Amphibians and Reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines: the Herpetofauna of Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, Nueva Ecija Province, Caraballo Mountain Range

We present detailed species accounts for fifty-nine (59) species of amphibians and reptiles (17 frogs, 14 skinks, 3 agamids, 6 gekkonid lizards, 2 varanids, and 17 snakes) from Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, which lies within the Caraballo Mountain Range, whose biota is poorly-known. This was also the first extensive survey of herpetofauna within the watershed. Together with data from previous literature reviews, our records bring the total number of species of amphibians and reptiles for the Caraballo Mountain Range to 66. Forty-two (42) species from the area were Philippine endemics, with 25 species recorded only from Luzon faunal region. Seven species of herpetofauna are associated with unresolved taxonomic issues (new species and species complexes needing taxonomic partitioning, e.g. splitting of species groups). Two species recorded from the area were rarely represented in museum collections. Major distributional and elevational range extensions were recorded for several species. Comparison with Luzon’s other mountain ranges showed that the Caraballo Mountain Range is similar, in terms of species composition, to the northern Sierra Madre and Cordillera Mountain Ranges. The result of this survey showed the Caraballo Mountain Range and its mountains as a possible new center of herpetofaunal diversity and endemicity within Luzon. The importance of the Caraballo Mountain Range as an important biogeographic link merits further study

Distribution and diversity patterns of herpetofauna in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, Nueva Ecija, Caraballo Mountain Range, Philippines

The recent extensive survey conducted in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, located in the Caraballo Mountain Range during the rainy season (October to November) resulted in the recording of fifty-nine (59) species of amphibians and reptiles (17 frogs, 14 skinks, 3 agamids, 6 gekkonid lizards, 2 varanids and 17 snakes). Out of 59 species, 42 species were Philippine endemics and 25 species are recorded only from the Luzon faunal region. Habitat analysis and mapping showed seven habitat types including lowland dipterocarp forest, grassland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, pine forest, agricultural areas and riparian habitats. GIS-based distribution mapping showed that the number of individuals and species are high in forest and associated riparian habitats at mid-elevation (1,000–1,250 m a.s.l.). The distribution pattern in the area is influenced by similarity in microclimatic conditions, availability of resources and niches which species can utilise. Species diversity is centred in mid- to high elevation forest and riparian habitats and in less disturbed areas. Snake diversity is adversely affected by increased disturbance, making them good indicators of the health of an area. The abundance-based Jaccard's Similarity Index showed that connected habitats and elevation gradients have higher species similarity

Proceedings of the 26th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium

The Philippine Biodiversity Symposium is an annual gathering of researchers and practitioners working in the fields of wildlife studies and biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. The 26th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium was held on July 18-22, 2017 at the Ateneo de Manila University. Under the topic “New and Emerging Trends in Biodiversity Research and Conservation”, 16 plenary and 46 session presentations along with numerous posters from more than 300 participants focused on current research results and conservation efforts on Philippine biodiversity. The symposium was co-organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP) and the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Biology, and presented in cooperation with Biodiversity Management Bureau of DENR, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, GIZ, Team Energy Foundation and Pensoft Publishers. The event was sponsored by Pensoft, the Center for Conservation Innovation, Crocodylus porosus Philippines Inc., Energy Development Cooperation, roots.asia, Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition, Quezon City Government and Ateneo de Manila University Press, among others. The event draws over 250 participants from the academic and research institutions, government agencies, non-government organizations, independent researchers, and high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Selected studies that have been presented during the symposium are published in here

Amphibians of the Philippines, Part I: Checklist of the Species

Volume: 62Start Page: 457End Page: 53

The conservation status of the world\u27s reptiles

Effective and targeted conservation action requires detailed information about species, their distribution, systematics and ecology as well as the distribution of threat processes which affect them. Knowledge of reptilian diversity remains surprisingly disparate, and innovative means of gaining rapid insight into the status of reptiles are needed in order to highlight urgent conservation cases and inform environmental policy with appropriate biodiversity information in a timely manner. We present the first ever global analysis of extinction risk in reptiles, based on a random representative sample of 1500 species (16% of all currently known species). To our knowledge, our results provide the first analysis of the global conservation status and distribution patterns of reptiles and the threats affecting them, highlighting conservation priorities and knowledge gaps which need to be addressed urgently to ensure the continued survival of the world\u27s reptiles. Nearly one in five reptilian species are threatened with extinction, with another one in five species classed as Data Deficient. The proportion of threatened reptile species is highest in freshwater environments, tropical regions and on oceanic islands, while data deficiency was highest in tropical areas, such as Central Africa and Southeast Asia, and among fossorial reptiles. Our results emphasise the need for research attention to be focussed on tropical areas which are experiencing the most dramatic rates of habitat loss, on fossorial reptiles for which there is a chronic lack of data, and on certain taxa such as snakes for which extinction risk may currently be underestimated due to lack of population information. Conservation actions specifically need to mitigate the effects of human-induced habitat loss and harvesting, which are the predominant threats to reptiles. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Effective conservation action requires knowledge of the distribution of threatened species and the threat processes affecting them. We present the first global assessment of extinction risk for a random representative sample of 1,500 reptile species. We find strong variation in extinction risk by taxonomic groups and geographic regions, with the most threatened reptiles associated with freshwater environments, tropical regions, and oceanic islands. Extinction risk is predominantly associated with habitat loss and over-exploitation. Our results emphasize the need for research attention to be focussed on tropical areas, which are seeing the highest extinction risk, and fossorial reptiles, for which there is a chronic lack of data

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Effective and targeted conservation action requires detailed information about species, their distribution, systematics and ecology as well as the distribution of threat processes which affect them. Knowledge of reptilian diversity remains surprisingly disparate, and innovative means of gaining rapid insight into the status of reptiles are needed in order to highlight urgent conservation cases and inform environmental policy with appropriate biodiversity information in a timely manner. We present the first ever global analysis of extinction risk in reptiles, based on a random representative sample of 1500 species (16% of all currently known species). To our knowledge, our results provide the first analysis of the global conservation status and distribution patterns of reptiles and the threats affecting them, highlighting conservation priorities and knowledge gaps which need to be addressed urgently to ensure the continued survival of the world’s reptiles. Nearly one in five reptilian species are threatened with extinction, with another one in five species classed as Data Deficient. The proportion of threatened reptile species is highest in freshwater environments, tropical regions and on oceanic islands, while data deficiency was highest in tropical areas, such as Central Africa and Southeast Asia, and among fossorial reptiles. Our results emphasise the need for research attention to be focussed on tropical areas which are experiencing the most dramatic rates of habitat loss, on fossorial reptiles for which there is a chronic lack of data, and on certain taxa such as snakes for which extinction risk may currently be underestimated due to lack of population information. Conservation actions specifically need to mitigate the effects of human-induced habitat loss and harvesting, which are the predominant threats to reptiles