Assessment of Mammals in the forest

ecosystem of Sitio Binbin, General

Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija

Charming Therese Sotelo

BSES3

Ms. Shirley Serrano

(Professor)
 Table of contents

Abstract…………………………………….………2
Introduction……………………………….………..3
Significance of the Study……………….………….4
Objective...………………………………………....4
Scope and Limitation……….………………..…….5
Statement of the Problem……………......………....5
Methodology…………………………………..…...5
Related Literature…………………..………………9
Result and Discussion…………………………….11
Conclusion…………………………………..……16
Recommendation…………………………………16
Literature Cited………..………………………….17

1
Abstract

Maintaining healthy ecosystems is a prerequisite for conserving biodiversity. The

complex nature of ecosystems often necessitates the use of indicator to monitor ecosystem

health. This review compiles existing selection criteria from the literature, evaluates

inconsistencies among these criteria, and proposes a step-wise selection process.

The unique mammal fauna of the Philippines, which includes one of the highest

concentrations of endemic species in the world, is dependent on natural forest habitats.

Currently, perhaps less than 8% of the original primary forest cover of the Philippines remains

intact, although many areas retain disturbed forest or support second-growth. Recent field

surveys conducted across gradients of habitat disturbance reveal how native and non-native small

mammals. In general, species are most diverse and abundant in habitats that are relatively

undisturbed, but many occur in disturbed forest and some persist in second-growth. Mammals

have variable tolerance for disturbance; many can persist in moderately disturbed habitat and can

re-colonize areas that have been severely disturbed if such areas are allowed to regenerate. These

results suggest that protection of remaining forests together with restoration of degraded habitats

can be an effective conservation strategy for native small mammals.

2
Introduction

The Philippines is one of 18 mega-biodiverse countries of the world, containing two-

thirds of the earth’s biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plant and animal

species. The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the

world’s flora. Species endemism is very high, covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49% of

terrestrial wildlife, while the country ranks fourth in bird endemism (UNEP 1995). Wildlife is the

animals that live freely in the natural environment. Wildlife includes all species--game and

nongame. These wildlife species and numerous others provide us with beauty, recreation,

economic opportunities, and maintain our quality of life by regulating and modifying how our

ecosystems function. Wildlife needs a place to live. For people, such a place is called ―home‖.

For wildlife, the place is called ―habitat‖. But wildlife habitat is not just trees, shrubs, grass or

crops. It is a complex mixture of plant communities, water, weather, animals and other

environmental features that provide the cover and food that wildlife need. Habitat selection is

usually evaluated by comparing utilization of a habitat relative to its availability (Neu et al.

1974). The necessity of determining preference or avoidance of a given habitat or plant species in

terms of its availability has long been recognized (Glading et al. 1940, Bellrose and Anderson

1943).

The mammalian fauna of the Philippine Islands is remarkably diverse and species-rich,

comprising what may be the greatest concentration of endemic mammals of any country on earth

(Heaney et al.1998).With 174 mammalian species (111 are endemic), the archipelago has the

greatest concentration of terrestrial mammalian diversity in the world and the greatest

concentration of endemic mammals in the world on a per unit basis. Unfortunately, the mammal

3
assemblage in the Philippines is the 8th most threatened in the world, with 50 threatened species

(BMB-PAWB 2011).

The evolutionary history and ecological relationships of Philippine mammals have been

shaped by their dependence on natural forest habitats. Unfortunately, nearly all areas of the

country have seen the degradation of old-growth forests and it is obvious that forest destruction

is the primary threat to Philippine wildlife (Heaney and Regalado 1998; map ref). However, the

manner in which species and communities respond to different levels of disturbance, as well as

their responses to habitat restoration, are largely unknown.

Significance of the Study

The purpose of this study is to communicate from reliable sources; it is the good practice

for every Environmental Science (major in Biology) student to enhancing their skills regarding

to field studies or field works. It also provide further explanations and information in terms on

the assessment of biological diversity of mammals.

Objectives

1. To assess the diversity of mammals present in Sitio Binbin, General Luna, Carranglan,

Nueva Ecija.

2. To described, classify and identify the mammals (Volant or Non-Volant mammals) in the

forest ecosystem.

3. To observed the degradation impacts of human on the forest ecosystem of Sitio Binbin,

General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

4
Scope and Limitation

The study was focused on the assessment of Non-Volant mammals in the forest

ecosystem of Sitio Binbin,General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija and the study was conducted

within three days and two nights on April 29 to May 1 during second semester at the year of

2016.

Statement of the Problem

1. What are the mammals present in Sitio Binbin, General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija?

2. What is the importance of Non-Volant mammals in the forest ecosystem?

3. What are the Environmental degradation impacts of human on the forest ecosystem of

Sitio Binbin, General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija?

Methodology

Location of the Study

Carranglan is situated in Nueva Ecija, Region 3, Philippines, its geographical coordinates

are 15° 57' 38" North, 121° 3' 50" East (Figure 1). The municipality of Carranglan is seated

about 48 km north of province capital Palayan City and about 154 km north of Philippine main

capital Manila. Assessment of animals will be conducted in the selected forest ecosystem of Sitio

Binbin, Barangay General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

5.
Collection and Identification
The animals were recorded by monitoring the number of sightings. The following

informations were gathered for the animals that were observed: common name, habitat,

morphological description of the animal, ethnobiological information (benefits/uses, values,

associated beliefs and practices, etc.) Ethnobiological or ethnopharmaceutical or ethnomedicinal

information of the recorded and collected animals was gathered through secondary data sources

by means of research to possible articles.

Collection of the representative animals that were not known or not identified were

conducted through the use of improvised trap. Animals that were considered endangered were

not collected but instead were photographed in their natural habitats. Pertinent information

regarding their habitat, and ecological importance were noted prior to preservation. All

collected animals were identified and classified based on available Taxonomic Keys.

Given that one of the extensive and substantial reasons for conducting this study was

biodiversity monitoring, the transect method was chosen to be the method to be used in the

monitoring activity. Since in biodiversity monitoring, it is desired to see the change, or how the

floral and faunal species change under different and distinct altitudinal zonation along layering

ecosystems, which in turn can vaguely provide knowledge on how the change took place in the

area that may be due to varying environmental condition.

6.
 Day observation: Transect method

1. Within each permanent monitoring plot, a 2-km trail that traverses different

elevations, habitats and forest types was established.

2. Every 100 metres above sea level (masl), alternating transects perpendicular to the

trail were established.

3. An alternating 20x20m plots 5m away from the transect at 100m intervals (with

consideration for slope and safety) were marked.

4. GPS (Global Positioning System) points were recorded and each plots were

photographed.

Searching for Non-Vomammals

1. Within each plot, potential macrohabitats (e.g. streams, pools, tree ohles, burrows,

underneath fallen logs) were looked at.

2. The species and number of individuals encountered in each plot were photographed and

noted.

3. Take morphometrics then release where the species was captured

Night observation:

Observation of reptiles was also done at the nearby stream during the night starting from

8PM to 10PM along the distance of 1 kilometre, searched for microhabitats or traces in the

meander and in nickpoints or below the rocks to see there are species resting below it.

7.
Daily Monitoring Schedule

Time Activity

1st day – 2:00PM-5:00PM Initial observation of reptile species

1st day – 8:00PM-10:00PM Stream watching

2nd day – 9:00AM-6:00PM Whole day observation

2nd day – 8:00-10:00PM Stream Watching

3rd day – 10:00AM-12:00PM By chance method of observation on a nearby

stream

Note: All hand-captured species were immediately released to where it was found after

their assessment or after they were photographed.

8.
 Related Literature

The behavioristic trait manifested by a display of property ownership—a defense of

certain positions or things—reaches its highest development in the human species. Man

considers it his inherent right to own property either as an individual or as a member of a society

or both. Further, he is ever ready to protect that property against aggressors, even to the extent at

times of sacrificing his own life if necessary. This behavioristic pattern is not peculiar to man,

but is a fundamental characteristic of animal in general,has been shown for diverse animal group.

It does not necessarily follow that this trait is found in all animals, nor that is developed it is

developed to the same degree in those are known to possess it, but its wide distribution among

the vertebrates (Evans L.T.,1938) and even in some of the invertebrates, lends to support to the

theory that is a basic characteristic of animals and that the potentialities are there whether the

particular animal in question displays the characteristic (Heape,1931).

In recognition of the importance of small mammals in forest ecosystems, the BEMRP

Faunal Research Group, led by L. Jack Lyon, sponsored an exploratory research project to

investigate the effects of timber harvest and fire on small mammal community composition and

abundance (Landres et al.1995). After an initial field season in 1994, the group found the more

extensive long-term research than time and funding would permit was necessary to answer the

question posed. However, the questions were important enough for a group to begin reviewing

the current scientific literature in order to assess the role of proposed fire and timber

management practices on composition and abundance of small mammals on the BNF.

9.
 Ecologists are becoming increasingly aware of the role of spatial heterogeneity in

population and community dynamics (e.g., Ricklefs 1987, Karieva 1990, Levin 1992).

Movement by individuals determines the scale at which patchiness and spatial heterogeinity

affect a species (Fahrig and Paloheimo 1988, Gardner et al. 1991, Harris and Silva Lopez 1992).

Analyses of a species movement pattern should be essential to interpreting its response to habitat

fragmentation, an anthropogenic process that increases heterogeneity across space by degrading

once continuous natural habitats into remnant pieces (Wilcox 1980). If these habitat fragments

are not completely isolated, the ensemble of habitat patches in a landscape comprises a

metapopulation (Hanski 1988, Hanski and Gilpin 1991). The rate of pattern of movements

among subpopulations in a metapopulation can strongly affect spatial and temporal variation in

abundance and the probability of persistence for a species (e.g.,Roff 1974, Holt 1985,1993,

Lefkovitch, Fahrig1985, Fahrig and Poloheimo1988, Burkey 1989, Pulliam et al. 1992,

Lamberson et al. 1994).

The goal of monitoring ecosystem health is to identify chemical, physical, and biological

changes due to human impacts (Hughes et al., 1992). The term ecosystem health has been hotly

debated in the literature (Jamieson, 1995; Lackey, 1995; Rapport, 1995a; Wicklum and Davies, 1995;

Callicot and Mumford, 1997; Simberloff, 1998). While some condone complete abdication of the term,

ecosystem health remains awidely used concept and many papers reviewed here used the term.We prefer

Rapport’s (1995a,b) definition which states ecosystem health as the absence of signs of ecosystem

distress, an ecosystem’s ability to recover with speed and completeness and a lack of risks or threats

pressuring the ecosystem composition, structure, and function.

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 Kolasa and Pickett (1992) also suggest that measures of ecosystem health should be based on a

pre-defined scale using a baseline condition. Multiple monitoring methods are usually required toaddress

complex ecosystems (Soule,1985).

The index of biotic integrity (Karr, 1981), developed to assess degradation in streams, uses an

array of ecological measures, one ofwhich indicator taxa (Fausch etal., 1990).If selected correctly a set of

complementary indicator taxa may provide early warning of problems and help monitor change over large

temporal and spatial scales(Rapport,1992; Harris 1995).

Result and Discussion

Figure1. Shows the remaining trace of Asian palm civet in the forest ecosystem of Sitio

Binbin, General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. Even though the researchers haven’t seen the

Non- Volant mammal but they found some ―faeces‖ that really proves that there’s a civet cat on

that area.

Figure1. Feaces of Asian palm civet in the forest ecosystem of

Sitio Binbin, General Luna,Carranglan, Nueva Ecija

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 Figure2.Asian palm civet
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwwssncomphotos/5256093367

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Genus:Paradoxuru
Species: hermaphroditus
 12.

Morphological Description

Asian palm civets are frequently called ―weasel cats‖ due to their similar appearance to

both animals. Asian palm civets are small, weighing only about 3 kilograms with an average

body length of 50 centimeters, and tall that is 48 centimeters long. They have elongated bodies

with short legs, and a tall that is almost as long as their head and body combined. Their nose is

pointed and protrudes from their small face. They have faces mostly like cats, but palm civets

have longer and flatter skulls. Relative to their head, palm civets have large dark eyes and large

pointed ears. The coat of Asian palm civet is short, coarse, and is usually black or gray with

black- tipped guard hairs all over (Nelson,2013). Asian Palm civets can be found in the

temperate and tropical forests of South and South East Asia.

Threats and Status of Asian Palm Civets

Asian palm civets are believed to be one of the most common of the civet species.

However, growing demand for civet coffee has led to an increase in civets being captured from

the wild and fed coffee beans to produce this unusual blend. The impact of this demand on wild

civet population is unknown but may constitute a significant threat, especially as this species is

also targeted in hunts for the bush meat and the pet trade and persecuted by crop growers in parts

of its range.

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 Figure3.Philippine Forest Rat
http://www.planet-mammiferes.org/drupal/en/node/64?choixzone=&input2=Philippines&plus=0&fin=5

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Rattus
Species: everetti
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Morphological Description

Rattus everetti is found in primary and disturbed lowland, montane, and mossy forest,

including scrubby areas close to forest (Balete and Heaneyet, 2006; Danielsen, et al., 1994;

Heaneyet, al 1991; Rabor, 1995). This species is endemic to the Philippines and it closely

resembles the large rats that we see in human dwellings, but differs significantly in that this

species is relatively large. Another distinguishing characteristic is that half of its tail is white in

color. It has a length of 19.0 cm and its mass is 253.53 g. These rats are covered with coarse,

brownish fur. The ears and tail are bald. This rat is also clean and only lives in forests

(Reginaldo, 2012).

Major threats

There are no major threats to the species which has been found to be competitively

superior to introduced Rattus species.

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Conclusion

This review demonstrates the interrelationship of wildlife (specifically the mammals)

between the forest ecosystem and to human environment. As we conducted the assessment in the

Forest Ecosystem of Sitio Binbin, General Luna, Carranglan, NuevaEcija, the team finds out the

different kinds of human activities that truly degrades and invades the Wildlife ecosystem like

kaingin, quarrying, mining and deforestation. We all knew that Mammalian biodiversity is

rapidly declining, along with the other measured biodiversity on this planet, as anthropogenic

activity monopolizes more of the earth’s ecosystem and natural resources. Environmental

degradation is one of the issues that we need to pay attention more, it may devastate everything.

So if we couldn’t start to solve that problem, it is possible that all of us can be harmed.

Recommendation:

The researcher recommended that give some sufficient time to manage the field study

and appropriate preparation for the activities. Then allocate the good season for conducting the

assessment especially for the Non- Volant mammals. It is better to conduct the study during

4:00-6:00 a.m., because this is the time where the non-Volant mammals are searching for their

food or prey. They are more active in morning.

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Literature Cited

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Availability. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 38: 541-545.
BMB-PAWB(2011).State of Philippine Biodiversity. Expanding and Diversifying the National
System of Terrestrial Protected Areas in the Philippine Project.
UNEP (1995). Status and Trends of Biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and
ecosystem services. Convention on Biological Diversity.
Heaney et al.,(1998). Synopsis of the Mammalian Fauna of the Philippine Islands. The field
Museum.
Ricart, E.A., Balete, D.S. and Heaney L.R.,(2007).Habitat Disturbance and the Ecology
of Small Mammals in the Philippines. The Journal of Environmental Science and Management,
10: 34-31.
Pearson, D.E.,(1999).Small Mammal of the Bitterroot National Forest: A Literature Review and
Annoted Bibliography. Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Hilty, J. and Merlender, A., (2000). Faunal indicator taxa selection for monitoring ecosystem
health. Biological Conservation. 92: 185-197
Jones, K.E. and Safi K. (2011). Ecology and evolution of mammalian biodiversity. Philosophical
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Copyright (2013).The Civet Story. Bantai Civet Coffee.
Diffendorfer, J.E., Gaines M.S. and Holt R.D. (1995).Habitat Fragmentation and Movements of
three Small Mammals (Sigmodon, Microtus and Peromyscus).Ecological Society of
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Burt,W.H.(1943).Territoriality and Home Range Concepts as Applied to Mammals. Journal of

Mammalogy.24:346-352.
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