A Comparative Analysis of the Stomatal Density of Ficus septica Burm. f. Along an Altitudinal Gradient at the Kalungan Forest of Mt. Talinis, Bacong, Negros Oriental

Abstract

Altitude is one of the environmental factors that affects a number of plant developmental processes, including stomatal development. In this study, the nail polish imprinting method was used to determine if stomatal density increases with increasing elevation in Ficus septica Burm. f. a widely distributed woody species in the Kalungan Forest, Mt. Talinis, Bacong, Negros Oriental. Sampling was done from 392 – 894 m above sea level from three trees per elevation. Six elevation stations were identified at 100 m interval. Leaf stomatal imprints from three trees per elevation were obtained. Stomata were counted manually with the aid of software ImageJ 1.45. Stomatal density values of the highest and lowest elevation were 3869.6 ± 814.1 and 1125.6 ± 357.1, respectively. Regression analysis showed a strongly linear relationship between stomatal density and elevation.