Amphibians and Reptiles in Selected Sites in Palawan Province, the Philippines
Citation
Pili A (2019). Amphibians and Reptiles in Selected Sites in Palawan Province, the Philippines. Version 1.2. HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc.. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/owrzuc accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-01.Description
We report here a sample-event dataset of herpetofaunal surveys conducted by HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc., and partners in selected sites in Palawan Province, the Philippines. We used a combination of systematic sampling using standardized techniques and opportunistic sampling to survey the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the following sites: (1) Mabentangen Creek, Barangay Poblacion 6, Municipality of Coron, Busuanga Island; (2) Estrella River Falls Park, Barangay Estrella, Municipality of Narra, Palawan Island; (3) Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island; (4) Palawan Center for Sustainable Development Training Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island. Our survey resulted in distribution records of 14 species of frogs and toads (Class Amphibia: Order Anura: seven families), seven species of snakes, lizards, and geckos (Class Reptilia: Order Squamata: three families) and one turtle (Class Reptilia: Order Testudines:Family Geomydidae). More importantly, we present here our survey on the abundance of amphibian and reptiles in human-modified and disturbed natural habitats in the surveyed sites. Several species have yet to be identified. These results contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the distribution of many species in the region.
This survey is part of an invasive alien species-targeted monitoring programme and a long-term biodiversity monitoring programme of HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc. The dataset will be updated annually by HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc. The development of this dataset was made possible through the project of HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc., in collaboration with the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (BMB-DENR) and The University of Santo Tomas – Biodiversity, Ecology, Systematics, and Taxonomy Group (BEST): “Alien Amphibians and Reptiles, a Threat to Philippine Biosecurity: Developing a National Invasive Alien Amphibian and Reptile Species Inventory and Occurrence Database and an Observation and Monitoring System” Project (BIFA03_26) funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
The general geographic coverage of this dataset is Palawan Province, the Philippines. This dataset comprise of sample-event data from herpetofaunal surveys conducted in: (1) Mabentangen Creek, Barangay Poblacion 6, Municipality of Coron, Busuanga Island; (2) Estrella River Falls Park, Barangay Estrella, Municipality of Narra, Palawan Island; (3) Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island; (4) Palawan Center for Sustainable Development Training Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island.Sampling
We conducted systematic herpetofaunal surveys following the protocol of timed visual encounter survey (transect and patch sampling method; Crump & Scott 1994). We established a total of thirty 10 X 100m standardized transect strips, spaced 100m apart, in different habitat types (e.g., along the road, along streams in secondary growth forests, trail and non-trail transects in secondary growth forests), in an effort to avoid sampling bias. Moreover, we established one-hectare habitat patches in human-modified habitats (e.g., agricultural and built-up areas). We surveyed transect and habitat patches for approximately 45 minutes during day-light (07:00–10:00 h) and at night (18:00–23:00 h). To avoid disturbance, we made sure that transects surveyed during the day were not traversed at night, and vice-versa, on successive days/nights. We also conducted general observations and opportunistic sampling around the camp and trails to maximize information collected from the study areas. We searched for animals by visually scanning the ground, over rocks and boulders, in pits, cavities, and crevices of limestone karsts, and vegetation, while raking the forest floor litter, probing epiphytes and tree hollows, upturning dead logs, debris, rocks, and man-made items. The animals that we encountered during the surveys were recorded, as were associated data, including their habitat and activity upon first notice (e.g., calling, foraging, mating, etc.). We collected a limited number of voucher specimens for each species that was encountered and were preserved following McDiarmid (1994) and Gotte et al. (2016). We followed the field survey protocols as outlined in an existing active Wildlife Gratuitous Permit to Collect (GP) No. 2018-33 (c/o Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, Arman N. Pili, and colleagues HerpWatch Pilipinas, inc.) provided by the Palawan Center for Sustainable Development. We followed Brown & Alcala (1978), Brown & Alcala (1980), Alcala and Brown (1998), and Alcala (1986) for initial species identification. These identifications were verified by A.C. Diesmos. We adopted the taxonomic arrangements of AmphibiaWeb (2019), Amphibian species of the world (Frost 2019), and the Reptile Database (Uetz et al. 2019).Quality Control
The dataset was cleaned and validated using OpenRefine and Species Names Resolver. The dataset was standardized to Darwin Core format.Method steps
- Sampling and Survey method -- systematic herpetofaunal surveys following the protocol of timed visual encounter survey (transect and patch sampling method; Crump & Scott 1994). We established a total of thirty 10 X 100m standardized transect strips, spaced 100m apart, in different habitat types (e.g., along the road, along streams in secondary growth forests, trail and non-trail transects in secondary growth forests), in an effort to avoid sampling bias. Moreover, we established one-hectare habitat patches in human-modified habitats (e.g., agricultural and built-up areas). Survey method -- We surveyed transect and habitat patches for approximately 45 minutes during day-light (07:00–10:00 h) and at night (18:00–23:00 h). To avoid disturbance, we made sure that transects surveyed during the day were not traversed at night, and vice-versa, on successive days/nights. We also conducted general observations and opportunistic sampling around the camp and trails to maximize information collected from the study areas. We searched for animals by visually scanning the ground, over rocks and boulders, in pits, cavities, and crevices of limestone karsts, and vegetation, while raking the forest floor litter, probing epiphytes and tree hollows, upturning dead logs, debris, rocks, and man-made items. The animals that we encountered during the surveys were recorded, as were associated data, including their habitat and activity upon first notice (e.g., calling, foraging, mating, etc.). The animals that we encountered during the surveys were recorded, as were associated data, including their habitat and activity upon first notice (e.g., calling, foraging, mating, etc.).
- Preservation method -- We collected a limited number of voucher specimens for each species that was encountered and were preserved following McDiarmid (1994) and Gotte et al. (2016). We followed the field survey protocols as outlined in an existing active Wildlife Gratuitous Permit to Collect (GP) No. 2018-33 (c/o Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, Arman N. Pili, and colleagues HerpWatch Pilipinas, inc.) provided by the Palawan Center for Sustainable Development.
- Permit -- We followed the field survey protocols as outlined in an existing active Wildlife Gratuitous Permit to Collect (GP) No. 2018-33 (c/o Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, Arman N. Pili, and colleagues HerpWatch Pilipinas, inc.) provided by the Palawan Center for Sustainable Development.
- Specimen identification and taxonomic reference -- We followed Brown & Alcala (1978), Brown & Alcala (1980), Alcala and Brown (1998), and Alcala (1986) for initial species identification. These identifications were verified by A.C. Diesmos. We adopted the taxonomic arrangements of AmphibiaWeb (2019), Amphibian species of the world (Frost 2019), and the Reptile Database (Uetz et al. 2019).
Taxonomic Coverages
-
Leptobrachium tagbanorumrank: species
-
Megophrys ligayaerank: species
-
Kaloula pulchrarank: species
-
Staurois nubilusrank: species
-
Barbourula busuangensisrank: species
-
Limnonectes acanthirank: species
-
Sanguirana sanguinearank: species
-
Pulchrana moellendorffirank: species
-
Ingerophrynus philippinicusrank: species
-
Cyclemys dentatarank: species
-
Gekko palawanensisrank: species
-
Fejervarya vittigerarank: species
-
Hoplobatrachus rugulosusrank: species
-
Draco palawanensisrank: species
-
Chaperina fuscarank: species
-
Dendrelaphis levitonirank: species
-
Dendrelaphis marenaerank: species
-
Coelognathus philippinusrank: species
-
Polypedates macrotisrank: species
-
Bronchocela cristatellarank: species
-
Occidozyga laevisrank: species
Geographic Coverages
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Arman Pilioriginator
position: Science Research Specialist
HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc.
#1198 Benavidez St., Unit 1202, Tondo
Manila City
1003
Metropolitan Manila
PH
email: armannorciopili@gmail.com
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3952-9732
Arman Pili
metadata author
position: Science Research Specialist
HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc.
#1198 Benavidez St., Unit 1202, Tondo
Manila City
1003
Metropolitan Manila
PH
email: armannorciopili@gmail.com
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3952-9732
user
position: Hosting Institution
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Universitetsparken 15
Copenhagen
DK-2100
DK
Telephone: +45 35 32 14 70
email: info@gbif.org
homepage: https://www.gbif.org/
user
Biodiversity Management Bureau - Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center
Quezon City
1100
Metropolitan Manila
PH
Telephone: +(63 2) 9246031-35
email: bmb@bmb.gov.ph
homepage: http://www.bmb.gov.ph/
user
position: Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
Puerto Princesa South Road
Puerto Princesa City
5300
Palawan
PH
user
Tourism Office, Municipality of Narra, Palawan Province
Municipality Hall
Narra
Palawan
PH
Arman Pili
administrative point of contact
position: Science Research Specialist
HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc.
#1198 Benavidez St., Unit 1202, Tondo
Manila City
1003
Metropolitan Manila
PH
email: armannorciopili@gmail.com
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3952-9732
Mae Diesmos
administrative point of contact
position: Corporate Secretary
HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc.
#1198 Benavidez St., Unit 1202, Tondo
Manila City
1003
Metropolitan Manila
PH
email: maediesmos@gmail.com
userId: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TjboN7cAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Arvin Diesmos
administrative point of contact
position: President
HerpWatch Pilipinas, Inc.
#1198 Benavidez St., Unit 1202, Tondo
Manila City
1003
Metropolitan Manila
PH
email: arvin.diesmos@gmail.com
userId: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=https://scholar.google.com.ph/citations?user=eR3NvCYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao