Mangroves Community Structure and Growth Parameters in Silo-Siloan Islet, Clarin, Bohol, Philippines

Mangrove play a dynamic role in a marine ecosystem. Mangroves growth and community structure are important to determine the status of a mangrove forest. In this study, the distribution, growth parameters like girth at breast height, height, and crown, relative density, and frequency of mangroves were determined. The study used a line transect with 10x10 meter plots laid depending on the extent of mangrove cover. This was conducted in Silo-siloan islet, Clarin Bohol. The result of the study showed that there were six mangrove species identified namely: Aegiceras floridum, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora stylosa, and Sonneratia alba. In transect 1, highest distribution was observed in Rhizophora mucronata with 63% while in transect 2, Sonneratia alba with 59%. Average size of the mangroves has an average trunk of 32 cm. This can be attributed to the presence of large girths of Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia alba trees. The grand mean of these mangroves is 23.024 among the five plots. Result showed that highest relative density and relative frequency were significantly observed in Sonneratia alba and Rhizophora mucronata in all plots. The conservation site considered to have a dense area of this two species.