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Habitat destruction and snake persecution are the leading causes of the decline of snake populations worldwide, highlighting the need to formulate scientifically robust conservation management plans that incorporate an understanding of local public attitudes toward snakes. We conducted an in-person survey of 968 residents of Maguindanao Provinces, Mindanao Island, Philippines, to investigate attitudes toward snakes and assess the effects of knowledge about snakes, worldviews, and demographic characteristics on the support for snake conservation. Survey participants were primarily intolerant of and aversive to snakes but generally supported their conservation. Additionally, they were knowledgeable about the behavior of snakes, and shared either highly moralistic or dominionistic worldviews of nature, while most did not believe in folklore traditions. High levels of knowledge about the behavior of snakes, positive folkloric beliefs, high tolerance and low aversion to the presence of snakes, and moralistic worldviews positively affected support for snake conservation. Female participants were less tolerant and more averse to snakes than males. Participants with higher levels of education were more tolerant and supportive of snake conservation than those with little or no education. Farmers were less supportive of snake conservation than non-farmers. Our survey results provide important information to understand how cognitions, folklore, and demographics influence snake conservation on an island in the Philippines. This information may be valuable to government agencies and various stakeholders that could use it to design effective strategies for promoting snake conservation in the country, or other countries with similar societal systems and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Begonia section Petermannia, Begonia kelumaged Mazo & Rubite and B. pinulon Mazo & Rubite from the province of Zamboanga del Norte, southwestern Philippines, are hereby described. Begonia kelumaged is morphologically similar to B. bangsamoro but can be distinguished in having triangular stipules, axillary and solitary inflorescence, and smaller ovary. Begonia pinulon resembles B. everettii but differs in having oblanceolate to obovate leaf with obliquely cordate leaf base, longer panicles, narrower capsules with unequal wings. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, ecology, and proposed conservation status for the two new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindanao, one of the three major groups of islands in the Philippines, is known for its diverse and unique species. Despite its biological significance, conservation efforts aimed at protecting its wildlife have been inadequate. To address this, a comprehensive biodiversity synthesis was conducted, focussing on the birds and mammals of Mindanao. This analysis was based on published papers from 2000 to 2022, aiming to identify conservation priorities at both species and site levels. This present synthesis of 69 bird and mammal articles accounted for 404 species of birds (83%) and mammals (17%). As expected, the analysis found that endemic species are more vulnerable to extinction than widely distributed species. The study also showed that endemic and threatened species in Mindanao are more dependent on increasing the remaining forest cover. This study highlights the importance of biodiversity data synthesis to aid in conserving unique species in Mindanao and the need to prioritize conservation efforts based on the distribution and vulnerability of species. Increasing local conservation efforts and studies in Mindanao should be prioritized, particularly for understudied species, interactions, and sites. The findings of the current synthesis support the importance of increasing forest reserves and protected areas to circumvent biodiversity loss in Mindanao. Advocating for FAIR data sharing (referring to findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability) among institutions can improve the understanding of biodiversity patterns in Mindanao by ensuring easy access, integration, and reusability of data for research and conservation strategies. The approach used in this work could be applied in other taxonomic groups and sites for comparative analysis of priorities. The biodiversity patterns observed in Mindanao potentially apply to the Philippines as a whole, and these gaps need to be further addressed in future work and funding allocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the tribe Pachyrhynchini of the genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Pachyrhynchini) from the Mindanao Island, Philippines are described and illustrated: M. (M.) tetramaculatus sp. nov., M. (M.) fulvus sp. nov., M. (T.) unalineatus sp. nov., M. (T.) pseudolanaoensis sp. nov. The supplementary photographic and comparative material is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Philippine groundsnake Stegonotus muelleri is a non-venomous colubrid widely distributed in the Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex. Despite the species' regular sightings and occurrence in field surveys, sparse is known about its natural history, including its dietary habits. Although ophiophagy is frequent among elapids, Stegonotus muelleri has not been specifically reported to consume snakes. We provide the first account of ophiophagy in a colubrid snake, Stegonotus muelleri, on a lamphrophiid snake, Oxyrhabdium modestum, providing a glimpse into the species trophic role as a snake-eating predator, and suspected postfeeding behavior (limited mobility and aboveground perching spot) - essential information that augments the gaps in our understanding of the species' natural history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first record of C. granosa Heller, 1923 from the Mindanao Island, Zamboanga, Siocon is presented, extending knowledge on distribution range of the current species. Detailed description, photos of habitus as well as male genitalia are inclued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests are important coastal ecosystem considering its various ecosystem services. This study was conducted to generate an updated list and the current abundance of mangrove species in Timaco Mangrove Swamp located in Cotabato City, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Three sampling plots measuring 5 x 40 m were established in three identified sampling sites. Based on the result of the study, 15 species of mangroves were identified in Timaco Mangrove swamp. This number of species is higher compared to the previous study wherein 12 species were identified. With this number of species, seven species were considered new in the area, and five species were not recorded which were identified in the previous study. A total of 115 individuals were recorded in the present study which indicates a decrease of 79й compared to the previous study. Furthermore, the present study recorded two threatened species, namely, Aegiceras Ňoridum (Near Threatened) and Avicennia rumphiana (Vulnerable). Continuous anthropogenic activities were observed in the sampling sites which can be attributed to population decrease. Thus, the need for immediate local conservation is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 is the most speciose and complex amongst the tribe Pachyrhynchini with seven subgenera and more than 200 described species. The genus is endemic to the Philippines and remains largely unknown particularly in the less explored areas or mountains.Four new species of Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini), are described from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Brief bionomical notes and mimicry with their sympatric beetles and other insect counterparts are also reported.

Copyright of International Journal of Management Academy is the property of Uluslararasi Yonetim Akademisi Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Two new Begonia species, Begonia beringii and Begonia gampura, are reported from Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines. Begonia elatostematoides was rediscovered, and an amended description is provided. Colour plates, ecological notes, distribution map, and preliminary assessment of their conservation status are provided. This brings the total number of Begonia section Petermannia in Zamboanga Peninsula to 18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Management Academy is the property of Uluslararasi Yonetim Akademisi Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates the synoptic conditions that led to the heavy rainfall/flood (HRF) event in Mindanao Island, Philippines (122 −127°E; 5 −10°N), on January 2009 (JAN2009 HRF) that are less emphasized in previous works. Extensive flooding was reported over Cagayan de Oro City in the northern part of Mindanao, where the rainfall on January 10, 11, and 13, 2009, exceeded the 99th percentile of daily rainfall records of all January of the city from 1979 to 2017 by almost two times. A similar exceedance was also felt in Hinatuan station over the eastern coast of Mindanao Island on January 15, 2009. The interaction of a cold surge shearline over the northern Mindanao Island and the warm tropical easterlies led to enhanced moisture convergence. The warmer air mass is forced to ascend by the advancing colder air mass because it has lower density than the colder air mass. The enhanced moisture convergence and buoyancy difference by the air masses led to enhanced ascent and consequently rainfall along the cold surge shearline. Further analysis shows that enhanced anomalous easterly and northerly winds at 925 hPa are apparent over the Philippines. The anomalous easterly winds sustained the supply of warmer easterlies and collaboratively interacted with the northerly winds that supplied colder temperature air mass. The climatology of this HRF event was examined for all January from 1979 to 2017. The authors identified 15 other cases that are similar to the JAN2009 HRF event and performed lag composite analyses. The results show that the occurrence of these HRF events is facilitated by the southward expansion of the high-pressure system to the north of the Philippines, enhanced cold and warm temperature advections, and enhanced moisture convergence along the cold surge shearline. The results of this study have important implications for disaster mitigation during the northeast monsoon season when rainfall activities are, in general, less intensive over this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively limited information exists on Lake Wood's limnology and ecology, an ancestral lake of the Subanens. Here, we provide a limnological characterization of the lake -- exploring its physical, chemical, and biological features. The data on lake morphometry were gathered using an echosounder; lower depth water samples were collected using a Niskin water sampler for physicochemical analyses while surface water samples were collected at five sampling sites for phosphate (PO4) analysis; and zooplankton samples were collected at several depths through vertical towing in March-April 2019. Lake Wood, located at 320 m above sea level, has an extensive surface area covering 7.38 km² with a maximum depth of 85 m. Lake water comes from rainfall, small rivers, and groundwater and empties into the Dumanquilas Bay via its only outlet -- the Biswangan River. Land use of the lake is predominantly cultivated land. Moreover, based on the trophic state index (TSI), the lake's current trophic status is eutrophic. During the study periods, thermocline and oxycline formed at 15 m below the surface of the lake. We recorded three cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia cornuta, Diaphanosoma cf. sarsi, and Moina micrura) and one copepod species (Thermocyclops crassus) in the lake, all of which are common limnetic species found in the Philippines. Based on our findings, we recommend more efforts to manage and rehabilitate the lake to control and manage eutrophication's negative impacts. Finally, our study contributes to understanding lakes in Mindanao that are less represented in Philippine freshwater research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 is the most speciose and complex amongst the tribe Pachyrhynchini with seven subgenera and more than 200 described species. The genus is endemic to the Philippines and remains largely unknown particularly in the less explored areas or mountains. New information: Four new species of Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Pachyrhynchini), are described from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Brief bionomical notes and mimicry with their sympatric beetles and other insect counterparts are also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated trophic resource partitioning in seven syntopic anurans from low- and mid-elevation stream habitats of a tropical riparian ecosystem by utilising stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA). Our SCA data revealed dietary similarities, narrow trophic niche breadth, and low dietary niche overlap in Ansonia muelleri, Limnonectes magnus, Occidozyga laevis, Megophrys stejnegeri, Pulchrana grandocula, Sanguirana mearnsi, and Staurois natator which could be attributed to these anurans' selection of available local prey items. We confirmed ant-specialisation (myrmecophagy) of the Mindanao island endemic bufonid A. muelleri based on our temporal SCA dietary data. Our SIA estimates of assimilation of potential prey sources confirmed that L. magnus, P. grandocula, and O. laevis are generalist predators, opportunistically feeding on locally abundant insect prey items. This study on trophic resource partitioning in syntopic anurans provides the first picture of trophic interactions, i.e., predation and competition in stream communities in tropical riparian zones of a watershed ecosystem in northeast Mindanao of the southern Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates non-tropical cyclone (TC) related boreal winter heavy rainfall events that lead to extensive flooding (HRF) over the Philippines through a case study and composite analysis. The HRF event examined occurred during January 16–22, 2017 over Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) in Mindanao Island (122–127°E, 5–10°N). The accumulated rainfall over CDO reached by about 180 mm from 00 UTC January 16 to 00 UTC January 17, 2017, exceeding the climatological maximum daily rainfall in January over this area. The interaction of a westward propagating cyclonic circulation over Mindanao Island (MCC) and a shearline that is associated with an eastward-propagating cyclonic and anticyclonic circulations along 20–40°N, led to enhanced moisture convergence and rainfall over CDO. The climatology of these non-TC related HRF events was examined through composite analysis of the HRF events documented in the Dartmouth Flood Observatory archive from 1979 to 2017. The authors identified 34 of such cases over the Philippines, in which 25 occurred over Mindanao Island. The composites of the circulation features of these 25 cases resemble those during the January 2017 case. A vorticity budget analysis was performed to explain the propagation tendency of the MCC. The results show that the MCC only propagated westward when the magnitudes of the stretching and advection terms of the vorticity tendency equation are almost comparable with each other, together with the weakening of the southerly winds around Mindanao Island. This study reveals how cold fronts over the north Pacific together with the MCC induces HRF events over the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous people play a major role in the conservation of wildlife species in protected areas. This paper provides an insight on the involvement of indigenous people in protecting and hunting of wildlife species in Mt. Apo National Park, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Here, I assessed indigenous knowledge and practices towards wildlife hunting from three villages from Mt. Apo through immersions, interviews, and focus group discussion between May 2014 and January 2015. The majority of wildlife hunters I encountered were male and married between the ages of 35–60 years old. Commonly hunted wildlife species from the national park included large wildlife species such as the endemic and threatened Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis, Philippine Brown Deer Rusa marianna, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Reticulated Python Malayopython reticulatus, Common Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator and other large birds such as Rufous Hornbills Buceros hydrocorax, large dove species (i.e., Dacula spp.). In the past, wildlife hunting was most commonly done for sustenance and culture. But, poverty and the lack of alternative livelihoods have become a recent motivation to hunt wildlife. This current findings in this study suggest that wildlife are essential for indigenous people in protected areas, however, hunting practices should be monitored and provide alternative livelihood options to reduce threats. This study introduced the vital links between local communities and wildlife in protected areas. Thus, engaging and empowering indigenous people and local communities in wildlife protection combined with appropriate conservation planning are the first steps forward in attaining sustainable and effective local conservation in protected areas.

Two new species belonging to genus Pachyrhynchus are described from Mindanao Island: P. sergejevae sp. n. Rukmane, 2018; P. torresi sp. n. Rukmane, 2018. Pictures and description of habbitus are added, together with distribution maps for both of species. Male genitalia and female terminalia are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous people play a major role in the conservation of wildlife species in protected areas. This paper provides an insight on the involvement of indigenous people in protecting and hunting of wildlife species in Mt. Apo National Park, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Here, I assessed indigenous knowledge and practices towards wildlife hunting from three villages from Mt. Apo through immersions, interviews, and focus group discussion between May 2014 and January 2015. The majority of wildlife hunters I encountered were male and married between the ages of 35-60 years old. Commonly hunted wildlife species from the national park included large wildlife species such as the endemic and threatened Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis, Philippine Brown Deer Rusa marianna, Common Palm Civet Porodoxurus hermaphroditus, Reticulated Python Malayopython reticulatus, Common Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator and other large birds such as Rufous Hornbills Buceros hydrocorax, large dove species (i.e., Dacula spp.}. In the past, wildlife hunting was most commonly done for sustenance and culture. But, poverty and the lack of alternative livelihoods have become a recent motivation to hunt wildlife. This current findings in this study suggest that wildlife are essential for indigenous people in protected areas, however, hunting practices should be monitored and provide alternative livelihood options to reduce threats. This study introduced the vital links between local communities and wildlife in protected areas. Thus, engaging and empowering indigenous people and local communities in wildlife protection combined with appropriate conservation planning are the first steps forward in attaining sustainable and effective local conservation in protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Darbai ir Dienos is the property of Vytautas Magnus University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The spider fauna of Barangay Sinaloc, in El Salvador City was sampled from three cites (A, B and C) to assess the relative abundance, species diversity, evenness and their habitat preferences. A total of 187 individuals were collected from three families and nine genera. Most of the species collected came from the family Araneidae, with the two most dominant species being Araneus inustus L. Koch, 1871 and Gasteracantha clavigera Giebel, 1863. The majority of the collected spiders were from Site C, the least disturbed ecosystem. Overall, the species were variably distributed and with a moderate level of species diversity (H1 = 1.68). Spider species from Araneidae and Theridiidae preferred Site C as its habitat over the two other sites because it offers larger space for web construction in bushes and herbs, and because it is the least disturbed site. Several spider species collected did not show habitat preference because there was no significant difference in their distribution in the three sites sampled. Based on evidence from the collected data, Barangay Sinaloc in El Salvador City can still support spider life and diversity but regular follow-up studies must be conducted to further assess the condition of spider fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We conducted systematic mapping of Holocene marine terraces in eastern Mindanao Island, Philippines for the first time. Raised marine platforms along the 80-km-long coastline of eastern Davao Oriental Province are geomorphic evidence of tectonic deformation resulting from the westward subduction of the Philippine Sea plate along the Philippine trench. Holocene coral platforms consist of up to four terrace steps: T1: 1–5m, T2: 3–6m, T3: 6–10m, and T4: 8–12mamsl, from the lowest to highest, respectively. Terraces are subhorizontal, exposing cemented coral shingle and eroded coral heads, while terrace risers are 1–3m high. Radiocarbon ages, 8080–4140calyr BP, reveal that erosional surfaces were carved onto the Holocene transgressive reef complex which grew upward until ∼8000years ago. The maximum uplift rate is ∼1.5mm/yr based on the highest Holocene terrace at <11.4mamsl. The staircase topography and meter-scale terrace risers infer that at least four large earthquakes have uplifted the coast in the past ∼8000years. The deformation pattern of the terraces further suggests that seismic sources are probably located offshore. However, historical earthquakes as large as M W 7.5 along the Philippine trench were not large enough to produce meter-scale coastal uplift, suggesting that much larger earthquakes occurred in the past. A long-term tectonic uplift rate of ∼1.3mm/yr was also estimated based on Late Pleistocene terraces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hamiguitan Range is one of the wildlife sanctuaries in the Philippines having unique biodiversity resources that are at risk due to forest degradation and conversion of forested land to agriculture, shifting cultivation, and over-collection. Thus, it is the main concern of this research to identify and assess the endemic and endangered flora of Hamiguitan Range. Field reconnaissance and transect walk showed five vegetation types namely: agro-ecosystem, dipterocarp, montane, typical mossy and mossy-pygmy forests. Inventory of plant species revealed 163 endemic species, 35 threatened species, and 33 rare species. Assessment of plants also showed seven species as new record in Mindanao and one species as new record in the Philippines. Noteworthy is the discovery of Nepenthes micramphora, a new species of pitcher plant found in the high altitudes of Hamiguitan Range. This species is also considered site endemic, rare, and threatened. The result of the study also showed that the five vegetation types of Mt. Hamiguitan harbor a number of endangered, endemic, and rare species of plants. Thus, the result of this study would serve as basis for the formulation of policies for the protection and conservation of these species and their habitats before these plants become extinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the distributional range of the skink Emoia ruficauda (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Mindanao Island, Philippines. It says that Emoia ruficauda is the only endemic species of the genus Emoia in the country and it was found in disturbed and lowland habitats near freshwater. It also mentions that no further E. ruficauda material has been collected since 1923, because it is fairly common and the difficulty of conducting field work due to unstable law and order situation in some parts of the region. Moreover, most of the field research performed was centered on the mountainous region, while the species are lowland species.