Jelimea S. Elicarte1 , Joey M. Aguire1,Madslan G. Abdulla1, Noraisa E. Salipada1 ,Jecelle Lou F. Alajas1Anwar M. Lingga1'2, Floriefe M. Gonzaga-Torino1
1College of Fisheries, Mindanao State University – Buug, Datu Panas, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay, 7009 Philippines., 2College of Fisheries, Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, Sanga Sanga, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi 7500, Philippines.
Email: noraisa.salipada@msubuug.edu.ph
ABSTRACT
Mangrove forests in the Philippines have lost nearly half of their original cover due to aquaculture expansion, logging, coastal development, and increasing climate-related pressures. Along Sibuguey Bay—including the municipality of Roseller T. Lim—mangroves face similar threats, yet baseline ecological assessments remain limited. The absence of such data constrains the development of targeted conservation and rehabilitation strategies. This study evaluated the species composition, abundance, diversity, vegetation structure, and habitat condition of mangroves in R.T. Lim using line transects established across three stations, each with five 10 × 10 m quadrats. A total of twelve species belonging to six families were recorded, with the Rhizophoraceae family contributing the largest share (55.03%). Rhizophora apiculata was identified as the most dominant species, exhibiting the highest relative abundance (22.1%) and importance value index. The Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′ = 2.20) indicated moderate diversity, while habitat assessments revealed a mean crown cover of 59.51%, an average tree height of 3.80 m, and a regeneration rate of 2.16 seedlings per m²—attributes that classify the forest as being in “good” ecological condition. Overall, the findings suggest that the mangrove forest in R.T. Lim is structurally stable but ecologically skewed toward a few dominant species, reflecting both historical disturbances and previous reforestation efforts. These baseline data provide a critical foundation for biodiversity-oriented rehabilitation and adaptive management interventions aimed at strengthening mangrove resilience in the municipality.
Keywords: Species richness, Relative Abundance, Species diversity Index, Mangrove assessment, Sibuguey Bay.