LEYTE
MANILA, APRIL 18, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Rhodina Villanueva - (PHOTO
- The two new frog species, which inhabit the mossy forests of the Nacolod
Mountain Range in Southern Leyte, are related to the Platymantis hazelae and
Platymantis guentheri groups.]
Two new species of frogs and 229 recorded flora species were discovered in
Southern Leyte late last year.
Mundita Lim, head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB), said the frogs belong to the
genus Platymantis.
"These species inhabit the montane and mossy forests of the Nacolod Mountain
Range in Southern Leyte province," she said. "Both species differ markedly from
other known species of Philippine Platymantis frogs by their body size,
coloration patterns, and advertisement calls. The two species are allied to two
different species groups, the Platymantis guentheri group and Platymantis
hazelae group."
Lim said this is the first time that a Platymantis species belonging to the
hazelae group has been discovered in Mindanao faunal region, to which the island
of Leyte belongs.
"Herpetologists from the Philippines and the United States are now working on
the formal taxonomic description of the species," she said.
Lim said the month-long ground surveys in Southern Leyte – covering the
municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog –
also recorded a total of 229 floral species (31 of which are unique to the
Philippines) and 212 terrestrial vertebrates species comprising 112 species of
birds (41 species are unique to Philippines; 11 of which are threatened to
extinction), 36 species of mammals (17 species are unique to the Philippines)
and 64 species of amphibians and reptiles (more than half of which are found
only in the Philippines).
"It is anticipated that a significant number of species will be recorded from
Southern Leyte with continued field sampling, especially if the surveys are
conducted during the drier months of the year and if a wide range of habitat and
elevation zones, from lowland Dipterocarp to mossy forests, are sampled in
detail," she said.
Lim said the assessment indicated the general preference of Southern Leyte's
fauna to forest and riverine environments.
"The information generated now provides a baseline that can be used to
predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect
forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings
provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and
monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local
forest and
biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards
an efficient and more ecologically sound path," she said.
Lim said the assessment will spur forest protection and rehabilitation
efforts under the Philippine National Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
Forest Degradation (REDD)-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change
Action Plan, and the National Greening Program.
Lim said the discovery of the new species on the fragmented forests of Mt.
Nacolod intensifies the potential of REDD-Plus for effective protection and
rehabilitation of natural forests and conservation of biodiversity, while
benefiting local communities.
Greater involvement of LGUs in conserving the biodiversity of Nacolod is
expected, she added.
The study was aimed at generating species inventories and practical
information on key species-habitat associations as sound bases for forest and
biodiversity management planning, Lim said.
Joining the PAWB in conducting the biodiversity assessments last November
2011 were the Fauna & Flora International, the National Museum of the
Philippines, and DENR Eastern Visayas.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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