Maricar M. Tampipi, Judy Ella B. Buala, Regine E. Antopina and Monaliza Joy Zaragoza-Magsayo
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the aboveground and belowground carbon storage capacity and microenvironment preferences of mangrove species in the selected coastal barangays of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental. The study utilized non-destructive sampling for estimating the mangrove carbon, while, soil samples for organic carbon (SOC) were collected manually. Four mangrove species were recorded namely; Avicennia alba, Dolichandrone spathacea, Rhizophora apiculata, and Sonneratia alba. Results revealed that in Barangay Mantic, A. alba displayed the highest mean accumulated carbon value of 1.75 ± 0.30 Mg C ha-1. Overall, the three coastal barangays of Tangub City recorded an average total carbon of 360.72 Mg C ha-1, with soil having the highest carbon content (222.15 Mg C ha-1), followed by aboveground C (trunk) (107.29 Mg C ha-1) and belowground C (root) (31.28 Mg C ha-1). In terms of environmental factors, R. apiculata is associated with high relative humidity while, S. alba tolerated high water salinity, D. spathacea prefer area with higher air temperature, and A. alba is link with high water and soil temperature and pH levels. In general, mangrove ecosystem in the coastal areas of Tangub City stores significant amount of carbon in its various pools. Hence, it is imperative to implement conservation measures focusing on mangrove protection, zonation and sustainability in order to enhance carbon accumulation of these mangrove species.