Abstract
SummaryThe Philippines is a global biodiversity hotspot, with a large number of threatened bird species, one of which is the ‘Critically Endangered’ Negros Bleeding-heartGallicolumba keayi. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitat preference of the Negros Bleeding-heart and undertake species distribution modelling to locate areas of conservation importance based on identified suitable habitat. A survey of 94 point-counts was undertaken and eight camera traps were deployed from May to August 2018 in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park, Panay, Philippines. Habitat variables (canopy cover, understorey cover, ground cover, elevation, presence of rattanCalamusorDaemonoropsspp. and pandanPandanussp., tree diameter at breast height, and branching architecture were measured in 5 m-radius quadrats. To identify areas of potentially suitable habitat for the Negros Bleeding-heart, species distribution was modelled in MaxEnt using tree cover and elevation data on Panay and Negros. Using a Generalised Linear Model, Negros Bleeding-heart presence was found to be significantly positively associated with dense understorey cover and dense canopy cover. Species distribution modelling showed that the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park is currently the most suitably located protected area for Negros Bleeding-heart conservation, while protected areas in Negros require further law enforcement. It is imperative that protection is continued in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park, and more survey effort is needed to identify other critical Negros Bleeding-heart populations, around which deforestation and hunting ban enforcement is strongly recommended.
Highlights
The Philippines is one of the top five global biodiversity hotspots, with 46% species endemism (Lee et al 2012)
Some conservation measures are in place, e.g. patrols by forest rangers to dismantle traps and stop illegal logging in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park and northern Central Panay Mountain Range (Arkive 2007, PhilinCon 2018)
The study was undertaken in the forest surrounding Sibaliw field station in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park, Panay, Philippines (Figure 1)
Summary
The Philippines is one of the top five global biodiversity hotspots, with 46% species endemism (Lee et al 2012). Forest cover has fallen from 90% in 1521 to 27% at present and only 11% of what remains is primary forest (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations 2015). This has been a contributing factor to bird species declines and the country has the 8th highest number of globally threatened bird species in the world (BirdLife International 2020a). From the 1500s to 1988, forest cover on Panay and Negros was reduced by 92% and 96%, respectively, and very little primary forest remains (BirdLife International 2017, 2018b). Due to its small population and ongoing threats, the Negros Bleeding-heart urgently requires extensive conservation action (Bristol Zoo Gardens 2017, Gaworecki 2018)
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