Cebu biodiversity Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms.

Cebu Biodiversity

1. CEBU’S BIODIVERSITY

2. What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity - is the variation of taxonomic life forms.

3. Important terms in understanding biodiversity: Endemic – species or subspecies which is naturally occurring and found only within specific areas in the country. Indigenous – specie or subspecies of wildlife naturally occurring or has natural establish population in the country.

4. Keystone – are species that exert a particular strong influence on the structure and functioning of a particular ecosystem. (Raven and Johnson, 2002) Resident – species that do not migrate (sedentary). Exotic – specie of subspecies which do not naturally occur in the country.

5. Importance of Biodiversity Infinite supply of fruits, seeds, 80,000 edible plants, latex, oils, spices, gums, resins, turpentines, varnishes, lubricants, inks, flavoring, scenting agents, drugs, polishes, insecticides, cosmetics, clothing, packing materials, rattan, flowers, honey, decorative plants, tanning agents, wood, pulp, paper, food and many others; all for free.

6. Reasons why biodiversity is important? Endemicity – 70% of the major species groups in the Philippines are found nowhere else in the world Faunal Regions – The Philippines is naturally composed of several major faunal regions; each separated by deep water channels Threatened species – Already over 300 species of plants and animals are included in the international “Red Lists” of threatened species, many more are being added every year.

7. Overview of Cebu Island Rank as the world’s highest priority area in terms of biodiversity conservation Center of endemism having 15 endemic bird taxa and 12 of which are threatened birds (IUCN) Cebu is part of the Greater Negros-Panay Faunal region 3% forest cover in the 1987 satellite map data of the original dipterocarp forest

8. With a total of 5,088 sq.km., Cebu is considered as the most progressive island since 19th century (Rabor, 1959) contributing to its dwindling forest cover resulting to the extinction or loss of its endemic flora and fauna Recent island-wide survey found remaining natural secondary forest (1999 to 2008)

9. Tabunan Forest Cebu City, Nug-as Forest in Alcoy, Mt. Kapayas in Carmen/Catmon, Mt. Lantoy in Argao, Mt. Lanaya in Alegria and Mt. Kambulagsing in Malabuyoc. Concerted effort has been done to save these unique flora and fauna Balance of progress and environmental protection must be initiated to maintain the uniqueness of Cebu’s flora and fauna.

10. Philippine Faunal Regions

11. Cebu’s Unique Flora and Fauna

12. Cebu’s Unique Extinct Fauna

13. Cebu tamaraw  ( Bubalus cebuensis ) Kalabawng Ihalas Status: EXTINCT

14. The Cebu tamaraw ( Bubalus cebuensis ) is a fossil dwarf buffalo discovered in the Philippines, and first described in 2006. The most distinctive feature of  B. cebuensis  was its small size. Large contemporary domestic water buffalo stand two metres (roughly six ft) at the shoulder and can weigh up to one tonne (around 2,000  lbs ),  B. cebuensis  would have stood only 75 cm (about 2 ft 6 in) and weighed about 150 to 160 kg (around 300  lbs ), smaller than another dwarf species  B. mindorensis . The fossil specimen is likely Pleistocene or Holocene in age.   The fossil was discovered in a horizontal tunnel in soft karst at approximately 50 m elevation in K-Hill near Balamban , Cebu Island, Philippines by mining engineer Michael Armas . The fossil was donated to America's Field Museum where it stayed un- analysed for almost 50 years.

15. Cebu warty pig  ( Sus cebifrons cebifrons ) Baboy Ihalas Status: EXTINCT Last know specie butchered in Butong, Argao, Cebu in 1959

16. Visayan Spotted Deer ( Rusa alfredi ) Hunted by Spanish officials in the late 19 th century as a game animal

17. Cebu’s Endemic Plant Species

18. Lepeostegeres cebuensis is described as a new species from Cebu Island, Philippines (2016). It is unique among currently known species in the genus by having peculiar ridges of orange-brown scales on the young leaves and internodes. This discovery brings the total number of Philippine Lepeostegeres species to three. Lepeostegeres cebuensis is considered to be Data Deficient (DD) following the Red List Criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

19. Cebu Cinnamon Cinnamomum cebuense (Kost.1986) locally called Kaningag/Kalingag , is an endemic tree species on the island of Cebu declared as a Critically Endangered plant species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under DAO 2007-1 (Paguntalan, et al., 2015)

20. Cynometra cebuensis A new species of Caesalpiniaceae described by Franz Siedensharz in 2013. It is only found in Tabunan Forest in Cebu City.

21. Bicknell’s Hoya Discovered by David Bicknell in June 1998 in Badian, Cebu. The species was described by Dale Kloppenberg in 1999 and named after its finder.

22. Vaccinium cebuense (Ericaceae) Phaius reflexipelatus ( Orchidaceae )

23. Cebu’s Endemic Bird Species

24. Cebu Flowerpecker - Anayoto Dicaeum quadricolor One of the most CRITICALLY Endangered bird specie in the world with only about less than 100 species in the wild. Recent records are only in Tabunan Forest, Nug-as Forest, Mt. Lantoy and Dalaguete forest.

25. Cebu Hawk Owl-Kuwago Ninux rumseyi THREATENED Endangered bird species and considered distinct species of hawk owl in 2013. Recent records are only in Tabunan Forest, Nug-as Forest, Cansuje, Argao, Mag-alambak, Dalaguete and Mt. Kapayas.

26. Cebu black shama - Siloy Copsychus cebuensis Endangered endemic bird with recent recorded large population in Nug-as Forest. This bird species preferred understory thickets of remaining forest patches.

27. Cebu Brown-dove Phapitreron frontalis Declared as a distinct of brown dove species and endemic to Cebu Island in 2014. CRITICALLY endangered endemic bird with recent record in Nug-as Forest.

28. Cebu’s Endemic Bat Species

29. Philippine Bare-backed fruit bat Dobsonia chapmani Recorded in Cebu and Negros only and thought to be extinct in Cebu when it was rediscovered in Mt. Kapayas in 2001 and is currently declared as CRITICALLY endangered bat specie.

30. Golden crowned- flying fox Acedoron jubatos Heaviest bat in the world, declared as CRITICALLY endangered bat species. Recently recorded in Malones, Dalaguete roosting in a tree together with 3 other species of fruit bat.

31. Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat Nyctemine rabori Declared as endangered endemic bat species found only in Cebu, Negros and Sibuyan Islands. Recently recorded in Mt. Kapayas, Tabunan Forest, Nug-as Forest, Mt. Lanaya, Mag-alambak, Dalaguete, Kawasan, Badian and Canbantug and Cansuje, Argao.

32. Cebu’s Endemic Fish Species

33. Sicyopus cebuensis Declared as extinct by DENR (2015), was first documented in Naga, River in 1998 by Chen and Shao. Type of Goby fish that is considered to be one of the smallest in the world.

34. Cebu’s Endemic Reptile Species

35. Cebu Small Worm Skink Brachymeles cebuensis Endemic skink species found in Cebu collected by Brown and Rabor (1997) in the localities of Tapal, Mantalongon, Barili and in Buhisan Forest in Cebu City.

36. Cebu’s Endemic Insect Species

37. List of Key Biodiversity Area of Cebu: Nug-as and Mt. Lantoy Mt. Lanaya-Mt. Kambulagsing Tabunan Forest Mactan, Kalawisan and Cansaga Bay Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary

38. Tabunan Risiocnemis - Alisoysuy Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi A new specie of damselfly endemic in Cebu discovered along a small creek flowing out in Tabunan Forest. It was scientifically described by Dr. Matti Hamalainen and was named in honor of Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz.

39. Kawasan Paper Kite Butterfly - Kaba-kaba Idea leuconoe jumaloni Sub specie of Idea leoconoe specie of butterfly A new specie of butterfly endemic in Cebu discovered along Kawasan River in Matutinao, Badian. It was scientifically described by Collin G. Treadaway and was named in honor of the late Julian Jumalon, Cebu’s known lepidopterist.

40. List of few remaining natural secondary forest: Tabunan Forest (Central Cebu Protected Landscape Tabunan Forest in Cebu City Nug-as Forest in Alcoy Mt. Kapayas in Carmen-Catmon Mt Lantoy in Argao Mt. Lanaya in Alegria Mt. Kambulagsing in Malabuyoc

41. Proposed New Key Biodiversity Areas of Cebu: Northern Cebu KBA Camotes Islands KBA

42. Many rare Cebu-species whose only home is Cebu island are threatened. We can do something to avert their extinction by protecting the existing habitats and creating new "survival habitats".  The loss of habitat must be stopped by all means.

43. Daghan Salamat!!!!!