Species Richness and Endemism of Amphibian along the Riparian System of Clarin River, Misamis Occidental

The small island archipelago of the Philippines is both a megadiverse nation and global conservation hotspot. The combination of high biodiversity, together with high rates of forest loss and increasing human population places the country at the top global list for conservation. Amphibian communities are known to be sensitive to environmental changes, and their conservation is one of the main priorities for land vertebrates in the Philippines. Taking into account that amphibians are very good indicators of ecosystem health, a study on the anuran species in Clarin River, Misamis Occidental was conducted using the cruising method to determine the species richness and endemism of the amphibians present in the area. Data gathered in this study will serve as baseline information about the amphibian species in the river. Twelve species under ten genera and five families were recorded. Seven species (58.33%) are endemic which includes a Mindanao Faunal Region endemic, Hylarana grandocula and two Mindanao Island endemic, Ansonia muelleri and Ansonia mcgregori. Among the recorded endemic species, three are Vulnerable, and one is Near Threatened. The highest species richness (N=8) and species diversity (H'=1.829) were recorded at sampling site 2 (midstream). The threats in Clarin River include land conversion, anthropogenic disturbances and overhunting for food. The presence of vulnerable, near threatened, and endemic species indicates the need to protect the riparian system of the river.

 

Keywords: anurans, conservation, endemic, indicators, threats, land vertebrate