Assessment of herpetofauna and mammals in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland, Philippines

Abstract

Reliable biodiversity baseline data are needed to support the monitoring of faunal responses to human activities and the development of species conservation strategies in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LSBP). We conducted a ten-day Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (RBA), the first survey of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals to focus specifically on the LSBP. We recorded 24 herpetofauna (17 reptile, seven amphibian) and eight mammal species. Four reptiles were Vulnerable and Near Threatened species according to the IUCN Red List, and another five were classified as Other Threatened species at national level. A possible new location record for Leyte Island was the Indo-Pacific tree gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus typus Bleeker 1860). Four of the mammal species we recorded also belonged to the IUCN and national Vulnerable, Endangered or Near Threatened categories. Our results showed that the LSBP is an important area for biodiversity conservation, hosting endemic and globally threatened species. Creating a Local Conservation Area (LCA) within or near the LSBP could substantially support the survival of threatened species that depend mostly on the peatland as their habitat. Nonetheless, further scientific studies are needed to better understand the value of the LSBP and how to conserve its natural resources.

Keywords

• biodiversity
• fauna
• iucn red list
• threatened species
• vulnerable species
• tropical peatland