Abstract
This study investigated the species composition, diversity, and relative abundance of crustose and Physcia lichens in the montane forest of Mt. Hamiguitan, located in San Isidro, Mati, and Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. Two sampling sites were established at approximately 1,200 meters above sea level, where lichen specimens were collected along transect lines using handpicking and scraping methods from various substrates such as tree trunks, rocks, decayed logs, and branches. Specimens were identified based on morphological characteristics, documented, and validated by a lichen specialist. Data were analyzed using biodiversity indices, including species richness, the Shannon-Wiener Index, Simpson’s Index, and evenness. Results revealed a total of seven (7) species representing seven (7) genera across four (4) families. These include three families of crustose lichens—Pyrenulaceae, Graphidaceae, and Porinaceae—and one foliose genus, Physcia, under Physciaceae. Physciaceae was the most dominant, comprising over half of the specimens. The computed indices showed a species richness (S) of 4, ShannonWiener Index (H) of 1.154, Simpson’s Index (1 - D) of 0.612, and evenness (E) of 0.832. These values suggest a moderately diverse and ecologically balanced lichen community, characteristic of stable montane ecosystems. The findings confirm the presence of a morphologically and taxonomically varied lichen flora in Mt. Hamiguitan and underscore the importance of continued biodiversity monitoring and expanded surveys to support conservation planning in this protected area.
