Relationship of environmental parameters with herpetofauna diversity and distribution in Mt. Buktot, Cataduanes, Luzon Island, Philippines
2024
Vargas, M.G.
This study provides updated and comprehensive data on the herpetofauna species composition and distribution in Mt. Buktot, Catanduanes [Philippines] in relation to current biological, physical, and ecological factors. Active surveys were used to generate species diversity and distribution and correlate such data with the relevant ecological parameters. Land use change was also determined by generating maps from pre-existing data. The results of this study show an increase in cultivated areas mostly with abaca within a decade. This was correlated with herpetofauna diversity to assess the initial impact of habitat fragmentation. A diverse group of herpetofauna species are present in both abaca plantations and forest areas. However, thirty-nine percent (39%) of the species observed in abaca plantations can tolerate high anthropogenic disturbances including two invasive alien species (IAS) Rhinella marina and Kaloula pulchra. Notably, Platymantis corrugatus, Platymantis luzonensis, Kaloula picta, Pseudorhabdium mcnamarae, Rhabdophis spilogaster, and Trimeresurus flavomaculatus, endemic and highly sensitive to environmental changes are only observed in forest areas. These findings are highly influenced by the key environmental parameters which presented a 30% value of the coefficient of variance indicating that the results presented are near the actual condition of the environment. The results of this study are expected to provide scientific references that can be used in the formulation of a suitable conservation and management plan.
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