2. Diversity Patterns and the Conservation
of Amphibians and Reptiles
in the Philippines
Arvin C. Diesmos
National Museum of the Philippines
Mae Lowe L. Diesmos
University of Santo Tomas
Rafe M. Brown
University of Kansas
2
3. Rediscoveries
Taylor’s Igorot Frog Rana igorota
Balbalasang-Balbalan Natural Park, Luzon Island. March 2000. Photo by RMB.
3
7. New Discoveries
Southern Luzon Limestone Frog Platymantis biak
Biak-Na-Bato National Park, Luzon Island. January 2009. Photo by ACD.
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8. New Discoveries
Southern Luzon Limestone Forest Gecko Gekko carusadensis
Biak-Na-Bato National Park, Luzon Island. March 2010. Photo by ACD.
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9. New Discoveries
Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizard Varanus bitatawa
Isabela Province, Luzon Island. April 2005. Photo by ACD.
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10. New Discoveries
Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizard Varanus bitatawa
Isabela Province, Luzon Island. April 2005. Photo by ACD.
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11. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
New Species Discoveries
Endemic
Non-endemic
Brown & Diesmos 2002; Brown, Diesmos & Alcala 2008.
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12. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
New Species Discoveries
Morphological (traditional techniques)
Bioacoustics
Genetics
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13. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Asian amphibian diversity &
endemism: Present
Timor
Pakistan
Singapore
Taiwan
endemics
Napal
Nepal
nonendemics
Laos
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Indonesia
China
0 100 200 300
0 100 200 300
Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA; www.globalamphibians.org); Stuart et al. 2008.
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14. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Projected diversity and endemism
Timor
Pakistan
Singapore
Taiwan
endemics
Nepal
Napal
nonendemics
Laos
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Indonesia
China
0
0 100
100
200
200
300
300
Brown & Diesmos 2002; Brown 2004; Brown, Diesmos & Alcala 2008.
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15. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Projected diversity and endemism
Timor
Pakistan
Singapore
Taiwan
endemics
Nepal
Napal
nonendemics
Laos
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Indonesia
China
0
0 100
100
200
200
300
300
Brown & Diesmos 2002; Brown 2004; Brown, Diesmos & Alcala 2008.
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16. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Habitat loss/Deforestation
The primary cause of biodiversity
loss and extinction of species in
the Tropics.
e.g., Simberloff 1986; Wilson 1988; Whitmore & Sayer 1992; Myers et al. 2000; Laurance & Peres 2006.
15
17. Legal and illegal logging.
Image by RM Brown, Mt. Busa, Sarangani Province, Mindanao, 1993.
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18. Intensive and extensive kaingin farming.
Image by AC Diesmos, San Mariano, Isabela Province, Luzon, 2006.
17
19. Destructive mining is the greatest threat to
remaining forests.
Image from flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/.
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21. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Deforestation rates (%) among
selected Southeast Asian countries
1990–2000 2000–2005
Philippines 2.8 2.1
Indonesia 1.7 2.0
Cambodia 1.1 2.0
Malaysia 0.4 0.7
Thailand 0.7 0.4
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2007.
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22. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
General Question
How does habitat destruction
impact herpetofaunal biodiversity?
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23. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Objectives
Describe the patterns of distribution of
amphibians and reptiles in terms of
biogeography, elevation, and habitat
preference
Correlate the observed patterns with species
richness, endemicity, distribution of
threatened species and their habitats
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24. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Databases
Habitat data: based on Forest Management
Bureau (2003) and FAO (2007)
Topography: based on Forest Management
Bureau (2003); NAMRIA maps; literature
Amphibians and reptiles: Global Amphibian
Assessment (www.globalamphibians.org);
Global Reptile Assessment (unpublicized);
HerpWatch Philippines (www.herpwatch.org);
literature; own field data
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25. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Data Analyses
Gradient analysis; non-metric
multidimensional scaling, NMDS (PC-ORD)
Parametric and non-parametric tests:
ANOVA, χ2 , correlation, regression (JMP ver.
5.1)
Excluded marine & introduced species
Conservation status of species from IUCN
(2010)
McCune & Mefford 1999; MjM Software, Oregon, USA; SAS Institute, NC, USA; <www.iucnredlist.org>
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27. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 1
Biogeography
Inger 1954; Heaney 1985; Brown & Diesmos 2002, 2009.
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28. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 1
Biogeography
Herpetofauna is generally distributed
according to paleo-islands: Pleistocene
Aggregate Island Complex (PAIC)
Inger 1954; Heaney 1985; Brown & Diesmos 2002, 2009.
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31. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
1
Centers of 2
biodiversity &
endemism
3
4 6
5
8
7
9
Inger 1954; Heaney 1985; Ong et al. 2002; Brown & Diesmos 2002, 2009.
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32. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 1
Biogeography
Herpetofauna is generally distributed
according to paleo-islands: Pleistocene
Aggregate Island Complex (PAIC)
Brown & Diesmos 2002; Brown & Guttman 2002; Evans et al. 2003; Esselstyn et al. 2008; Brown & Diesmos, 2009.
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33. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 1
Biogeography
Herpetofauna is generally distributed
according to paleo-islands: Pleistocene
Aggregate Island Complex (PAIC)
Significant exceptions: dispersal events have
also occurred INTO, WITHIN, and OUT OF
the Philippines well before the Pleistocene
and PAIC landmass formations (i.e., Eocene
or Oligocene, > 30 million years ago)
Brown & Diesmos 2002; Brown & Guttman 2002; Evans et al. 2003; Esselstyn et al. 2008; Brown & Diesmos, 2009.
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44. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Species
richness
Patterns of
Distribution 2
Richness &
geography
*(r = 0.18, df = 209, p = 0.008)
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45. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Species
richness
Patterns of
Distribution 2
Richness &
geography
*(r = 0.18, df = 209, p = 0.008)
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46. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 3
Richness vs. elevation
300
Richness 150
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
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47. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 3
Richness vs. elevation
Reptiles
300
Richness 150
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
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48. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 3
Richness vs. elevation
Reptiles
300 Amphibians
Richness 150
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
40
49. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 3
Endemicity vs. elevation
400
Non-endemic
Endemic
300
No. of species
200
100
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
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50. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Stratified distribution pattern
in elevation
Diesmos et al. 2002; image by AC Diesmos, Mt. Mayon, Albay Province, Luzon, 2004.
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51. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Stratified distribution pattern
in elevation
Diesmos et al. 2002; image by AC Diesmos, Mt. Mayon, Albay Province, Luzon, 2004.
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52. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Stratified distribution pattern
in elevation
Species F
Species E
Species D
Species C
Species B
Species A
Diesmos et al. 2002; image by AC Diesmos, Mt. Mayon, Albay Province, Luzon, 2004.
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53. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Stratified distribution pattern
in elevation
Species F
Species E
Species D
Species C
Species B
Species A
Diesmos et al. 2002; image by AC Diesmos, Mt. Mayon, Albay Province, Luzon, 2004.
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54. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 4
Reproductive mode vs. elevation
Direct development
Oviparous
60
No. of species
40
20
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
43
55. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Direct development vs. elevation
Species
(direct developers)
0 500 1000 1500
Elevation
44
56. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Direct development vs. elevation
Species
(direct developers)
0 500 1000 1500
Elevation
44
69. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Numbers of species predicted to
become extinct with current habitat loss
Batanes
Babuyan
Luzon
Mindoro
Romblon–Sibuyan
Palawan Predicted
extinctions
West Visayas
Gigante
Camiguin
Mindanao
Jolo–Tawitawi
0 40 80 120
Number of species
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70. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Numbers of species predicted to
become extinct with current habitat loss
Batanes
Babuyan
Luzon
Mindoro
Romblon–Sibuyan
Palawan Predicted
extinctions 19–55%
West Visayas
Gigante
Camiguin
Mindanao
Jolo–Tawitawi
0 40 80 120
Number of species
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71. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Top PAICs with highest proportions and
numbers of predicted species extinctions
Rank PAIC Predicted extinct
1 West Visayas 55.1% (42 species)
2 Mindoro 41.2% (38 species)
3 Gigante 36.1% (3 species)
4 Batanes 33.7% (5 species)
5 Luzon 33.5% (38 species)
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73. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Synopsis
Biogeography is generally understood but
recent studies indicate high complexity and
needs resolution through fine-scaled studies
54
74. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Synopsis
Biogeography is generally understood but
recent studies indicate high complexity and
needs resolution through fine-scaled studies
Low elevation habitats are species-rich
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75. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Synopsis
Biogeography is generally understood but
recent studies indicate high complexity and
needs resolution through fine-scaled studies
Low elevation habitats are species-rich
Species influenced by distribution of key
microhabitats and other environmental
variables
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76. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Synopsis
Biogeography is generally understood but
recent studies indicate high complexity and
needs resolution through fine-scaled studies
Low elevation habitats are species-rich
Species influenced by distribution of key
microhabitats and other environmental
variables
Hotspots of herpetofaunal conservation: West
Visayas, Mindoro, Batanes, Gigantes
54
78. Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions
Conservation Implications
Significant implications to current
conservation management efforts because of
heavy focus on protection of high-elevation
forests and intact (pristine) habitats
55
79. Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions
Conservation Implications
Significant implications to current
conservation management efforts because of
heavy focus on protection of high-elevation
forests and intact (pristine) habitats
➡ Palawan Strategic Environment Plan (SEP)
➡ National Integrated Protected Areas System
(NIPAS)
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80. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 7
Richness vs. elevation per PAIC
Luzon
200 Mindanao
West Visayas
Mindoro
Richness 100 Palawan
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
56
81. Introduction Methods Results & Discussion Conclusions
Patterns of Distribution 7
Richness vs. elevation per PAIC
Luzon
200 Mindanao
West Visayas
Mindoro
Richness 100 Palawan
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Elevation
56
82. Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions
Conservation Implications
Significant implications to current
conservation management efforts because of
heavy focus on protection of high-elevation
forests and intact (pristine) habitats
➡ Palawan Strategic Environment Plan (SEP)
➡ National Integrated Protected Areas System
(NIPAS)
57
83. Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions
Conservation Implications
Significant implications to current
conservation management efforts because of
heavy focus on protection of high-elevation
forests and intact (pristine) habitats
➡ Palawan Strategic Environment Plan (SEP)
➡ National Integrated Protected Areas System
(NIPAS)
Conservation efforts should embrace
protection of remaining natural habitats and
ecological restoration
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85. Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions
Conservation Implications
Hotspots cannot afford to lose more habitat.
A critical threshold has already been reached,
especially in the Western Visayas and
Mindoro, and in small island centers of
endemism of Batanes and Gigante island
groups.
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86. Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusions
Conservation Implications
Hotspots cannot afford to lose more habitat.
A critical threshold has already been reached,
especially in the Western Visayas and
Mindoro, and in small island centers of
endemism of Batanes and Gigante island
groups.
Lack of basic survey, natural history
information, and autecological data
undermines our ability to accurately assess
conservation status of many species.
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87. Acknowledgments
Thank you very much!
• Liceo de Cagayan University
• Funding and logistical support: Rufford Small Grant for
Nature Conservation, National University of Singapore,
Turtle Survival Alliance, Conservation International
Philippines, National Museum of the Philippines,
University of Kansas, US National Science Foundation
• Permits: Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR)
• Valuable advice from: Angel Alcala
• Numerous colleagues from the Philippines and US
• Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines
• Our families
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