Distribution of Herb and Shrub Angiosperm Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Salacafe, Mt. Parker, T'boli, South Cotabato

This study entitled Distribution of Herb and Shrub Angiosperm Along An Altitudinal Gradient in Salacafe, Mt. Parker, was conducted in T'boli, South Cotabato. This aimed at determining and describing the distribution and diversity of angiosperm species in Mt. Parker. The study was done with the use of the belt-transect method, with each transect established at three different zones: the lowlands, the mid-montane and the peak. Diversity parameters were determined in the analyses of data. Such parameters included density, frequency and dominance. The Shannon-Weaver Index of Diversity was used to determine the species diversity of the angiosperms in the different zones. Results revealed that the lowlands had the most number of individuals (837), followed by the peak (831), and the mid-montane (695). Thirty-four different genera of plants were found existent in the different zones studied. However, there are five unidentified species of plants that were reported to exist in the zones, namely; the Begonia sp., Episcia sp., Misetia sp., Nepenthes sp., and Spathoglottis sp. Also present in the zones are the very abundant lowland species Impatiens montalbanica, the dominant mid-montane species, Crotalaria incana and Tithonia diversifolia. The angiosperm species in the different zones were also variable based on frequency, abundance and dominance. Species Diversity Index revealed that the lowland is the most-diverse (2.69), followed by the mid-montane (2.59), and the peak (2.26). From all accounts, Crotalaria incana, Homalomena sp., Hyptis capitata, and Sarcandra glabra were found to exist in all the three zones.