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Questioning Species and Species Complexes: A Colloquium in Honor of Dr. R. James Hickey

Barcelona, Julie Fenete [1], Peña, Gabrielle [2], Dolotina, Nemrod [3], Pelser, Pieter [4].

Fern and lycophyte diversity in a fragmented forest: a checklist and conservation recommendations for the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (Philippines).

Cebu in central Philippines is one of the most degraded islands in the country. The Central Cebu Protected Area (CCPL)was established by virtue of R.A. 9486 on June 7, 2007 covering an estimated area of 281,312.161 ha. within 61 barangays in the cities of Cebu, Toledo, Talisay and Danao and the municipalities of Balamban, Minglanilla, Compostela, Lilo-an and Asturias. However, only a small portion of this PA has relatively good forests and those are highly fragmented. Our month-long intermittent survey of the ferns and lycophytes of the CCPL in Nov. 26, 2016 and Feb. 5, 2017 resulted in the documentation/collection of an estimated 151 species, six varieties in 64 genera and 24 families. We added more or less 91 new island records for Cebu (total species = ca.180), doubling its previously known pteridoflora (91 species). A new species record for the country, Asplenium salignum Blume, is here reported confirming its existence in the Philippines as Holttum suspected. Its distributional range includes South China, Burma, Southeastern Thailand, and Malaysia. Plants of A. salignum were found in the more pristine karst habitats of Balamban, particularly in Brgys. Gaas and Sunog. Our results show that the forest fragments within CCPL have unique combinations of species and many species are represented by only a few plants. When compared to the fern and lycophytes in Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (RSPL) in the adjacent island of Bohol, 68 species overlap in both Protected Areas (Sørensen Coefficient (SC or CC) = 0.45). The proximity and similarity in mainly karst substrate of both protected areas may explain this. However, more weedy species are recorded in CCPL than in RSPL because of the more open, degraded habitats that characterize the former. Although populations of many species are comprised by only a few plants in CCPL, with the right conservation measures they still can proliferate. When conservation actions are to be attempted, these fragments need to be equally protected and if possible, their habitats expanded. These results should be interpreted with caution because not all of the parts of CCPL were surveyed and collection intensity was less stringent than in RSPL.


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1 - Canterbury University, School of Biological Sciences, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
2 - Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. (SWCFI), 101-L Elizabeth Pond Street, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines
3 - Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. (SWCFI), 101-L Elizabeth Pond Street , Cebu , 6000, Philippines
4 - University of Canterbury, School of Biological Sciences, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 4180, New Zealand

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: CO12, Questioning Species and Species Complexes: A Colloquium in Honor of Dr. R. James Hickey
Location: San Luis 1/Starr Pass
Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Time: 2:15 PM
Number: CO12004
Abstract ID:927
Candidate for Awards:None


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