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.
Specific Objectives:
 Assess the diversity of agroforest landscape
ecosystem species in the watershed and their
ecological uses, status and economic importance.
 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
Fig. 1. Bitan-ag Creek
Research Sites
Agora(Downstream)
Limketkai &
MPSC
Tierra del Puerto, Maria Reyna
Hospl.(Midstream
Camaman-an (upstream)
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.
Standard protocols in taking Floral Diversity
Richness
20.0 meter
10.0 meter
Quadrant / Plot Sampling
Collection of Ecological data
Establishment of the 20x10 m plot
Collection of specimens
Process/Procedures in Taking Plankton
Analysis
1. Sample Collection (Grab Sampling)
Figure 3. Collection of water sample for plankton analysis
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.
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
Brief description of the middlestream of
the Bitan-ag Creek (Tierra Del Puerto):
 exposed, dried-up riverbeds with patches of shallow wells
that people used as a source of water in their homes
Brief description of the lower stream
(Agora) of the Bitan-ag Creek:
 domestic wastes are being disposed to the creek due to poor
sanitation
zero turbidity level
muddy
 kkjjh
Agroforest Species in
Bitan-ag Creek
a. Trees
Pterocarpus indicus
“Narra”
Endangered, Economically Important (lumber,
medicinal)
Terminalia catappa
“Talisay”
Economically Important (used for light
construction/ shading purpose)
Ficus septica
Hauili
Medicinal, water indicator
Artocarpus blancoi
Antipolo
Endemic, Economically Important (lumber)
Cananga odorata Hook. F. & Thomson
Ilang-ilang
Endemic, Economically Important
Persia americana
“Avocado”
Economically Important
Gmelina arborea
Gemelina
Economically Important (lumber)
Bixa orellana
Atswete
Economically Important (Food Coloring)
b. Shrubs
Jatropha sp.
Tuba-tuba, Kasla
Medicinal and potential source of
biodiesel
Resinus communis
Castor bean
Source of biodiesel
Theobroma cacao
Cacao
Economically Important
Moringa citrifolia
Bankoro
Medicinal, Economically Important
c. Herbs
Iresini hersbtii
Dugo-dugoan
Ornamental, Medicinal
Lantana camara
Baho-baho
Ornamental
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
d. Vines
Calamus merrrilii
Rattan
Endemic, Endangered Economically Important
(furniture making)
Pandanus cubicus Pandan
Pandan Ornamental, use for
basket making
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. Trees
Crysophyllum cainito
Sandoricum koetjape
Ficus septica Burm. F.
Ficus sp.
Ficus minahassae
Ficus pseudopalma
Acalypa amentacaeae
Muntingia calabura
Cananga odorata
Spathodea campanulata.
Persia americana
Artocarpus blancoi
Legend: + present
- absent
Caimeto
Santol
Baliti
Bogus
Datiles
Ilang-ilang
African tulip
Avocado
Antipolo
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Continuation …..Table 1
SPECIES
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Cocus nucifera
Polyschias nodosa
Pterocarpus indicus
Macaranga bicolor
Bambusa sp.
Mangifera indica
Laportea sp.
Pinanga sp.
Canna sp.
COMMON
NAME
Langka
Lubi
Malapapaya
Narra
Macaranga
Kawayan
Mangga
Alingatong
Palm
Centennial plant
B. Shrubs
Morinda cetriifolia
Melanolepis multiglandulosa
Ficus cumingii
Psidium guajava
Sterculia sp.
Bauhinia malabarica
Coffea arabica
Legend: + present
- absent
Bangkoro
Alim
Baliti
Bayabas
Tambalau
Kape
UPPER
STREAM
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
MIDDLE
STREAM
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
Continuation …..Table 1
SPECIES
COMMON
NAME
UPPER
STREAM
MIDDLE
STREAM
C. Herbs
Chromolaena odorata
Iresini herbstii
Memusa pudica
Lantana camara
Amaranthos speciousos
Corchorus acutangulus
Hagonoy
Dugo-dugoan
Makahiya
Baho-baho
Kolites
Saloyot
+
+
+
+
-
+
+
+
+
+
+
Nito
Maiden hair
fern
+
+
-
+
Pandan
Pandan
Oway
+
+
+
-
Total: 35
Total: 30
D. Ferns
Lygodium circinnatum
Pneumatopteris nitidula
Adiantum capillusvebeneris
E. Vines
Pandanus sp.
Pandanus cubicus
Calamus ornatus
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
Economically important
Economically important
Water indicator
Water indicator
Water indicator
Water indicator
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Endemic
Common
Common
Endemic
Common
A. Trees
Crysophyllum cainito
Sandoricum koetjape
Ficus septica Burm. F.
Ficus sp.
Ficus minahassae
Ficus pseudopalma
Acalypa amentacaeae
Muntingia calabura
Cananga odorata
Spathodea campanulata.
Persia americana
Artocarpus blancoi
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Caimeto
Santol
Baliti
Bogus
Datiles
Ilang-ilang
African tulip
Avocado
Antipolo
Langka
Wildlife food
Medicinal
Medicinal
Economically important
Lumber and Furniture
Economically important
Cont. Table 2.
SPECIES
Cocus nucifera
Polyschias nodosa
Pterocarpus indicus
Macaranga bicolor
Bambusa sp.
Mangifera indica
Laportea sp.
Pinanga sp.
Canna sp.
COMMON
NAME
ECOLOGICAL USES
Lubi
Malapapaya
Narra
Economically important
Kawayan
Mangga
Alingatong
Palm
Centennial plant
Economically important
Economically important
Wildlife food
Ornamental
Ornamental
Bangkoro
Alim
Medicinal
Economically important
Economically important
Lumber and furniture
Ornamental
Economically important
Economically important
ECOLOGICAL
STATUS
Common
Common
Common
Endemic
Common
Common
Rare
Common
Common
B. Shrubs
Morinda cetriifolia
Melanolepis
multiglandulosa
Ficus cumingii
Psidium guajava
Sterculia sp.
Bauhinia malabarica
Coffea arabica
Baliti
Bayabas
Tambalau
Kape
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Ornamental
Common
Cont. Table 2.
SPECIES
COMMON
NAME
ECOLOGICAL USES
ECOLOGICAL
STATUS
Hagonoy
Dugo-dugoan
Makahiya
Baho-baho
Kolites
Saloyot
Medicinal
Medicinal &
ornamental
Ornamental
Edible
Edible, medicinal
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Nito
For handicraft making
Rare
Pandan
Pandan
Oway
Food flavoring
For basket and mat
making
For furniture
Common
Common
Depleted,
endemic
C. Herbs
Chromolaena odorata
Iresini herbstii
Memusa pudica
Lantana camara
Amaranthos speciousos
Corchorus acutangulus
D. Ferns
Lygodium circinnatum
Pneumatopteris nitidula
E. Vines
Pandanus sp.
Pandanus cubicus
Calamus ornatus
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
2.7 Medium
22 Medium
139 Deficient
7.12
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
E. Dongallo Hilltop Area Creek Bank
– Culbert (Midstream)
F. Tipolohon Site, Creek Bank
(Upstream)
Source: Bureau of Soils Region X, August 2006
Tree Profile Diagrams Upperstream of
Bitan-ag Creek
20
Ficus septica
Artocarpus blancoi
Sandoricum koetjape
Coffea arabica
0
5
10
Bambusa sp.
Mangefera indica
Cocos nucifera
Artocarpus odoratissimus
Ficus minahassae
Acalypa amentacaeae
Polyschias nodosa
Spathodea campanulata
Distribution of Trees Species
Legend
Tree Profile Diagrams Middle Stream of
Bitan-ag Creek
20
Ficus septica
Artocarpus blancoi
Sandoricum koetjape
Coffea arabica
0
5
10
Bambusa sp.
Mangefera indica
Cocos nucifera
Distribution of Tree Species
Artocarpus odoratissimus
Intsia bijuga
Canarium sp.
Pterocarpus indicus
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
Navicula sp.
Clorococcum sp
Unidentified sp
Pediastrum duplex
Unidentified sp
Nitzschia 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.
Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton Species in
Middle Stream of the Bitan-ag Creek
Pediastrum duplex
Clorococcus sp
Gomphonema sp
Nitzschia sp.
Navicula sp 1
Unidentified sp1
Unidentified sp2
Prorocentrum compressum
B. Phytoplankton Species Identified in
the Lower Stream of Bitan-ag Creek
Chlorella sp
Microcystis aeruginosa
Prorocentrum compressum
Pleurosigma falx
Nitzschia sp
Nostoc sp.
Pediastrum duplex
Ecological Implications:
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.
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
CONCLUSION &
RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSION
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.
The composition, population, abundance and
distribution of plankton/phytoplankton as bioindicator 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.
Periodic soil test analysis will be conducted.
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.
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.