AAB BIOFLUX

Advances in Agriculture & Botanics-

International Journal of the Bioflux Society

Assessment of the riparian vegetation along the

riverine systems in Iligan City, Philippines
1
Annielyn D. Tampus, 1Ermelinda G. Tobias, 1Ruben F. Amparado, 2Lydia
M. Bajo, 3Astrid L. Sinco
1
Department of Biological Sciences, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City,
Philippines; 2 Department of Chemistry, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City,
Philippines; 3 Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.
Corresponding author: A. D. Tampus, [email protected]

Abstract. Riparian forests are forests which occur adjacent to streams, lakes and other surface waters.
Through the interaction of their soils, hydrology, and biotic communities, riparian forests protect and
improve water quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, support aquatic communities, and provide
many benefits to humans (Klapproth & Johnson 2009). A total of 32 species of plants belonging to 15
families were listed and identified along the riparian areas of Mandulog and Iligan City rivers.
Key Words: Riparian, vegetation, Mandulog River, Iligan River, riverine system.

Introduction. Riparian area or zone can be defined as an ecological complex, which is

directly adjacent to a water body including flood plains and wetlands (Parson 1991;
Walker 1993) and can also include intermittent streams which sometimes run with water
(Askey-Doran et al 1996). The area ranges from emergent aquatic and semi-aquatic
plants like terrestrial understorey and canopy species (Parson 1991). Riparian zones play
a role in the maintenance of stream and foreshore stability. It is an essentially dynamic
system, its path and flow constantly changes with time (Warner 1982). Moreover, the
presence of plants in riparian areas acts to reduce the rate of change in a particular area
and therefore it maintains a level of stability. Whereas, the removal of the naturally
occurring riparian vegetation leads to faster changes.
The word “riparian” comes from the Latin ripa, which means “bank,” referencing
the fact that the riparian zone begins at the banks of a natural course of rivers. Riparian
zones typically consist of vegetated corridors adjacent to stream channels which are
ecologically diverse and contribute to the health of aquatic ecosystems by filtering out
pollutants. These areas are considered effective natural barriers, which prevent
agricultural pollution from being exported and contaminating the larger ecosystem
(www.freedictionary.com).
Riparian vegetation indirectly influence the water quality of the adjacent water
body as it filters runoff, collect organic matter content, and provides protection of the soil
surface from wind and water erosion, stabilize streambanks and changes temperature,
light and humidity (Klapproth & Johnson 2009).
The total effects of urban areas on riparian zones can decrease the water quality
entering local streams, and ultimately will affect impact drinking water reservoirs of local
cities. The results of the Water Quality Corridor Management (WQCM) model showed that
subwatersheds that had little urbanizing development tend to have vegetated riparian
corridors, with varying degrees of slope, erosivity and floodplain protection. They had
scores on the upper half of the subwatershed scores while those with the highest levels
of urbanizing development tend to have little vegetation in the riparian corridors and no
matter what the levels of the other parameters are, they rarely scored in the upper half
of the preservation priority (Atkinson et al 2010).

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 In agricultural watershed, the quality of water is affected by riparian and channel
morphology. The areas with devoid of riparian vegetation and unstable substrates
showed an increased concentration of the water quality parameters. High levels were
predicted where the presence of unstable channel substrates occurred, and the stream’s
potential energy was high because of stream alterations such as the removal of stream
vegetation along the sides and creation of a uniform, straight channel (Schlosser & Karr
1981).
The objective of this study is to determine the assemblage and community indices
of the riparian vegetation along the riverine systems (Mandulog and Iligan rivers) of
Iligan City (Figure 1 & 2).

Figure 1. Map showing the sampling sites in Mandulog River in Iligan City.

Figure 2. Map showing the sampling sites in Iligan (Tubod) River in Iligan City.

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Material and Method. Iligan City is called the “City of Waterfalls”, is bounded on the
north by the 3 municipalities of Misamis Oriental (namely Lugait, Manticao and Opol), to
the south by the 3 municipalities of Lanao del Norte (Baloi, Linamon and Tagoloan) and
the 2 municipalities of Lanao del Sur (Kapai and Tagoloan II), to the northeast by
Cagayan de Oro City, to the east by the municipality of Talakag, Bukidnon, and in the
west by Iligan Bay.
Vegetation Cross-Section Composition (Winward 2000) was used to assessed the
five station points were established perpendicular to the riparian complex in each of the
rivers in such a way as to cross the entire riparian area (Figure 1 & 2). Geographic
locations were also recorded using a GPS device in each station.
A greenline sampling method was also conducted along the sampling stations of
the two rivers, where the first perennial vegetation that forms a lineal grouping of
community types on or near the water’s edge where identified and listed. A greenline
transect was established starting on the right-hand side looking downstream and
proceeds down the greenline using a step transect approach as described in the cross-
section measurement. For each greenline measurement, steps were taken to total a
minimum of 50 meters lineal distance on each side of the stream. This minimum distance
aided to encompass the potential variation within a riparian complex. Plants found along
the greenline transect were identified and recorded.

Results and Discussion. Table 1 reveals that there are about 5 different vegetation
types found along the riparian zones of Sitio Kabangahan, Rogongon: 1) herbaceous
perrenials, which includes Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott., and Crassocephalum
crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore; 2) groundcover understorey plants, which includes
Centrosema pubescens Benth., Mimosa pudica Linn., and Euphorbia hirta Linn.; 3) woody
shrubs, which includes Solanum sp. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacg.) Kunth ex Walp.; 4)
vines, which includes Mikania cordata (Burm. f.) B. L. Rob.; and 5) grassland community,
which includes species under Family Poaceae.

Table 1
Components of the riparian vegetation in Kabangahan, Barangay Rogongon

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Herbaceous perennials
Amaranthaceae Amaranthus spinosus Linn. 1.02 4.16
Cyperaceae Cyperus imbricatus 0.41 2.86
Asteraceae Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) 11.42 17.07
Vines
Asteraceae Mikania cordata (Burm. f.) B. L. Rob. 11.42 17.07
Papilionaceae Centrosema pubescens Benth. 9.39 7.23
Grassland communities
Poaceae Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers. 53.82 46.49
Woody shrubs
Solanaceae Solanum sp. 3.84 6.74
Fabaceae Gliricidia sepium (Jacg.) Kunth ex Walp. 2.93 3.13
Verbenaceae Lantana camara Linn. 7.15 7.01
Aroids
Araceae Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott. 3.52 1.51
Groundcover plant communities
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia hirta Linn. 1.42 1.11
Mimosaceae Mimosa pudica Linn. 5.09 2.69

Vetiver grass, a tough, natural, non-invasive plant with a deep penetrating fibrous root
structure, is abundant in both sides of the riparian zones which is an efficient system for
erosion control, water conservation and soil stabilization. Vetiver grass is also an

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“ecological-climax” species which outlasts its neighbors and seems to survive for decades
showing no aggressiveness or colonization ability and withstands drought and high levels
of flooding. Also present along the riverbanks are some mahogany (Swietenia
macrophylla), ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), and acacia trees (Samanea saman) which
provide shelter to the riparian complex.
The riparian vegetation in Caluda is dominated by grassland communities (Table
2), where species under Family Poaceae dominantly covers the left greenline area which
sufficiently slows surface runoff to deposit the main portion of its sediment load before
reaching a watercourse. Hence, it acts to reduce the initial impact of rainwater on the
soil. On the other hand, the right greenline area is prone to soil erosion due to lack of
vegetation cover and periodical extraction of sand and gravel. A sandbar is also found in
the mid-stream area due to the particulate matter that is mobilized by the rain impact or
by water flowing over the surface of the soil.

Table 2
Components of the riparian vegetation in Caluda, Barangay Bonbonon

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Herbaceous perennials
Amaranthaceaa Amaranthus spinosus Linn. 0.38 5.11
Grassland communities
Poaceae Eleusine indica (Linn.) Gaertn. 99.62 94.27
Groundcover plant communities
Mimosaceae Mimosa invisa - 0.63

About 2 types of communities are present in Kapay, barangay Upper Hinaplanon (Table
3) riparian vegetation: the grassland community and the herbaceous perennials. The
plant communities in both riverbank areas are not effective in retaining soil stability,
hence, it is susceptible to erosion and riverbank landslides.

Table 3
Components of the riparian vegetation in Kapay, Barangay Upper Hinaplanon

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Herbaceous perennials
Asteraceae Crassocephalum crepidioides Benth. 19 16.3
Grassland communities
Poaceae Eleusine indica (Linn.) Gaertn. 80 35.3

The stream-flow velocity along Bayug is characterized as slow, and on both sides of the
riverbanks are residential houses. The presence of aquatic plants (i.e. water lilies) along
the riverbanks also contributes to the slow velocity of the water. Cogon grasses (Table 4)
are abundant along the right riverbank are embedded with some non-biodegradable
garbage. Giant bamboos also aid soil retention and soil stability. The riparian complex is
sheltered with mango, coconut, acacia, and gmelina trees.
Riparian lands that removed pollutants is attributed to filtration, deposition,
adsorption and absorption where these processes synergistically operate i.e. infiltration of
overland flow which leads to increased deposition rates thus the opportunity for
adsorption (Cooper & Williamson 1993). The process of erosion is slowed through the
reduction of surface flows and rainwater impact, thus effectively filters out suspended
particles (Hairsine & Grayson 1992; Allen 1978), and runoff also allows nutrients to be
consumed by bacteria attached to buffer material (Hairsine & Grayson 1992; Allen 1978).
Riparian vegetation can collect sediments, and together with microbial and chemical

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degradation processes can bind and biodegrade chemicals and nutrients thus giving a
wide spectrum of filtering effect against non-point source pollution events (Odum 1990).

Table 4
Components of the riparian vegetation in Bayug, Barangay Hinaplanon

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Herbaceous perennials
Asteraceae Crassocephalum crepidioides Benth. 9.49 33.78
Trees
Mimosaceae Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit 6.46 5.29
Fabaceae Samanea saman 7.58 3.97
Arecaceae Cocos nucifera Linn. 12.93 7.95
Grassland communities
Poaceae Imperata cylindrica (Linn) P. Beauv. 60.20 27.83
Aroids
Araceae Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott. 3.33 2.18

Table 5 shows the Mandulog River mouth riparian vegetation where it is dominated by
mangroves on the left riverbank which protects shorelines and riverbanks and acts as a
sanctuary for some marine organisms, while the riverbank on the right side is not stable
due to poor vegetation.

Table 5
Components of the riparian vegetation in Mnadulog River mouth, Barangay Hinaplanon

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Mangrove community
Rhizophoraceae Rhizophora apiculata Blume 92.19 88.57
Trees
Arecaceae Cocos nucifera Linn. 7.81 11.43

The riparian complex along the Tambacan estuary is nested with a residential area on the
right riverbank, where residents utilize the riparian area as natural latrine, and a
commercial area on the left riverbank where sewerage and market wastes are dumped.
The left riverbank is also reinforced with concrete dikes which aids in the stability of the
riverbank. Riparian vegetation is very poor in both sides of the riverbanks with few trees
standing such as coconut (Cocos nucifera), talisay (Terminalia catappa), and acacia
(Samanea saman).
Grassland community dominantly covers the riparian complex of both sides of the
riverbanks in Tubod sampling sites (Table 6). But due to consistent manmade destructive
activities such as gravel and sand extraction and habitation of illegal settlers along the
buffer zones, these made the riparian complex very weak to sustain soil stability. Hence,
the river slowly widens and buffer zones are gradually diminishing. Some of the grass
species are gradually removed in the greenline due to high stream velocity, erosion and
flooding.
The right riverbank side of the Abuno, riparian vegetation is abundant with giant
bamboos (Table 7) which are good for soil retention and erosion control. It also provides
shelter to the riverbank, causing the slow-velocity beneath the bamboo. The presence of
some log debris in the sampling sites provides some measure of refuge to other aquatic
inhabitants such as fishes, water striders, and mollusks. Meanwhile, grassland
community covers the left riverbank. Along the riverbanks are trees such as talisay and
gmelina which also provides shelter to the riparian complex.

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 Table 6
Components of the riparian vegetation in Tubod bridge, Barangay Tubod

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Herbaceous perennials
Cyperaceae Cyperus imbricatus - 8.13
Vines
Asteraceae Mikania cordata (Burm. f.) B. L. Rob. - 23.53
Grassland communities
Poaceae Brachiaria mutica 100 61.90
Woody shrubs
Solanaceae Solanum sp. - 0.67
Groundcover plant communities
Marsileaceae Marsilea minuta Linn. - 5.77

Table 7
Components of the riparian vegetation in Abuno, Barangay Abuno

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Aroids
Araceae Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott. 12.35 9.42
Woody shrubs
Verbenaceae Lantana camara Linn. 6.45 4.04
Grassland communities
Poaceae Axonopus compressus (Swartz) P. Beauv. 81.20 86.54

The occurrences of erosion along the left side of the riverbank in the Pindugangan (Table
8) sampling sites proved that the soil in the riverbank is not stable. This could be due to
poor riparian vegetation along the riverbank. Coconut and banana plantations present in
the riparian complex could not hold the soil.

Table 8
Components of the riparian vegetation in Pindugangan, Barangay Tipanoy

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Aroids
Araceae Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott. 9.09 20.73
Grassland communities
Poaceae Bambusa textilis var. gracilis 41.82 24.37
Herbaceous perrenials
Musaceae Musa sapientum (Linn.) 21.82 12.43
Asteraceae Synedrella nodiflora (Linn.) J. Gaertner - 26.93
Trees
Mimosaceae Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit 6.00 6.00
Arecaceae Cocos nucifera Linn. 16.36 9.32

The Tipanoy riparian vegetation is dominated by grassland community (Table 9) that also
covers the vast areas of the buffer zones. Fecal materials of grazers such as carabaos
(water buffalo) and cows are also present in the area which may contribute to the aquatic
detritus. On the right side of the riverbank, a coconut plantation and a population of giant
bamboos are planted where the stream underneath are utilized by local residents as
natural laundry area.

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 Table 9
Components of the riparian vegetation in Tipanoy, Barangay Tipanoy

Composition mean %
Family name Scientific name
Dry season Wet season
Trees
Arecaceae Cocos nucifera Linn. 23.61 17.56
Groundcover plant communities
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia hirta Linn. 6.94 6.60
Grassland communities
Poaceae Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers. 69.44 75.84

Table 10 shows the community types between Mandulog and Iligan Rivers. The results of
the statistical analysis revealed that aroids is positively significant at 1.72 (0.05 <  
0.10) while mangroves is highly significant at -2.69 (  0.01). But during the dry
season, vines shows -1.87 (0.05 <   0.10), aroids with 2.20 (0.01 <   0.05) and
mangroves with -1.87 (0.05 <   0.10) (Table 11). While in the wet season, mangroves
(1.87) and groundcover communities (-1.89) showed a positive significance at 0.05 <  
0.10 (Table 12).
In Mandulog River, the community types differ in terms of their mean cover.
During the dry season, the grassland community has the highest mean cover and the
groundcover communities had the least mean cover. While in Iligan River, the grassland
communities had the highest mean cover of 73.11 % while the lowest were the vines and
mangrove communities. But during the wet season, the grassland communities showed
highest mean covers in both rivers and the groundcover communities (0.89 %) and
mangrove (0.00 %) had the least mean covers.
The types of plant species present in a riparian complex are also one of the
indicators of degraded riparian vegetation. Riparian vegetation is degraded by the
complete removal or modification of native plants. At a local scale riparian vegetation is
frequently degraded by clearing or by activities such as cropping, livestock grazing and
trampling. On a catchment scale, changes in flow regimes often affect riparian vegetation
either directly by drowning, or indirectly through erosion and bank slumping, floodplain
alienation, and altered flooding regimes. A major cause of degradation is the introduction
of, or invasion by, non-native species. Species new to the flora periodically colonize these
succession habitats while other disappears (Owens et al 2001). In some areas the only
vegetation present along streams may be exotic species.

Table 10
Comparison of riparian community types between Iligan and Mandulog Rivers according
to seasons (wet and dry season)

Data from Data from

Iligan Rivers Mandulog Rivers
Community type n = 24 n = 30 T value
Cover Cover
(Mean %) (Mean %)
Herbaceous perennials 8.66 10.57 -0.56ns
Vines 2.94 3.29 -0.17ns
Grassland communities 67.64 54.59 1.62ns
Woody shrubs 1.40 3.08 -1.34ns
Aroids 6.45 2.95 1.72+
Trees 10.50 6.34 1.46ns
Groundcover communities 2.41 1.09 1.61ns
Mangrove 0.00 18.08 -2.69**
n - number of sampling sites, ns - not significant, + - significant (0.05 <   0.10),  - highly significant ( 
0.01).

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 Table 11
Comparison of riparian community types Iligan and Mandulog Rivers during the dry season

Data from Data from

Iligan Rivers Mandulog Rivers
Community type n = 12 n = 15 T value
Cover Cover
(Mean %) (Mean %)
Herbaceous perennials 5.45 7.08 -0.48ns
Vines 0.00 3.33 -1.87+
Grassland communities 73.11 58.74 1.25ns
Woody shrubs 1.61 2.78 -0.64ns
Aroids 5.36 1.37 2.20*
Trees 12.72 6.96 1.21ns
Groundcover communities 1.74 1.30 0.38ns
Mangrove 0.00 18.44 -1.87+
n - number of sampling sites, ns - not significant, + - significant (0.05 <   0.10),  - significant (0.01 <  
0.05).

Table 12
Comparison of riparian community types Iligan and Mandulog Rivers during the wet season

Data from Data from

Iligan Rivers Mandulog Rivers
Community type n = 12 n = 15 T value
Cover Cover
(Mean %) (Mean %)
Herbaceous perennials 11.87 14.07 -0.39ns
Vines 5.88 3.24 0.73ns
Grassland communities 62.16 50.45 0.95ns
Woody shrubs 1.18 3.38 -1.17ns
Aroids 7.54 4.54 0.81ns
Trees 8.27 5.73 0.82ns
Groundcover communities 3.09 0.89 1.89+
Mangrove 0.00 17.71 -1.87+
n - number of sampling sites, ns - not significant, + - significant (0.05 <   0.10).

Based on the statistical result (using T-test) on the comparison of riparian community
types, C. esculenta are significant (T-value 1.72). Aroids showed positive significance
both in the wet and dry seasons. These are thermogenic plant species and are adapted to
monsoonal climates and are used as food and medicine (Pardales 1997). Moreover, Lebot
(2009) specified that aroids have an optimum temperature of 20 to 35 °C, not drought
resistant, waterlogged tolerant and shade tolerant riparian community type. This
introduced aroid species is highly present in most of the sampling sites. This may be due
to the previous flooding incidents that occurred in the sampling sites which caused the
distribution of this aroid and thrive on the eroded riparian zones. This plant is classified
as poor substitute for native plant species because it reduces the diversity of native
invertebrate communities since native fishes and other organisms are adapted to the
continuous leaf fall provided by native plants. C. esculenta (locally named as gabi) may
also affect river channel structure. Aside from fast-growing, this plant possesses an
enlarged, underground stems with adventitious and fibrous roots that can form
obstructions and may cause water to be diverted around them into the banks causing
erosion.
The lack of plants along the banks may cause poor water quality by increasing
turbidity, which will affect aquatic life. Mangrove community, for example, aids in
maintaining water quality and clarity by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments
originating from the land. They also prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments though their

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root systems. The mangrove community also provides a source of food, breeding grounds
and nurseries for various aquatic organisms such as fishes and crustaceans, thus
promoting biodiversity. Fully-grown mangrove trees are also sturdy which can withstand
under extreme natural conditions such as flood and typhoon.
Moreover, mangroves which showed high significance are mainly sediment
trappers and excellent source of fuelwood due to very high BTU heat. It can also be a
source of lumber and livestock feeds, minimize coastal erosion, reducer of high wind
velocity on coastal areas, excellent nursery for marine animals and good source of
roofing and wall materials (i.e. Nipa).
Vines are source of human food and medicine. Some species can be for fibers and
cordages and tying purposes as well as handicrafts.
Ground covers are usually plants that creep, sprawl or clump plants whose
primary function is to cover the ground in areas like landscapes that are made by man.
Furthermore, they can also include shrubs and perennials, if they spread to cover the
area and come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. Many bear attractive
flowers that add seasonal beauty to their other good characteristics (Davidson 1999).
Ground cover communities are one of the most important plant materials that protect the
soil against erosive action of raindrops and overland flow (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au). If
surface run-off occurs, it is good forage or livestock foods and some are medicinal and
ornamental.
Riparian taxa individually showed different significance at different levels.
Marsileaceae is positively significant at (0.05 <   0.10) and Euphorbiaceae significant
at (0.01 <   0.05). While Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Papilionaceae,
Solanaceae, Araceae, and Musaceae showed the highest significance at (  0.01) (Table
13).

Table 13
Comparison of riparian taxa Iligan and Mandulog Rivers according to seasons (wet and dry)

Data from Iligan Rivers Data from Mandulog Rivers

n = 24 n = 30
Taxa T value
Cover Cover
(Mean %) (Mean %)
Amaranthaceae 0.00 1.61 -2.83**
Asteraceae 6.31 7.18 -0.29ns
Fabaceae 0.00 1.76 -3.76**
Poaceae 67.64 57.61 1.19ns
Rhizophoraceae 0.00 18.08 -2.69**
Cyperaceae 1.02 0.33 1.14ns
Papilionaceae 0.00 1.66 -2.62**
Solanaceae 0.08 1.06 -2.23*
Verbenaceae 1.31 1.42 -0.14ns
Araceae 11.60 4.88 3.05**
Euphorbiaceae 1.69 0.25 2.17*
Mimosaceae 2.14 2.08 0.07ns
Arecaceae 3.21 2.09 0.80ns
Marsileaceae 0.72 0.00 1.79+
Musaceae 4.28 0.00 2.64**
ns - not significant, + - significant (0.05 <   0.10),  - significant (0.01 <   0.05),  - highly significant
(  0.01).

During the dry season, Asteraceae and Araceae showed highest significance at (  0.01)
while Fabaceae is significant at (0.01 <   0.05) and Rhizophoraceae, Papilionaceae,
and Solanaceae showed only positive significance at 0.05 <   0.10 (Table 14). While in
the wet season, Fabaceae (-3.02) is highly significant at   0.01 and Amaranthaceae
with -2.77 which is significant at 0.01 <   0.05 (Table 15). The mean covers of the
riparian taxa during the dry and wet seasons showed that Poacaea in Iligan river and

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Mandulog had the highest mean cover while Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae,
Rhizophoraceae, Cyperaceae, Papilionaceae, and Solanaceae had the lowest mean cover
in Iligan river and Musaceae (dry) and Marsileaceae and Musaceae (wet) in Mandulog river.

Table 14
Comparison of riparian taxa between Iligan and Mandulog Rivers during the dry season

Data from Iligan Rivers Data from Mandulog Rivers

n = 12 n = 15
Taxa T value
Cover Cover
(Mean %) (Mean %)
Amaranthaceae 0.00 0.36 -1.63ns
Asteraceae 0.00 4.18 -2.80**
Fabaceae 0.00 2.10 -2.57*
Poaceae 73.11 62.65 0.84ns
Rhizophoraceae 0.00 18.44 -1.87+
Cyperaceae 0.00 0.08 -0.89ns
Papilionaceae 0.00 1.88 -1.84+
Solanaceae 0.00 0.77 -1.80+
Verbenaceae 1.61 1.43 0.16ns
Araceae 11.26 2.93 3.05**
Euphorbiaceae 1.74 0.28 1.53ns
Mimosaceae 2.73 2.31 0.27ns
Arecaceae 4.09 2.59 0.61ns
Marsileaceae nd nd -
Musaceae 5.45 0.00 1.92+
nd – no data or very limited data, n - number of sampling sites, ns - not significant, + - significant (0.05 <  
0.10),  - significant (0.01 <   0.05),  - highly significant (  0.01).

Table 15
Comparison of riparian taxa Iligan and Mandulog Rivers during the wet season

Data from Iligan Rivers Data from Mandulog Rivers

n = 12 n = 15
Taxa
Cover Cover T value
(Mean %) (Mean %)
Amaranthaceae 0.00 2.87 -2.77*
Asteraceae 12.62 10.17 0.46ns
Fabaceae 0.00 1.42 -3.02**
Poaceae 62.16 52.57 0.78ns
Rhizophoraceae 0.00 17.71 -1.87+
Cyperaceae 2.03 0.57 1.27ns
Papilionaceae 0.00 1.45 -1.84+
Solanaceae 0.17 1.35 -1.53ns
Verbenaceae 1.01 1.40 -0.40ns
Araceae 11.93 6.82 1.41ns
Euphorbiaceae 1.65 0.22 1.47ns
Mimosaceae 1.55 1.85 -0.27ns
Arecaceae 2.33 1.59 0.51ns
Marsileaceae 1.44 0.00 1.89+
Musaceae 3.11 0.00 1.91+

Fabaceae growing in many different environments and climates particularly diverse in

tropical forests and temperate shrublands with a seasonally dry or arid climate.
Preference for sem-arid to arid habitats is related to a nitrogen demanding metabolism.
Many species have the ability to colonize barren and marginal lands because of their
capacity to "fix" atmospheric nitrogen via a symbiotic association with root-nodulating

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bacteria, this is just one of several ways in which legumes obtain high levels of nitrogen
to meet the demands of their metabolism particularly in the warm temperate regions.
Rhizophoraceae can be found in the sub-tropical to tropical. They are able to
survive inundation by salt water twice a day, and in "soil" which is unstable and poor in
oxygen (anaerobic) along tropical and subtropical coastlines and brackish estuaries and
deltas, where evergreen trees and shrubs thrive in tideland mud or sand flats inundated
daily with sea water (www.botgard.ucla.edu).
Papilionaceae found in all climates but mostly between and near the tropics and
crops that grow best below 60 °F (15 °C). They are sensitive and need warmer conditions
to thrive in a well drained but moisture retentive soil that has been fed from a previous
crop such as potatoes (www.organicgardeningpractices.com).
Araceae are distributed in the Old World tropics and north temperate regions.
Some species are marsh plants that are widespread. While Musaceae are found in wet
tropical lowlands, and ideal soil for them should be well drained but with good water
retention capacity. It thrives on soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5 and an average temperature
of 81 °F and full sun is also ideal.
Amaranthaceae is a widespread and cosmopolitan family from the tropics to cool
temperate regions. Many of the species are halophytes, tolerating salty soils, or grow in
dry steppes or semi-deserts. It is used for human consumption as well as food for
insects, livestock and is very good erosion controller.
Intensive activities in riparian areas can lead to serious losses of stream habitat
and water quality. Natural drainage is interrupted as riparian soils become compacted,
sedimentation rates increase, solar radiation increases and stream channels are altered.
These alterations would include the removal of streamside vegetation, removing woody
debris and boulders from streams for navigation, stream canalization, damming and
dredging (U.S.E.P.A. 1995).
Riparian areas that are adjacent to agricultural lands are often converted to
productive crop and grazing lands that can increase drainage, reduce competition with
other crops for moisture and sunlight, and remove sources of noxious weeds and habitat
for wildlife that can damage crops (Osborne & Kovacic 1993). While in urban areas,
streams are degraded as they are diverted through stormwater systems, riparian
vegetation is removed and the watershed becomes covered by roads, parking lots, and
building. Where stormwater once soaked into the ground, it now must flow over hard
surfaces, picking up sediments, petroleum products, chemicals, metals and other
pollutants and discharging them directly into storm drains and streams (Booth & Reinelt
1994).

Conclusions. A total of 32 species of plants belonging to 15 families were listed and

identified along the riparian areas of the designated sampling sites. The riparian areas
are mostly dominated by grasses (under Family Poaceae) such as Bermuda grass
(Cynodon dactylon), carabao grass (Axonopus compressus), and palagtiki (Eleusine
indica). But these species of grasses are characterized by having short, fibrous roots
which can be easily plucked out from the soil during flooding. On the other hand, vetiver
grasses (Vetiveria zizanioides) are found thriving along the riparian areas of Tubod which
are good species for flood control due to its sturdy stems and long, clumping roots which
can hold the soil firmly.
It can be concluded that the results of this study revealed that the riparian
vegetation along river systems of Iligan City is still in good condition. It is therefore
recommended by the researcher that there should be a continuous monitoring of the
riparian vegetation of riverine systems of Iligan City and tree planting activities along the
riverbanks to minimize erosion.

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*** www.freedictionary.com
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Received: 28 August 2013. Accepted: 27 September 2013. Published online: 28 October 2013.
Authors:
Annielyn Deocampo Tampus, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Sciences,
Philippines, Tibanga, Iligan 9200, e-mail: [email protected]
Ermelinda Goc-ong Tobias, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Sciences, Philippines,
Tibanga, Iligan 9200, e-mail: [email protected]
Ruben de Fiesta Amparado, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Sciences, Philippines,
Tibanga, Iligan 9200, e-mail: [email protected]
Lydia Micabalo Bajo, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Philippines, Tibanga, Iligan
9200, e-mail: [email protected]
Astrid Lara Sinco, Xavier University, Department of Biology, Philippines, Cagayan de Oro 9000, e-mail:
[email protected]
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source
are credited.
How to cite this article:
Tampus A. D., Tobias E. G., Amparado M. F., Bajo L., Sinco A. L., 2013 Assessment of the riparian vegetation
along the riverine systems in Iligan City, Philippines. AAB Bioflux 5(2):102-114.

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