Spatial Distribution of Lichen-Inferred Sensitivity and Functional Traits of Manglicolous Lichens in Davao City, Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.143Keywords:
Bioindicators, Environmental disturbance, Lichen Inferred Sensitivity Index (LISI), Manglicolous lichens, Spatial analysisAbstract
Manglicolous lichens inhabit a dynamic terrestrial–marine interface, yet their effectiveness as bioindicators in rapidly urbanizing tropical coasts remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to assess the ecological responses of manglicolous lichen communities to varying levels of human disturbance along an urban–industrial–rural gradient in Davao City, Philippines. Community sensitivity was evaluated using the Lichen Inferred Sensitivity Index (LISI) and a functional trait-based framework, based on assemblages recorded from 90 phorophytes. A total of 32 taxa were documented, with crustose growth forms comprising 91% of all observations. Functional morphotypes did not differ significantly among sites (p = 0.681), suggesting that abiotic factors, such as salinity and tidal inundation, likely act as primary environmental filters, resulting in relatively conserved morphological traits across the gradient. In contrast, LISI values varied across sites, distinguishing a depauperate assemblage in the industrial Panacan area (LISI = 1.60) from a relatively higher sensitivity in the protected Matina biozone (LISI = 3.06). These differences are interpreted as indicative of variation in environmental disturbance, rather than direct pollutant measurements. Spatial outputs are presented as site-level thematic mapping to illustrate patterns in community sensitivity. Overall, the results provide preliminary support for the use of manglicolous lichens as bioindicators of environmental disturbance in coastal ecosystems, with abundance-weighted sensitivity indices offering a potentially useful approach for ecological monitoring in rapidly changing coastal landscapes.
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