PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY:

Ecological Roles, Uses, and Conservation Status

A.C. Alcala1, E.L. Alcala1, I.E. Buot Jr.2, A. Diesmos3, M.L. Dolar4
E S Fernando5, J.C.
E.S. J C Gonzalez6 and B B. Tabaranza7

1 Silliman University-
University-Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management, 2/F SU Marine Lab.,
Silliman Beach, Dumaguete City, 6200
2 Institute
of Biological
g Sciences,, College
g of Arts and Sciences,, University
y of the Philippines
pp Los Baos,,
College, 4031 Laguna
3 National Museum of the Philippines, Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila
4 Tropical Marine Research for Conservation, 6363 Lakewood St., San Diego, CA 92122, USA
5 Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the
Phili i
Philippines Los
L B Baos,
C
College,
ll 4031 L
Laguna
6 Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, and Museum of
Natural History, University of the Philippines Los Baos, College, 4031 Laguna
7 Haribon Foundation, 140 Kalayaan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City
Introduction

The Philippines is a
mega
mega-g -biodiversityy center
of the world

Insular nature,
nature equable and
tropical conditions
9 Geographic
g p isolation with sea
barriers
9 Diverse microhabitats
9 Mountain areas with high
endemism rates
9 Rise of sea level to 120m after
lowest level 18
18,000-20,000
000 20 000 yr Pleistocene Ice-age islands
ago was attained 6,000 yr ago of the Philippines
Introduction
Socio
Socio--economic
economic//ecological
importance
p of biodiversityy

NAATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
9 Variety of human uses --
medicines, food, natural
products, source of income
9 Promotes/stabilizes natural
productivity
d ti it off ecosystems
t
9 Sources of genetic material for

JASPEER MAYPA
bio-technology

i Specific information included in

discussion of various taxonomic groups
Introduction
presentation deals with the following
This

o, I Buot

E Alcala, L Dolar
Gonzalez
taxonomic groups:

hotos: E Fernando
J Maypa, J G
Flowering Plants and Ferns
-- E.S. Fernando, I.E. Buot

Ph
Fishes
-- A.C. Alcala
Amphibians and Reptiles
-- A.C. Alcala, A. Diesmos
Birds
-- J.C. Gonzalez
Mammals
--L.M.Dolar, E.L.Alcala, B.Tabaranza
 Philippine
Fl
Flowering
i Plants
Pl
by E.S. Fernando
Department of Forest Biological Sciences
College of Forestry and Natural Resources
University off the Philippines Los Baos
 Plants are the primary
producers andd provide the
th habitat
infrastructure
f
for many ecosystems.
t
 NATIONNAL GEOGRAPHIC
Plants are an
food
important
source for us
and our wildlife.
Ptenochirus jagori feeding
on fruits of Ficus nota

NATIONAL GEOGGRAPHIC
Pl t have great
Plants
economic
i
importance
t and
potential
Plants play a key role in maintaining
th b
the i ecological
basic l i l balance
b l and
d
ecosystem stability.

Plants provide ecological goods

d services, i.e
and i .
clean air, potable water, fertile soils.
 Estimated number of species of plants (including
algae, fungi, & lichens) currently known from the Philippines

Plant Group Estimated Number of Endemic

p
Species Species
p
Angiosperms 8,120 5,800 (71%)
Gymnosperms
y p 33 6 ((18%)
Pteridophytes 1,100 285 (26%)
Bryophytes
yop ytes 1,271
, 195
95 (15
( 5%)
Algae 1,355 ?
Fungi, slime molds, 3,555 ?
& water molds
Lichens 789 ?
(data from Gruezo 1979; DENR-UNEP 1997; Villareal & Fernando 2000; Barcelona 2002)
Fernando et al. (2006)
 Threatened plants of the Philippines
(2005 assessment by the Philippine Plant Conservation Committee)

Plant Group CR EN VU OTS OWS PE All

C t
Categories
i
Angiosperms 85 142 124 56 71 2 480

G
Gymnosperms - 9 2 - - - 11

Pteridophytes 9 35 51 8 99 1 203

Bryophytes - 2 - - - - 2
All Taxonomic 94 188 177 64 170 3 696
Groups
CR Critically Endangered; EN Endangered; VU- Vulnerable; OTS Other Threatened Species;
OWS Other Wildlife Species; PE Possibly Extinct.
Fernando et al. (2006)
 CENTERS OF PLANT DIVERSITY in the Philippines
areas rich in plant species, large number of endemic species,
diverse range of habitats.
1 Sierra Madre Mountains 11 Southern Samar 7
Luzon Island Samar Island
12 Mt Guiting-
Guiting-guiting 2
2 Mt Pulag Luzon Island
Sibuyan Island 1
3 Mt Arayat Luzon Island 13 Mt Kanlaon Negros Island 3
14 Mt Talinis + Lake Balinsayao 4
4 Mt Makiling Luzon Island 5 6
Negros Island*
8 12
5 Lobo, Batangas 9
15 Mt Baloy
B l Panay Island* 11
Luzon Island* 15
13
6 Mt Isarog Luzon Island 16 Mt Kitanglad Mindanao Island 10
14
17
7 Mt Iraya Batan Island 17 Agusan Marsh Mindanao Island 16
18
8 Mt Halcon Mindoro Island* 18 Mt Apo Mindanao Island

9 Coron
C Island
I l d
10 Palawan Island
Fernando et al. (2006)
Cox 1988, DENR-UNEP 1997
Philippines

88
Conservation
Priority
y Areas
for Plants
~ Important
I t t
Plant
a t Areas
eas
Based on presence of endangered
species, endemism and taxon
richness,
i h habitat
h bit t diversity,
di it degree
d
of exploration

Fernando et al. (2006)

 Philippine Ferns
Non Seed-
Seed-bearing Vascular Plants
by I.E. Buot Jr.
Institute of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
U i
University
it off the
th Philippines
Phili i Los
L Baos
B
Pteridophytes

ot
Photos byy J Maypa & I Buo
1100 species
144 genera
39 families
(Barcelona 2002)

Buot (2006)
Fourty-nine (49) species are
Threatened
(Tan et al 1986, Madulid 2000)

logging
slash and burn
b rn farming
over collection
etc.

Buot (2006)
 All the 26 endemic
Cyathea species are
vulnerable or potentially
endangered
(Madulid 2000)

Trunks of Cyathea
spp. harvested for
Ornamental Use
Buot (2006)
 Cyathea
y croziers
harvested from Mt. Mayon
as Teddy bears

Lycopodium spp.
collected
ll t d from the
forests of Quezon Buot (2006)
Overcollection
of
Platycerium
coronarium
from the
wilderness
ild of
Quezon, Laguna,
Albay, etc

Buot (2006)
Why Conserve the ferns
and their allies??
allies
Food
Ornamental
Medicine
Handicraft
etc.
(Zamora and Co 1986)

Buot (2006)
Philippine
Phili i Freshwater
F h t &
Marine Fishes
by A.C. Alcala
Silliman University - Angelo King
Center for Research and Environmental Management
Silliman Beach, Dumaguete City
 Freshwater Fishes
Flock of

result of explosive evolution of

Cyprinids
18 species
i
5 genera encyclopedia thefreedictionary com Cyprinus carpio
encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

17 species
p genera are endemic
in 4 g
-George Myers (1959)

Probably
Probably, only 3-4
3 4 species Exist!
A.C. Alcala (2006)
 Phottos by J Maypa & B Stockwell
TOP CARNIVOROUS
Marine Fishes
Fi h
69 species
i
4 Families
Serranidae

Carangidae Lutjanidae Lethrinidae

A.C. Alcala (2006)
 Maypa
The top

Photos by J M
carnivorous fish is
first to disappear and
last to appear
in exploited reefs

A.C. Alcala (2006)

The carrying capacity is probably reached for
Species richness
but not for Biomass.
30 35
Diversityy Biomass

25 30

)
2
y = -0.0493x + 2.0024x + 3.0381

-2
25

Recovery is
2

B iomass (K g5000m
20 R = 0.9692

No. of speciies
20

slow and only when 15

15

protected. 10

2
10

5 y = 0.0781x - 0.0234x + 0.5005 5

2
R = 0.9777
ockwell

0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Photos:: J Maypa & B Sto

Years of Protection

Recovery of top carnivorous fish

in 4 Families
F ili in MPAs
MPA
(source: B Stockwell, APCRS 2006)

A.C. Alcala (2006)

The original
g species
p richness before
intense exploitation is unknown.

MPAs are useful to

by J Maypa
patterns
tt

Photo b
show
h of

recovery on
coral reefs only
-- slow, decades

A.C. Alcala (2006)

Philippine
pp Amphibians
p
and Reptiles
A C Alcala1
by A.C. A. Diesmos2
and A
1Silliman University - Angelo King
Center for Research &
E i
Environmentalt l Management
M t
Silliman Beach, Dumaguete City

2NationalMuseum of the Philippines

P d Burgos
Padre B Ave.,
A E
Ermita,
it Manila
M il
 J Mayypa, E & A Alcala
Estimated number of species of amphibians
in the Philippines
Phili i
Amphibian # Species # in Forest
Caecilians 3 3 100.0 %
Frogs & Toads 99 84 84.9 %
TOTAL 102 87 85 3 %
85.3

More than 100 species, will increase with refinements

in systematics
t ti
7 Families, mostly Ranids & Rhacophorids
Up to 63
63%% determined to be near threatened
h d to
endangered
AC Alcala & A Diesmos (2006)
 os: J Maypa
Photo
Estimated number of species of reptiles
in the Philippines
Phili i
Reptile # Species # in Forest
Lizards 107 82 76.6 %
Snakes 85 62 72.9 %
Turtles 3 2 66.7 %
Crocodiles 2 1 50.0 %
TOTAL 197 147 74.6 %
14 Families
Lizards & snakes are predominant
15 S i of sea snakes
Species k (Hydrophiids)
(H d hiid )
are excluded
AC Alcala & A Diesmos (2006)
 85%
85 % of the Amphibians and 75% of the Reptiles
are associated with Forests.

Photo by J Maypa
A hibi
Amphibians
- indicators of climate change
- 28 to 63
63%% Threatened to Criticallyy Endangered
g
Reptiles - Probably 30
30%% Threatened to Endangered
AC Alcala & A Diesmos (2006)
 os: J Maypa
Photo
Our study in SW Negros shows 20 20%
% species
locally extinct in 50
50--60 years
(Alcala E
(Alcala, E. et al
al. 2004
2004, Environmental Conservation journal)

Key Activity for conservation:

Protected areas by local stakeholders
Role of large
l species of Amphibians
A hibi &

Reptiles
p : nutrient cycling,
y g, leather industryy

AC Alcala & A Diesmos (2006)

 Philippine Birds
by J.C. Gonzalez
Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences
College of Arts & Sciences, and Museum of Natural History
University of the Philippines Los Baos
 Philippines is a global
hotspot for
AVIAN diversity and endemism.

ez
os by JC Gonzale
576 species

Photo
192 are endemic
(Collar et al., 1999)

JC Gonzalez (2006)
 Phottos: JC Gonzalez
At least 5 new species recently described
Bukidonon Woodcock (Scolopax bukidnonensis)
Calayan Rail (Gallirallus calayanensis)
Camiguin Hanging Parrot (Loriculus camiguinensis)
Linas
Lina s Sunbird (Aethopyga linarabori)
Pygmy Frogmouth (Batrachostomus pygmaeus)

JC Gonzalez (2006)
 Phottos: JC Gonzalez
Taxonomy of Philippine Birds
Divided into two groups
Morphological (Gill 1990)
Bi h i l S
Biochemical Systematics
t ti (Sibley & Monroe 1991)
Checklist follows two sources
Kennedy et al., 2000 - 572 species
Bi dLif IInternational
BirdLife t ti l - 576 species
i
JC Gonzalez (2006)
 Phottos: JC Gonzalez
Threatened Philippine Bird Species
Year 1988 1994 1999 2006
C i i l
Critical 49 16 13 13
Endangered 32 13 12
Vulnerable 45 43 43
Data Deficient - 4 4
Near--threatened
Near 40 48 49 56
Collar & BirdLife
SOURCE Andrew
Collar et al
al. Collar et al.
al
International

JC Gonzalez (2006)
 Photos: JC Gonzalez
Extinct or Extirpated Birds
Some species are likely to be extinct, having not
been recorded for several years.

Fruit--Dove (Ptilinopus arcanus)

Negros Fruit
-nott seen since 1953
Sulu Bleedingheart (Gallicolumba menagei)
-not seen since
i 1891
Cebu Flowerpecker was reported extinct in
1901 but
1901, i 1992
b t was rediscovered in

JC Gonzalez (2006)
 otos: JC Gonzalez
Pho
Extinct or Extirpated Birds
Two subspecies are known to be
f ll extinct
functionally
ti ti t
Ticao Tarictic Hornbill
(Penelopides panini ticaensis)
Si
Siquijor
ij Hanging
H i Parrot
P t
(Loriculus philippensis siquijorensis)

JC Gonzalez (2006)
 Phottos: JC Gonzalez
Major
j Threats

Photo byy J Maypa

Habitat loss & conversion
Deforestation
D f t ti
Collection of secondary forest
products
Large scale land conversion
Encroachment off permanent &
shifting agriculture (kaingin)
Hunting and Poaching

JC Gonzalez (2006)
 Phottos: JC Gonzalez
Why conserve birds?
rich avifauna and center for global
Exceptionally
avian endemism
Biological indicators for diversity and
environmental health
Keystone species and form large
congregations
ti
Agents for both pollination and seed dispersal
and controlling pest populations
JC Gonzalez (2006)
Philippine
Phili i Marine
M i
Mammals
by M.L. Dolar
Tropical Marine Research for Conservation
6363 Lakewood St., San Diego, California
 Marine Mammals

Photos by L Dolar, B Pitman,, WWF

Order Cetacea 26 species
Baleen Whales = 5
Toothed Whales/Dolphins = 21
Toothed Whales/Dolphins
Order Sirenia 1 species
All 26 are threatened!!
threatened

Sirenia Baleen Whales

ML Dolar (2006)
AllWhales & Dolphins are threatened by
fish nets (gill
( ill nets,
t ring
i nets,
t d drift
ift nets,
t etc)
t )
often as by
by--catch of fishers

ML Dolar (2006)
 Rarest and Critically endangered!
g
Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)
O l
Only 77 Animals in
i 2000

Major threat 70% of 22,878

people in
i Malampaya Sound

Malampaya Sound
Protected Seascape since 2000

Frrom WWF-Phil.. Website

Geographic distribution
ML Dolar (2006)
 Rarest and Critically endangered!
g
Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

Best population estimate: 77 animals (CV= 27.4%)

ML Dolar (2006)
 Threats to the Irrawaddy dolphins
1. Burgeoning human population
27,, 828 people,
p p , 70% are fishermen
growth rate = 6.67% (birth & immigration)

2. Entanglement in fishing nets and

structures
3. Heavy boat traffic
4. Eutrophication

ML Dolar (2006)
 SIRENIANS: Dugongs
g g
Note: IUCN Red Data List
whale-like
flukes (2000) Threatened
Species vulnerable to
extinction at a global
g
scale

DENR Administrative
Order 55 (1991)
protected dugongs
p g g in
Philippine waters

G
Geographic
hi Di
Distribution
t ib ti

ML Dolar (2006)
 Threats to the Dugong Population
1. Fishing nets (e.g. crab nets, hulbot-
hulbot-hulbot)
2 Entrapment
2. E t t in fish pens
3. Blast fishingg
4. Habitat degradation
denudation of seagrass beds Hulbot-hulbot

Fish pen Dynamite casualty in 2004

ML Dolar (2006)
 Philippine Land
Mammals
E L Alcala1
b E.L.
by B Tabaranza2
& B.
1Silliman University-
University-Angelo King
Center for Research and Environmental Management
2/F SU Marine Lab., Silliman Beach, Dumaguete City, 6200

2Haribon Foundation, 140 Kalayaan Ave

Diliman, Quezon City
Land Mammals
179 species
111 are endemic

EL Alcala1 & B Tabaranza (2006)

Red List Mammals
Threatened Species
Families Species Endemic
Endangered Critical Vulnerable

12 49 45 15 7 27

Thehighest
g number of endangeredg
species in terms of per-unit area
Thehighest number of new species
discovered

EL Alcala1 & B Tabaranza (2006)

Strategies for Conservation
Strategies for Conservation and for
Preventing Extinction
Establish protected areas
Prevent alien species introduction
No introduction to new habitats
R -introduction
Re-
Re i d i of lostl species
i with
safeguards
Strategies for Conservation and for
Preventing Extinction
Re
Re--introduction of lost
species with safeguards
Preserve remnants of
original forest,
forest etc.
etc

inventory and
Practical
d
domestication
i i of usefulf l Philippine spotted
deer, fruit bat, and
plants Visayan warty pig
breeding facilities at
Captive breeding Silliman University
 Strategies for Conservation and for
Preventing Extinction
Ecotourism Now!
Before

Pamilacan Island, Bohol

Summary & Conclusions
 Summary of Conservation Status
Threatened to Critically
Taxonomic Species Endemic
Endangered as of 2006
Group Richness
Species % of total Species % of total

Plants 10,524 6,286 59.73 696 16.6

18, ca 4
Fish
still 17 94.1 4 100
(cyprinids)
existing(?)
Amphibians 102 76(?) ca 75 29(?) ca 28
28--63
Reptiles
197 138(?) ca 70 40(?) ca 20%(?)

576
Birds 192 33% 128 22

M i
Marine
26 - - 26 (1) 100 (4)
Mammals
Land
179 111 ca 67.4% 49 27
Mammals
Note: Numbers for land vertebrates are approximate
Total of 1,054 land vertebrates in 30 million hectares of land, but new systematics
reveals there will be more additions to total about 1,100.
 Summary & Conclusions
ThePhilippines is indeed a country of very high
biodiversityy in terms of species
p
hot spot because of high rates of habitat
But a
destruction & extinction
20%
20% of amphibians and reptiles locally extinct
i 50
in 50--60 years due to
t forest destruction and
d
fragmentation
 Summary & Conclusions
causes of decrease in abundance are heavy
Other
exploitation and hybridization with domestic
species,
i e.g. wild
ild pig
i on Negros,
N crocodiles
dil
Manyspecies of higher animals are threatened
due to alien species invasion, e.g. Cyprinids of
Lake Lanao
Many plant species are threatened with extinction
for various reasons
 Looking
g to the Future
At the end of the day, in a more
democratic world,
world it will be the
ethics and desires of the
ppeople
p , not their leaders, who
give power to government and
the NGOs or take it away. They
will
ill decide
d id andd choose
h
whether particular species will
live or die.
die

- E.O. Wilson (2002)