Abstract
The identification of key areas for conservation and protection according to science-based evidence is an important component to circumvent the negative impacts of environmental changes within geopolitical territories and across the globe. Priority areas for biodiversity played an important role to ensure the protection of many species particularly those that are unique and threatened. There are more than 200 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines, yet many important research and biodiversity data are either unpublished or unconsolidated. Birds are commonly studied indicators for KBA identification due to their high species richness, diversity, and sensitivity to forest ecosystems. By combining data from past and present surveys, we accounted for a total of 148 bird species of 51 families, with 20 new records from recent field surveys. Our analysis showed a high level of endemism within Mt. Hilong-hilong with 36% Philippine endemic, 14% restricted to Mindanao faunal region and 11% migrant. In terms of conservation, 8% of the species were considered in threatened categories. The species richness and endemism were higher in lowland to mid-elevation areas compared to higher elevation areas of the KBA. Endemism (i.e., Mindanao endemic) and increasing body mass were important determinants of binary extinction risk for bird species in Mt. Hilong-hilong. The high biodiversity in Mt. Hilong-hilong indicates an example of the vital role of KBAs in preserving nationally and globally important bird species. Lastly, we emphasise the importance of collaboration and integrating past and present information to synthesise relevant information to complement ongoing conservation efforts in Mt. Hilong-hilong and other key habitats in the Philippines.
Highlights
The Philippines is the world’s second-largest archipelago and its unique biogeographical features with more than 7,000 islands allowed the diversification of taxa, making it one of the megadiverse tropical country (Heaney & Regalado 1998)
Our study further aims to understand the conservation priorities of birds in this Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) based on their ecological status and potential threats
Entry protocol and acquisition of permit Prior to the field surveys, as a courtesy, we visited the major stakeholders from the local government and the local people in the area. This was followed by obtaining of the Wildlife Gratuitous Permit (GP # R132017-0036) following the procedure of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Republic of the Philippines
Summary
The Philippines is the world’s second-largest archipelago and its unique biogeographical features with more than 7,000 islands allowed the diversification of taxa, making it one of the megadiverse tropical country (Heaney & Regalado 1998). Birds are amongst the most diverse group in the Philippines, constituting more than 50% of the country’s land vertebrates, and large proportions are considered distinct and globally threatened (Peterson et al 2000), with 724 described species and at least 200 country endemics (Clements et al 2019). These numbers will probably increase with proper taxonomic studies when integrative taxonomy approach is made (Sánchez-González & Moyle 2011; Gonzalez et al 2013).
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