weight loss (g)

8.00
PFLA 1
PFLA 2
6.00 PFLA 3

4.00

2.00

0.00
October December February April June August
September, 2006 November January, 2007 March May July

Month

Litter loss weight continuously as it stays longer on the soil.

Analysis will be conducted whether the rate of litter decay varied in PFLA sites.

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Problem encountered and recommendations

1. Frequent loss of littertaps.

2. There are certain tree species whose seedlings are difficult to identify
in the field.

3. Regeneration surveys should be conducted annually for several

years following any type of treatment to closely monitor changes in
population structure.

4. If seedling densities continue to drop or productivity declines or

trees start to dies, some form of remedial treatment should be
initiated:

* enrichment planting for enhancing the seedling abundance of

a valuable species

* selective weeding to increased survival and growth of young

plants and decreases the competition at ground level

*cutting and removing woody vines from the crowns of adult

trees

Acknowledgments

 UP Los Baños - College of Forestry and Natural

Resources

 Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

 Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and

Natural Resources Research and Development
(PCARRD)

 UPLB Basic Research Program

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