Master of Science in Environmental Management

The purpose of this study was to describe the diversity of beach plant species of both coasts side of San Ildefonso Peninsula, Casiguran, Aurora.
The study employed descriptive research to 20 sampling plots, 10 in West coast and 10 in East Coast. The diversity was described through species richness and similarity of vegetation based on principal components.
There were a total of 87 kinds of species identified in both coasts. There were 30 species that have occurred only once, 14 in West coast while 16 in East coast.
Most (69/76) of the genus represented only 1 species.
Most of the plant families (37/45) had only 1 or 2 genus and/or species represented. As compared to all plant families, the enormous abundance of Fabaceae especially in the West coast suggests that the composition of beach plant species within the San Ildefonso peninsula was influenced by the drifted floating fruits/seeds brought by the North pacific gyre and the water current in Casiguran sound.
Similarly index results show that West coast have greater similar vegetations while East coasts have greater dissimilar vegetations. And in terms of comparing the two coasts, it implies that the vegetations were more dissimilar. Vegetation analysis clarifies the result of similarity index.
The study come up with the conclusions that (1) West as compared to the East coast were richer in terms of species, genus, and family, (2) there were three common beach species found within the two coasts while there were species that thrives abundant in the East coast only and West coast only; (3) the most favourable substrate type for the common beach species was sandy substrate, (4) the enormous representation of Fabaceae species especially in West coast suggests that the diversity was influenced by the presence of the said species which most were drift seeds. However, the thriving of beach species of the San Ildefonso peninsula was affected by different non-obvious and obvious ecological factors, and as general conclusion, it was found out that there is diversity difference between the two coasts.
Based on the results and conclusions, recommendations are derived: (1) further study should be conducted regarding the results that suggests about the influence of drift seeds; (2) the beach plant species matching to the ecological description of the site during beach reforestations; (3) the use of the enumerated species in the described similar plots; and (4) the special attention to the coasts from stakeholders prior to conservation of it as habitat of its rare and threatened species in which attention may include specifically the promotion of environmental awareness of the community within and near the place, and the effective implementation of conservation policies.