Monitoring mammalian diversity in the Philippines: a discussion of issues
1997
Heaney, L. (Field Museum and Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605 (USA))
Successful conservation of biotic diversity requires that populations and communities be monitored to determine if they are in a state of decline. In designing a monitoring program, the following suggestions should be considered: 1.) the specific objectives of the monitoring program should be clearly defined at the outset of the project, including the methods designed to meet the objectives; 2.) Because the mammals of the Philippines are still poorly known, a thorough initial survey/inventory of the mammals of the study area must be conducted to provide baseline data, even if only a few species will be monitored later in the project. Voucher specimens should be prepared and deposited in a suitable museum collection, identified by knowledgeable experts, and referred to in any publication or report. Voucher specimens should be available for use by all wildlife biologist; 3.) Because communities of mammals vary greatly along elevational gradients, if the study area includes mountains or hills, the inventory and monitoring programs must include samplings at representative elevations; 4.) Because communities of mammals vary greatly along disturbance gradients, sampling sites must include representative of habitats in all degree of disturbance; 5.) Sampling techniques must use appropriate methods for the species of interest. Direct observation of some species is possible and suitable (for example, monkeys), but not others. Bats are usually best sampled using mist nests, although some (but not all) cave-dwelling species can be observed directly inside caves. Some small mammals can be captured in live-traps, but others will not enter live-traps and so much be snap-trapped
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