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ISSN: 2287-688X Annals of Plant Sciences Volume 9, Issue 8 (2020) pp. 3957 - 3969 Research Article Distribution of Bryophytes in the University of the Philippines- Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Ericka Jane A. Angeles*, Monaliza B. Magat, Ryan Sherwin D. Jalandoni Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Philippines. Abstract: This study was conducted to document the bryophyte species composition and the effects of different environmental factors at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, a campus in an urban area. A total of 11 species of bryophytes were identified which includes nine species of mosses and two species of liverworts. Among the species observed, Hyophila involuta (Hook.) A. Jaeger and Taxithelium instratum (Brid.) Broth. were found to be widely distributed across sites. On the other hand, Meiothecium microcarpum, Cyathodium foetidissimum Schiffn. and Vesicularia montagnei (Bel.) were rarely found. Species composition is relatively small compared to the previous surveys conducted in high altitude and moist environments. It was suggested that aside from habitats, other factors such as current disturbance events and the presence of specific tree species may contribute more to the bryophyte species composition in the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus. Keywords: Bryophytes; moss; liverwort; Philippines. Introduction Bryophytes are the nonvascular cryptogams other plants through their ability to trap and the second largest group of green plants moisture and windblown organic debris (Deora following angiosperms (Deora and Deora, and Deora, 2017). Furthermore, bryophytes also 2017). Currently, this group of plants includes play a significant role as biological indicators of approximately 24,000 species worldwide air pollution since these groups are vulnerable having three separate divisions, namely: Bryo- to the changes in their environment and thus, phyta (mosses) with 15,000 species, Mar- they can serve as a model system for researches chantiophyta (liverworts) with 8,500 species, concerning climate change. Their potential to be and Anthocerophyta (hornworts) with approxi- used as indicators of air quality arises from mately 300 species (Azuelo et al., 2011). their ability to accumulate heavy metals by atmospheric deposition. Few species play a Bryophytes are shade and moist-loving plants ‘keystone’ role in the cycling of minerals, and are said to successfully exploit many regulation of microclimate in the forest canopy, habitats because they are rarely in competition and in providing food and habitat for different with higher plants (Deora and Deora, 2017). invertebrates (Shevock et al., 2014; Sabovljevic These plants tend to be more abundant in and Sabovljevic, 2009). Moreover, they keep the humid climates and their diversity often dynamics of understory vegetation, the stability corresponds with habitat diversity (Hallingback of soil structure as well as the interception and and Hodgetts, 2000). These plants have a retention of water (Shaw and Goffinet, 2000; significant role in the function of the ecosystem Azuelo et al., 2010). as the first colonizers of different varieties of habitats (Alam et al., 2011). Some are effective As a tropical country, the Philippines provides soil binders which prepare areas suitable for environments conducive to the growth of bryo- *Corresponding Author: Ericka Jane A. Angeles E-mail: [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.21746/aps.2020.9.8.1 Page | 3957 Angeles et al., Annals of Plant Sciences 9.8 (2020) pp. 3957-3969 phytes. But, to date, still very few scientists and The study site (Figure 1) was divided into five researchers have taken interest in the study of land use zones: (1) academic zone, (2) protected bryological species and vegetation (del Rosario, area, (3) central campus core, (4) parks and 1979), especially the dearth of information open spaces, and (5) residential and mixed-use regarding the relationship of these plants with zones (Espina and Espina, 2013). the unique environmental conditions prevailing Field sampling at various ecological zones of the country All plots used in the study have dimensions of (Hipol et al., 2007). Most of the bryophyte 10m X 10m and were placed randomly within studies in the Philippines were conducted in the sampling sites. Bryophyte specimens were protected areas, parks or landscapes such as in collected from patches found within the area of Mt. Matumtum protected area in South the plot. Habitat type, air temperature, and Cotabato, Philippines (Azuelo et al., 2016); Mt. relative humidity of the sampling area were Kitanglad, Bukidnon (Azuelo et al., 2010), in recorded for each plot. The samples collected Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines (Car- were categorized into the following: (1) epiphy- reon et al., 2016) and in Kalikasan Park, Albay, tic, (2) rupestrian and chasmophytic, (3) reo- Philippines (Salvador-Membreve et al., 2019). philic, and (4) terrestrian. Reophilic species are More specifically, there are only a few studies those which thrive in areas with flowing water of bryophytes focusing on the urban species or near water. Rupestrian and chasmophytic (Sabovljevic and Sabovljevic, 2009). Since species thrive in either wet, shaded, sunny and mosses are unlikely to be artificially introduced dry concrete, mortar, tiles, bricks, limestone, in an ecosystem, this makes them the perfect acidic rocks, and walls. Terrestrian species species to be used as indicators of the true grow in sunny, dry, humid, and nitrified soil. stature of the environment (Hipol et al., 2007). Epiphytic bryophytes are those found on the Studying bryophyte species in urban areas is bases or trunks of trees (Sabovljevic and essential because of the unique habitats urba- Sabovljevic, 2009). nized areas provide, and the species take roles in improving air quality (Sabovljevic and Collection and identification of bryophytes Sabovljevic, 2009). Thus, this study aims to Freshly collected samples were obtained from document the bryophyte species present in an February to April 2019 at 7:00 to 10:00 AM. The urban landscape at the University of Philip- samples were collected carefully with the aid of pines - Diliman campus and to identify the a sharp-edged blade. Samples were placed into environmental factors affecting their occur- a folder paper pocket with field label data rence. Moreover, this study seeks to find out if including the ecological features of the area. the campus, which is situated in an urban area The samples were then placed in a plastic con- can provide various habitats that can support tainer during transport and further collection of different species of bryophytes. other samples in the field. Two to three dupli- cates were collected, avoiding the removal of Materials and Methods the 10% of the population from the substrate as Study site indicated by Shevock et al., (2014). The study was conducted within the University of the Philippines - Diliman (14°39'14.0"N 121° In situ species differentiation of specimens was 04'06.6"E), with a total area of 493 hectares done by scanning the morphological charac- within an urban area in Quezon City, Metro teristics such as leaf arrangement, sporophyte Manila, Philippines (Ong et al., 1999). characteristics, and stem structure using a hand Page | 3958 Angeles et al., Annals of Plant Sciences 9.8 (2020) pp. 3957-3969 lens. Initial species identification was done Environmental variables based on the key of Bartram (1939) and was The habitat types of the bryophyte species were sent to a tropical bryophyte expert for verifica- listed in Table 3 and the distribution of bryo- tion. Morphological characteristics were viewed phytes sampled according to their habitat was under a dissecting microscope for a more detai- illustrated in Figure 2. The most common led examination. Various relevant literatures species found were epiphytic, rupestrian and were consulted for final identification work chasmophytic bryophytes and the most com- including Tan et al., (2000), Ramsay et al., (2002), mon substrates recorded were tree trunks, and Duckkett and Ligrone (2006). concrete, and rocks. Data processing The CCA triplot (Figure 3) demonstrates the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was relationships that occur between the environ- performed to determine the relationship bet- mental variables recorded and the correspond- ween the species incidence (presence or ding correlation with species occurrence. The absence) data and the environmental variables orientation of an environmental arrow from the (Carchini et al., 2007). To incorporate the habitat origin indicates the direction of the maximum types where the bryophytes were found in the increase of values of a variable. Acute angles CCA ordination, categorical data were trans- formed between environmental arrows indicate formed by creating four variables, namely: (1) a positive correlation, while obtuse angles indi- epiphytic, (2) rupestrian and chasmophytic, (3) cate a negative correlation. The species cen- reophilic, and (4) terrestrian. For every sample troids (dots) are plotted near the sites where plot, a value of 1 was given to the habitat type they are most likely to be found (terBraak and where a species was found and 0 to the rest Verdonschot, 1995). (Greenacre, 2013; Ramette, 2007). The values of The arrow for the variable Epiphytic indicates these variables were plotted as environmental the direction of the increasing number of sam- arrows to generate a plot with an eigenvalue of pled epiphytic bryophytes

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