The amphibians and reptiles of Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, II: the herpetofauna of northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands

We summarize all available amphibian and reptile species distribution data from the northeast Mindanao faunal region, including small islands associated with this subcenter of endemic vertebrate biodiversity. Together with all publicly available historical information from biodiversity repositories, we present new data from several major herpetological surveys, including recently conducted inventories on four major mountains of northeast Mindanao, and adjacent islands of Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, and Siargao. We present species accounts for all taxa, comment on unresolved taxonomic problems, and provide revisions to outdated IUCN conservation status assessments in cases where our new data significantly alter earlier classification status summaries. Together, our comprehensive analysis of this fauna suggests that the greater Mindanao faunal region possesses distinct subcenters of amphibian and reptile species diversity, and that until this area is revisited and its fauna and actually studied, with on-the-ground field work including targeted surveys of species distributions coupled to the study their natural history, our understanding of the diversity and conservation status of southern Philippine herpetological fauna will remain incomplete. Nevertheless, the northeast Mindanao geographical area (Caraga Region) appears to have the highest herpetological species diversity (at least 126 species) of any comparably-sized Philippine faunal subregion

The Mammals of Mt. Kitanglad Nature Park, Mindanao, Philippines

Volume: 112Start Page: 1End Page: 6

Philippine rodents : redefinitions of known species of Batomys (Muridae, Murinae) and description of a new species from Dinagat Island. American Museum novitates ; no. 3237

51 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-51)."Batomys russatus, new species, is described and compared with the other species of Batomys. The new form is represented by three specimens collected in lowland tropical evergreen rainforests on Dinagat (10 degrees N, 125 degrees 45'E), an elongate, mountainous small island off the northwest coast of Mindanao in the Philippine Archipelago. Among diagnostic traits of the new species are its small body size, colorful russet fur, and complete (primitive) cephalic arterial patterns- in this last feature, it is unique among species of extant murines. Three other species of Batomys have been described, all of them larger-bodied animals with somber brown fur and a derived cephalic arterial circulation. All available specimens (N = 162) of these larger-bodied species were studied to reevaluate morphological and distributional species boundaries. Among the three, B. dentatus is the most distinct. Represented only by the holotype collected in the highlands of Luzon, it is the only known Batomys with a furry brown-and-white tail and exceptionally large molars, both in absolute measurements and relative to cranial size. Batomys granti also occurs in the mountains of Luzon, but it is morphologically very similar to B. salomonseni, which is now represented by samples from the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, Biliran, and Dinagat. These two species differ in tail diameter and pilosity, hind foot configuration, cranial proportions, and frequency of certain molar cusps. The new Batomys is one of 29 native mammal species currently documented from Dinagat by voucher specimens. It and another rodent, Crateromys australis, along with the insectivore Podogymnura aureospinula- approximately 10% of the mammalian fauna- have been found only on Dinagat. Other species native to the island either occur on nearby islands that were apparently joined during the late Pleistocene to form a larger land area (Greater Mindanao), or are found throughout the Philippine Archipelago and even in adjacent regions outside the Philippines. Within the Greater Mindanao cluster of islands, only Mindanao, the largest, has a proportion of endemic mammalian species comparable to that on the much smaller Dinagat; the other islands lack endemics altogether. Why this is so is unknown"--P. 2

A review of the genera Crunomys and Archboldomys (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae), with descriptions of two new species from the Philippines

Volume: 89Start Page: 1End Page: 2

Effectiveness of patient education in improving the knowledge of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute maintenance personnel regarding proper body mechanics at work

The research design used to fulfill the objective of the study was one group pretest and posttest design, which was a type of quasi experimental research. A total of fifty (50) respondents which consisted of thirty-nine (39) housekeepers and eleven (11) gardeners of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute, participated in this study, Purposive sampling was the sampling technique used to select participants. This study utilized a researcher-made, 15 item questionnaire regarding proper body mechanics with sub-topics including the definition and importance of proper body mechanics, consequence of improper body mechanics, and proper posture in lifting, reaching and performance in work-related activities of a maintenance personnel. it also included conditioning exercises before and during working hours. The researchers utilized frequency, percentage and t-test. Results showed that most the respondents significantly improved their knowledge in all aspects of proper body mechanics except to its importance, consequence or improper body mechanics and proper lifting. Nevertheless, the overall difference between pretest and posttest scores revealed that patient education significantly improved the knowledge of respondents. Therefore, this research concluded that patient education was effective in increasing the knowledge of maintenance personnel regarding proper body mechanics

Key Biodiversity Areas in the Philippines: Priorities for Conservation

A process for identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for the Philippines was undertaken in two phases. The 128 terrestrial and freshwater KBAs were identified in 2006 and the 123 marine KBAs were identified in 2009. A total of 228 KBAs resulted from the integration of the terrestrial, freshwater and marine KBAs. These KBAs represent the known habitat of 855 globally important species of plants, corals, molluscs, elasmobranchs, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals in the country. Inclusion of these KBAs in the country’s protected area system will be a significant step towards ensuring the conservation of the full scope of the country’s natural heritage

Finfish disappearances around Bohol, Philippines inferred from traditional ecological knowledge

Little is known about local extinctions of finfish species in the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in the most marine biodiverse and anthropogenically threatened region on Earth. This paper examines coral reef associated finfish species that disappeared in the catches around the island of Bohol over the period 1950 to 2007, based on the only available data, namely traditional ecological knowledge. Generalized least squares (GLS) tests showed steep declines to zero among species formerly recorded in catches. Finfish species recommended as priority for further monitoring based on life history and disappearances in fish catch are giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and African pompano (Alectis ciliaris). Twenty out of the 21 species that disappeared from catches were moderate to very large-bodied, six were slow-growing fish and Four were late-maturing fish. Species of large body size and subject to high fishing pressure may be particularly vulnerable. Traditional ecological knowledge when applied to population dynamics studies can add value to development of new monitoring methods. This knowledge can moreover inform the prioritization of species for fisheries assessment and conservation action