FIELD INVENTORY AND CONSERVATION OF PHILIPPINE LAND VERTEBRATES: TRAINING, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH PROJECT
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY :
Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) in coordination with Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau - Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DATE STARTED :
March 1992
FUNDING SOURCE :
Field Museum of Natural History
BACKGROUND INFORMATION :
A three (3) year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was entered between the FMNH and DENR to undertake the project. A series of MOA renewals was made which allowed the FMNH to continue the project to date.
Field inventories were conducted in biologically significant areas in the country including protected areas. Though the focus of the project is on the land vertebrates, other related research involving other species was also conducted to better understand the ecological needs of vertebrates. Filipino researchers/scientist from the academe and the DENR served as collaborators and/or trainees in the project. The Project had also benefited several foreign students who pursued research studies as affiliates of Dr. Heaney, FMNH's representative. Results of these inventories and studies had been presented to the scientific community in workshops and symposia. Vital information gathered, became one of the basis for conservation initiatives such as the establishment of protected areas.
OBJECTIVES :
* To conduct comprehensive/intensive survey of Philippine wildlife in selected areas of biogeographic conservation importance;
* To collect biological specimens of selected groups of animals for taxonomic and genetic studies.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS :
1) Discovery of new species of mammals in Camiguin Island;
- shrew (genus Crodura)
- small forest mouse (genus Apomys)
- large moss mouse (genus Tarsomys)
- shrew mouse (genus Crunomys)
2) Conducted inventories seven (7) major areas in the country:
- Mt. Kitanglad
- Camiguin Island
- Mt. Isarog
- Bataan in Mt. Of Zambales
- Zambales
- Panay
- Balbalan-Balbalasang, Kalinga, Apayao
3) Conducted ecological researches such as:
- "Mechanisms of Co-existence in a Philippine Microchipteran
Community, Mt. Makiling, Laguna." - Final report submitted
- "A study of seed dispersal ecology of Frugivorous bats and birds, and other Vertebrates on Mt. Kitanglad" - Final study report submitted
- "Birds and their Ectoparasites" conducted in Mt. Kitanglad,
Samal and Talikud Islands. - Results yet to be submitted
4) Published the following Books:
- Fieldiana " Synopsis of the Mammalian Fauna of the Philippines
- Fieldiana "Key to Bats of the Philippines"
- Fieldiana "The distribution and Ecology of mammals on leyte, Biliran and maripipi, Isabela
Philippines"
- Fieldiana "The birds of Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Philippines with particular reference to
elevational distribution and biogeographic affinities"
- Fieldiana "Philippine Rodents: Definition of Tarsomys and Limnomys plus preliminary assessment of phylogenetic patterns among native Philippine Murines
(Murinae, Meridae)"
- "Vanishing Treasures of the Philippine Rainforest"
5) Discovery/rediscovery of species
- Rediscovery of two mammal species: Shrew-like rat (Rynchomys soricoides)
and a small insect-eating bat (genus promops)
- Discovery of two unidentified frog species
- Reported 37 new records of birds in Panay
ON-GOING ACTIVITIES:
* Vertebrate inventory in Balbalan-Balbalasang
* Preparation of scientific papers
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