NEW RECORDS OF CORTICOLOUS MICROALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA FOR PHILIPPINE ALGAL FLORA FROM MT. MAKILING FOREST RESERVE

Diversity and species composition of corticolous microalgae and cyanobacteria from Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve showed the occurrence of 15 taxa belonging to the class Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, Ulvophyceae, and Klebsormidiophyceae. The collection reported in this study represents 12 orders, 13 families, 14 genera and 15 species based on morphotaxonomic characterization supported by microscopic studies. Of these taxa, the occurrence of six corticolous algae namely: Chroococcidiopsis cubana Komarek & Hindak, Pseudanabaena galeata Bocher, Pseudanabaena catenata Lauterborn, Parachlorella kessleri (Fott & Novakova) L. Krienitz, E.H. Hegewald, Hepperle, V. Huss, T. Rohr & M. Wolf, Desmococcus olivaceus (Persoon ex Archerson) J. R. Laundon, and Apatococcus lobatus (Chodat) J.B. Petersen are reported for the first time in the Philippines. These taxonomic records are considered important information in enhancing our knowledge about the diversity and habitat distribution of this important group of primary producers found in forest reserves of the Philippines.