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Revisiting the fragments of the past: Survey of bird communities in forest patches and agricultural fields in Northern Luzon.
Revisiting the fragments of the past: Survey of bird communities in forest patches and agricultural fields in Northern Luzon.
Lead researcher: Jelaine L. Gan, Ph.D.
Project Objectives:
Assess the impact of forest loss and fragmentation on bird communities in the agricultural-forest mosaic landscape
Compare historical bird diversity data with current bird assemblages in forest patches.
Abstract:
This study investigates how habitat fragmentation affects bird communities in the remaining forest patches at the foothills of Northern Sierra Madre, a critical biodiversity area. By revisiting survey sites in San Mariano—originally studied by van Weerd et al. (2015) in the early 2000s—we aim to evaluate long-term shifts in avian diversity across contiguous forests, forest patches, and agricultural landscapes. Our findings will identify which bird species are thriving, declining, or remaining stable amidst land-use changes, while clarifying the essential role of forest patches in avian conservation.
Influences of Morphometrics and the Forest Edge Effect on the Feeding Ecology of Rhinella marina in Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, Negros Oriental
Influences of Morphometrics and the Forest Edge Effect on the Feeding Ecology of Rhinella marina in Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, Negros Oriental
Lead researcher: Roxy Isabela San Miguel
Project Objectives:
Analyze the dietary composition of R. marina across a gradient of habitat quality from forest interior to matrix.
Assess how morphometric measurements, weight, age, and sex relate to their dietary patterns, and
Determine the influence of the forest edge effect on their feeding ecology.
Abstract:
Invasive species like Rhinella marina are responsible for the decline of biodiversity and native populations. This is especially concerning in protected areas, which house keystone species and rare endemics. To manage and control their populations, it is important to study their behavioral ecology, which includes their diet and foraging behavior. This study aims to determine how the forest edge effect affects R. marina’s dietary habits and how their morphometrics contribute to this. Anuran dissection and identifying prey items to the family taxa level will be done in order to grasp the bigger picture of their feeding ecology. The study is done in Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, a protected area in Negros Oriental, to further investigate their rural populations, as little is known about their diet within the Philippine context. This knowledge can be used in the creation of management strategies and conservation practices to preserve the ecological integrity of valuable ecosystems.
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