The Anurans of Agusan Marsh

THE ANURANS OF AGUSAN MARSH

Merlita

Lopez-Almeria

and Olga M. Nuñeza

Department of Biological Sciences

School of Graduate Studies

MSU- Iligan Institute of Technology, Tibanga Iligan City

Why Agusan Marsh?

largest marshland in Asiastores more than 15% of the nation’s freshwater resourceecologically significant wetland;host and protect rare, threatened & endangered species;has a number of pristine habitats;

WHAT ARE AMPHIBIANS?

amphi = “both” bios = “life”

101 Species in the Philippines 79 Endemic (Diesmos,2005)

21 Species previously recorded (Agusan marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Profile)

12 Species and 7 Endemic

(Basilan and Ibañez, 2005 unpublished)

Data on Amphibians

Importance of Amphibians?

Bioindicator

Source Food

Source of MedicineEnergy Flow

Biological Control

Models in Scientific Studies

Objectives of the Study(1) To determine the current status of amphibians in

the marsh.(2) To determine the Species composition and

Abundance of amphibians in the four habitat types in Agusan marsh.

(3) To determine the endemic and threatened species present in the area.

(4) To generate a list of socio-economically important species of amphibians and its threats in the Marsh.

Agusan Marsh, Province of Agusan del Sur

Sago Forest (Site 1)

Study Area

Terminalia Forest (Site 2)

Study Area

Mixed-swamp Forest (Site 3)

Study Area

Peat Swamp Forest (Site 4)

Study Area

SAMPLING PROCEDURE1. Quadrat Sampling

2. Opportunistic Approach

3. Pitfall Traps Methods

4. Ethnobiological Survey

Results18 Species of Anurans recorded

Threatened:

4 Vulnerable

1 Near Threatened

13 Least Concern

Endemics: 55.55%

4 Philippine Endemic

2 Mindanao Faunal Endemic

1 Mindanao Island Endemic

3 New species

ResultsNew species

Philautus sp.

Oreophryne sp.1 Oreophryne sp.2

Results

Vulnerable frogs

Philautus acutirostris Philautus poecilus

Rhracophorus bimaculatus

Limnonectes parvus

Sago ForestTerminalia

ForestMixed Swamp

ForestPeat swamp

Forest TOTALFamily Bufonidae

Bufo marinus 0 16 0 68 84Family Microhylidae

Kaloula baleata 1 4 0 0 5Kaloula conjuncta

meridionalis 0 3 2 2 7Oreophryne sp.1 4 10 1 0 15Oreophryne sp.2 1 2 3 0 6

Familly RanidaeOccidozyga laevis 65 55 14 28 162

Genus RanaFejervarya cancrivora 49 108 51 30 238Fejervarya limnocharis 24 62 18 19 123Limnonectes parvus 2 12 3 5 22Limnonectes leytensis 2 27 22 17 68Limnonectes woodworthi 25 35 39 43 142Rana everetti 4 11 6 6 27

List of Anurans in Agusan Marsh I

Sago Forest

TerminaliaForest

Mixed SwampForest

Peat swampForest TOTAL

Family RhacpphoridaeGenus Philautus

Philautus sp. 5 1 1 0 7Philautus acutirostris 0 5 2 3 10Philautus poecilus 5 1 1 0 7

Genus RhacophorusPolypedates leucomystax 10 10 25 12 57Rhacophorus appendiculatus 7 15 3 4 29Rhacophorus bimaculatus 3 2 1 2 8

Total Number of Individuals 207 379 192 239 1075

Total Number of Species 15 18 16 13 18

Total Number of Endemics 9 10 10 6 10Total Number of Threatened

Species 7 8 8 4 8

List of Anurans in Agusan Marsh II

Anurans of Agusan MarshFamily Ranidae

Anurans of Agusan Marsh

Microhylidae Bufonidae

Ranidae

Anurans of Agusan Marsh

Rhacophoridae

1

2

3

Threats of Anurans in the Marsh

Pollution of rivers and streams

Threats of Anurans in the MarshUse as food

Threats of Anurans in the MarshDraining of swamps for agriculture

Threats of Anurans in the Marsh

Introduction of alien species

Diversity of anurans is high with 55.55% endemism in Agusan marsh.

Abundant species are socio-economically important frogs in the marsh.

Discovery of species new to science suspected as native to Agusan.

Terminalia and Mixed-swamp forests are rich in anuran species.

Most of the endemic species are facing threats in the marsh.

C

CONCLUSION

Further study on the biology of the new frog species.

Further study on the alien or invasive species particularly its effect on the ecology of the marsh.

To have a constant amphibian monitoring.Provision of health, education and development

services to the people that channeled towards conservation in the marsh appears to be necessary.

C

RECOMMENDATION

Thank you…