Nepenthes Bellii - Ecology

Ecology

Nepenthes bellii is endemic to the Philippines. It is common on Dinagat and northern Mindanao; its presence in southern Mindanao is "poorly documented" due to ongoing conflicts. As such, it is native to at least the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. It has an altitudinal distribution of 0–800 m above sea level.

The species grows terrestrially in a number of habitats, including lowland heath forest, exposed sites such as cliff faces and landslides, lower montane forest among stunted vegetation, and disturbed or recovering secondary vegetation (such as previously logged dipterocarp forest). It also often colonises the sides of roads running through the forest. The known distribution of this species appears to roughly correlate with ultramafic substrate occurrence. Nepenthes bellii is often sympatric with N. merrilliana and N. mindanaoensis. Although N. bellii is known to form natural hybrids with both of these species, such crosses appear to be rare. Field observations of these three species suggest that they flower at different times of the year.

The conservation status of N. bellii is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, based on an assessment carried out in 2000. Stewart McPherson considers the species "not currently threatened" and writes that it is "widespread" across Dinagat and northern Mindanao, where it is represented by "extensive stands". Nevertheless, habitat loss is affecting the species in lowland areas and this problem is particularly severe on Dinagat.