Sierra Madre Mountain Range Research Articles

DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION ANALYSIS OF SOUTHERN SIERRA MADRE, PHILIPPINES USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE AND COMMUNITY MAPPING

Abstract. Google Earth Engine (GEE) has empowered researchers to map and monitor vegetation cover through the utilization of satellite imagery and cloud-computing resources. This study employed such platform to evaluate deforestation and forest degradation (DFD) in the Southern Sierra Madre Mountain range, where historical and current evidence underscores ongoing degradation. This research endeavors to capitalize on GEE to generate land cover maps for the Southern Sierra Madre region, specifically in General Nakar, Quezon, and in Rodriguez, Rizal and to present the changes that occurred during three specific years: 2016, 2019, and 2022. Community mapping activities were also conducted in these municipalities to further validate the results from GEE. The findings indicate that forested lands predominantly encompassed both municipalities, albeit exhibiting a declining pattern for successive years. Analysis of land cover maps revealed that in General Nakar, most of the forest areas converted to shrublands are found in the barangays of Umiray and Pagsangahan while for Rodiguez, most of the forest areas converted to shrublands were found to be in Marikina Watershed Forest Reserve and in Puray. Community mapping unveiled that DFD factors such as kaingin, infrastructure extension, timber poaching, small-scale mining, charcoal making, and natural hazards are also present in these areas. With the availability of these openly available cloud-computing platforms, aided by inputs from members of the communities, efficient monitoring and implementation of interventions may be realized.

ASSESSMENT OF FOREST DISTURBANCES USING REMOTE SENSING: CASE OF KALIWA RIVER FOREST RESERVE (KRFR), PHILIPPINES

Abstract. The Kaliwa River Forest Reserve (KRFR) is located in the southwestern part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines. KRFR is one of the most important forest reserves in the country that is adjacent to urban areas and is very much affected by various forest disturbances. Forest disturbances can be caused by either anthropogenic or natural phenomena (e.g., typhoons, drought, and pathogen outbreaks) and may have negative effects on the forest structure and function. The study used the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) in detecting forest disturbances for the period of 2010, 2015, and 2020. Results showed that the deforestation rate has significantly decreased from 6.22% in 2010 to 3.40% in 2020. The National Greening Program (NGP) and intensified forest protection activities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may have contributed to the observed decreasing trend in deforestation rate. However, forest disturbance in the closed and open forest areas of KRFR gradually increased from 0.11% to 0.40%. Based on the accuracy assessment, the NDMI performed well in determining forest disturbances with mean values of 0.91 and 0.93 for completeness and correctness, respectively. The main contributor to forest disturbances in KRFR was mainly anthropogenic factors such as kaingin, illegal logging, urban sprawl, and upland farming. Outputs of this study can aid in the formulation of policies for better forest resource management, rehabilitation, and protection in the protected area.

Tree Species Composition and Diversity in a Secondary Forest along the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Central Luzon, Philippines: Implications for the Conservation of Endemic, Native, and Threatened Plants

The Sierra Madre Mountain Range (SMMR) is the backbone of the Luzon Islands that contains a high concentration of highly important ecological resources distributed among the 68 protected areas therewith. The present study aimed to assess the composition and diversity of tree species in a secondary forest within the SMMR. A 2.25 km transect with 10 900-m2 plots were established to record tree species with a diameter at breast height of at least 10 cm. The findings revealed 148 individuals of trees from 38 morphospecies, 28 genera, and 20 families. Importance values unveiled the Aurora endemic Macaranga stonei Whitmore as the most important species in terms of the relative values of its abundance, frequency, and dominance. The area was also found to be home to 33 natives, 12 endemics, five IUCN threatened species, and nine Philippine threatened trees. Furthermore, the study site was also found to have considerably high diversity, with a Shannon–Weiner Index value of 3.269 and a relatively even distribution of individuals among species, as supported by the Simpson’s Evenness index value of 0.9453. Significant correlational relationships were also found among species richness, Shannon–Weiner index, and Simpson’s Evenness index, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.881 to 0.934, with all significant at p < 0.001. Lastly, the study was able to produce a distribution map, which is necessary for implementing targeted conservation strategies. These findings provided valuable implications for future research and implementation of targeted and participatory biodiversity conservation and protection strategies.

Cloud climatology of northwestern Mexico based on MODIS data

ABSTRACT The geographical regions of northwestern Mexico consisting of the Pacific Ocean, the Baja California Peninsula with its mountain range along it, the Gulf of California, and the coastal zone with its Western Sierra Madre Mountain range, configure an alternation of water, land, water, land, all interacting with the atmosphere. It suggests investigating the cloud patterns, what clouds are most relevant in controlling radiation and the climate, and what type of cloud is associated with observed precipitation patterns in the region. The principal aim was to carry out a climatology of five types of clouds: cumulonimbus, cumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus and nimbostratus. The data set was obtained from the MODIS sensor, placed on the Aqua and Terra satellites, covering the period from 2001 to 2020. The results revealed that the precipitation distribution predominantly relates to the deep convective cloud pattern. A minor fraction of rain is associated with the nimbostratus cloud pattern. The pattern of the fraction of total coverage of the five types of clouds coincides very well with lower radiation values, demonstrating the regulatory role of clouds in the area’s climatology.

Does the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Luzon Act as a Barrier to Typhoons?

Tropical cyclones (TCs) making landfall in Luzon weaken due to the surface friction of Luzon’s mountainous terrain and the reduced ocean heat, momentum, and moisture fluxes over the landmass. Landmass also influences TC rain distribution by orographic enhancement or blocking of a TC’s moisture-laden circulation. In this study, we investigated the influence of the effects of the Sierra Madre and the Cordillera Mountains Ranges (SMMR and CMR) on TC-associated wind and rainfall hazards to answer the question of whether the SMMR or the CMR mitigates TC hazards. We used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with modified SMMR and CMR terrains to disentangle the effects of the orography with flat land. Results show that Luzon-passing TCs maintain their intensities at landfall regardless of the frictional effects of the mountain ranges but the CMR inhibits the re-intensification of westward-moving TCs emerging from landmass after traversing Luzon. The SMMR reduces wind exposure and basin-wide rainfall of the Cagayan Valley. Hence, the SMMR can be considered a barrier for that region. In addition, the weakening effect of the SMMR reduces the wind exposure of the island of Catanduanes and eastern Bicol the most. However, for the rest of Luzon, the SMMR enhances rainfall which will likely compensate for the slight decrease in wind exposure – especially considering that most TC-related damages are water/rainfall related. The CMR, overall, has a larger hazard-mitigating effect than the SMMR. In any case, we believe that shifting the discourse to these mountains’ biodiversity conservation and restoration – rather than their purported TC mitigating effects – will be more strategically constructive.

Modeling the risk of illegal forest activity and its distribution in the southeastern region of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines

Illegal activity within protected forests, such as illegal logging, slash-and-burn farming, and agricultural expansion, has brought many plant and animal species to the brink of extinction and threatens various conservation efforts. The Philippine government has introduced a number of actions to combat environmental degradation, including the use of mobile platforms such as the SMART-Lawin system to collect patrol data from the field, which represents a remarkable step towards data-driven conservation management. However, it remains difficult to control illegal forest activity within protected landscapes due to limited patrol and law enforcement resources. A better understanding of the spatial distribution of illegal activity is crucial to strengthening and efficiently implementing forest protection practices. In the present study, we predicted the spatial distribution of illegal activity and identified the associated environmental factors using maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt). Patrol data collected using the SMART-Lawin system from the Baliuag Conservation Area for the period 2017-2019 were used to train and validate the MaxEnt models. We tuned the MaxEnt parameter setting using the ENMeval package in R to overcome sampling bias, avoid overfitting, and balance model complexity. The resulting MaxEnt models provided a clear understanding of the overall risk of illegal activity and its spatial distribution within the conservation area. This study demonstrated the potential utility of data-driven models developed from patrol observation records. The output of this research is beneficial for conservation managers who are required to allocate limited resources and make informed management decisions.

Diversity, distribution, and conservation status of Rubiaceae species in Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape, Luzon, Philippines

Abstract. Biag RA, Alejandro GJD. Diversity, distribution, and conservation status of Rubiaceae species in Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape, Luzon, Philippines. Biodiversitas 22: 3627-3636. Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS) is the largest protected area (PA) in the province of Cagayan, Luzon, Philippines. As part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and being contiguous with the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, there is no doubt that this PA would display species endemism and richness. Hence, botanical surveys through purposive sampling in seven barangays/districts were conducted in the PPLS to determine the species diversity and distribution of Rubiaceae. This study also aims to identify the endemic species and determine their conservation status. Forty-two species of Rubiaceae belonging to 19 genera and 13 tribes were documented in the current study. The most species-rich tribes are Spermacoceae (9 sp.), followed by Psychotrieae (7 sp.), Pavetteae (6 sp.), Naucleae (5 sp.), Ixoreae (4 sp.), Aleisantheae (2 sp.), Mussaendeae (2 sp.), and Vanguerieae (2 sp.). The rest of the tribes, i.e., Augusteae, Coffeeae, Gardenieae, Knoxieae, and Morindeae, are represented by a single species. Minanga, Nabbabalayan and Sisim harbor the most species. Results show that 19 Philippine endemic species are thriving in the PPLS. Of these, four are threatened species; one is near threatened, three being least concern, two as data deficient, and the rest were not evaluated.

Plant species diversity and assessment in Quezon Protected Landscape, Southern Luzon, Philippines

Quezon Protected Landscape (QPL) is a tropical rainforest situated at the southern Sierra Madre mountain range. However, it is subjected to anthropogenic pressure that poses threats to its flora and fauna. This study was conducted to describe the plant diversity, assess their ecological and conservation status, and to identify current anthropogenic threats in various vegetation types in QPL. Vegetation assessment was done using quadrat method established at different land use types wherein ninety 10×10 m nested plots were used for trees, 5×5 m subplots were used for herbs and shrubs, and 1×1 m subplots were used for grasses. The study documented a total of 328 species belonging to 84 families and 208 genera with 2,737 individuals. Species diversity is high as revealed by the values obtained from species diversity (H’) and species evenness (J’) indexes. Out of 172 tree species identified, the most important species are: Parashorea malaanonan (Blanco) Merr. in the regenerating and lowland evergreen dipterocarp forest; Diospyros pyrrhocarpa Miq. in the karst forest; Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit in the secondary forest; and Cocos nucifera L. in the agroforest. Assessment of ecological status showed that out of 328 species, 213 (64.94%) are native, wherein 65 (19.8%) are endemic, and 115 (35.06%) are introduced. Forty-five species (13.72%) are threatened in which 25 of those are endemic in the Philippines. Overall, QPL has a wide array of plant species and threats such as the illegal extraction of natural resources, encroachment, cleanliness and presence of invasive alien species. So, it is recommended that protection and awareness campaign should be done for conservation and sustainability. KEYWORDS: Importance Value Index, invasive species, species diversity, threatened species, vegetation analysis

La endoalteridad y su tratamiento / Acerca de los consanguíneos depredadores en el México oriental

Among the Otomi of the eastern Sierra Madre mountain range, the question of alterity addresses the status of antagonistic beings interacting within the social space of the native community which encompasses both the ecosystem of the living and the domain occupied by the dwellers of the underworld. We emphasize the contrast between an exoalterity concerning all the foreign alteri, i.e. unknown people, and an endoalterity that includes threatening enemies originating from the very circle of commensality. Among the latter are the witches, some of whom are kin to those in the circle of commensality, on a quest for blood entailing the sacrifice of newborns, assimilated to the progeny of the Devil, in order to satisfy the predation of this vital substance, assimilated to semen, which is the preliminary condition leading to the revitalization of the cosmos, as expressed in a spectacular way by the octava ritual at the end of Carnival time.

<p><strong><em>Melastoma malabituin</em></strong><strong> (Melastomataceae): a new species from northern Luzon, Philippines</strong></p>

Melastoma malabituin is described and illustrated. This new species is currently only known from the municipalities of San Mariano and Echague, Isabela Province, Luzon, Philippines, where it is found in remnants of secondary lowland forests in the Sierra Madre mountain range. It is characterized by having densely pilose indumentum on young stems and petioles, penicillate trichomes on its hypanthium, and serrulate and ciliate petals with an apical penicillate emergence.

Thirty endangered languages in the Philippines

There are 6,809 languages spoken in the world today. Conservative estimates are that the world’s languages are currently dying at the rate of at least two languages each month, and linguists predict that most of today's languages will die out in the next 100 years. Since 1962, the author has been gathering field data on some of the smallest language groups in the world—the Philippine Negritos. This paper will explain why the thirty-plus Negrito languages in the Philippines are endangered, and what the projected future is for these numerically tiny postforaging societies in the 21 st century. The argument will be supported by a review of the population sizes, interethnic human rights problems, and the environmental destruction of the rainforests of these marginalized peoples. Thirty-two endangered Negrito languages There are between 100 and 150 languages spoken in the Philippines today. A fourth of these languages—thirty-two—are spoken by different Negrito ethnolinguistic populations scattered throughout the archipelago (Grimes 2000) 2 . They are considered to be the aborigines of the Philippines whose ancestors migrated into these islands over 20,000 years ago. In early Spanish times these Negrito peoples numbered 10% of the Philippine population, living by hunting, gathering and trading forest products with non-Negrito coastal peoples. The other 90% of the people were oriental-looking farmers, descendents of the early Austronesians who began migrating into the Islands much later, only about 5,000 years ago. Today the Negrito groups total some 33,000 people, comprising only 0.05% of the present national population. Clearly something has gone wrong with these tiny aboriginal foraging populations in the last 300 years (Bennagen 1977; Griffin and Headland 1994; Headland 1989; Eder 1987). All of these 32 Negrito groups speak endangered languages. Sixteen of these groups live in the Sierra Madre mountain range that extends north and south down the entire eastern side of Luzon Island. Each group speaks its own Austronesian language, which they call Agta. 3 Each Agta language (or dialect) is mutually intelligible with one or two of its closest neighboring Agta languages (see the Appendix). I briefly describe here the story of one of those 16 Agta groups.

Additive biomass equations for pine species of forest plantations of Durango, Mexico

Statistical analysis between three weighted additive biomass equations are presented for planted pine species typical of the coniferous forests of the Western Sierra Madre mountain range of Durango, Mexico. Statistical and graphical analyses were used to select the best single and multiple individual biomass component equation. Linear equations better fitted the biomass components. Therefore, three linear additive procedures were tested: (i) the conventional, (ii) a harmonization, and ( iii) the seemingly-unrelated regression in two types of equations of component biomass estimation using both simple regression and multiple regression techniques. These tests were performed at two scales: (a) each of three pine species and (b) all three species. For both the simple linear and best multiple regression equation, the seemingly-unrelated equations provided more precise biomass component estimates, with tendencies consistent with the conventional non-additive non-linear regression procedures, and provided average biomass component estimates when equations were applied to a data set of 23 sample quadrants.

Two New Species ofMalayotyphlopsfrom the Northern Philippines, with Redescriptions ofMalayotyphlops luzonensis(Taylor) andMalayotyphlops ruber(Boettger)

Abstract As a first step toward making sense of an infamously enigmatic and taxonomically problematic group of Philippine blind snakes, we redescribe Malayotyphlops luzonensis (Taylor, 1919) and Malayotyphlops ruber (Boettger, 1897) and clarify their taxonomic status with respect to each other and to additional phenotypically similar taxa. We also describe two other new species of Malayotyphlops from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of northern Luzon Island, each on the basis of a single specimen. We suspect that species diversity of the typhlopid fauna of the Philippines is severely underestimated, with progress towards a comprehensive understanding of this group most hampered by a lack of sufficient comparative material available in biodiversity repositories.

A new species of soft-winged flower beetles of the genus Platyebaeus Wittmer, 1995 (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Malachiidae) from Philippines.

A new malachiid species of the genus Platyebaeus Wittmer is described: P. quirinicus sp. n., from the Sierra Madre mountain range in Quirino province, Luzon Island, Philippines. Figures of male habitus, elytral apical third profile, genitalia, and a map showing the type locality are given for the new species. A determination key to the 3 species belonging to Platyebaeus is also provided.

Begonia tandangii (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra), a new species from Luzon Island, the Philippines

We describe Begonia tandangii, a new species of Begonia sect. Baryandra from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of Luzon Island, the Philippines. Begonia tandangii has a close resemblance to B. fenicis in gross morphology, differing in having leaf margin sparsely fringed with minute hairs (vs. glabrous or with minute hairs only on teeth) and capsules with broadly-ovate outline and an acuminate apex (vs. capsules with broadly-obovate outline and a rounded to truncate apex). Phylogenetic analyses of Philippines species of sect. Baryandra based on ITS sequences revealed that B. tandangii was clearly separated from B. fenicis. Begonia tandangii is currently known only from the type locality in a coastal forest of Baler, Aurora Province, which is in the neighborhood of Aurora Memorial National Park.

The amphibians and reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines, VIII: the herpetofauna of Cagayan and Isabela Provinces, northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

We provide the first report on the herpetological biodiversity (amphibians and reptiles) of the northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range (Cagayan and Isabela provinces), northeast Luzon Island, Philippines. New data from extensive previously unpublished surveys in the Municipalities of Gonzaga, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Ana, and Baggao (Cagayan Province), as well as fieldwork in the Municipalities of Cabagan, San Mariano, and Palanan (Isabela Province), combined with all available historical museum records, suggest this region is quite diverse. Our new data indicate that at least 101 species are present (29 amphibians, 30 lizards, 35 snakes, two freshwater turtles, three marine turtles, and two crocodilians) and now represented with well-documented records and/or voucher specimens, confirmed in institutional biodiversity repositories. A high percentage of Philippine endemic species constitute the local fauna (approximately 70%). The results of this and other recent studies signify that the herpetological diversity of the northern Philippines is far more diverse than previously imagined. Thirty-eight percent of our recorded species are associated with unresolved taxonomic issues (suspected new species or species complexes in need of taxonomic partitioning). This suggests that despite past and present efforts to comprehensively characterize the fauna, the herpetological biodiversity of the northern Philippines is still substantially underestimated and warranting of further study.

Redescriptions of Two Poorly Known Slender Skinks, Brachymeles bicolor and Brachymeles pathfinderi (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), from the Philippines

Brachymeles bicolor (Gray 1845), from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of Luzon Island, and Brachymeles pathfinderi Taylor 1925, from southern Mindanao Island, are among the most distinctive species in the genus, representing the largest species and one of only two known nonpentadactyl species with unequal digit numbers respectively. However, both species are inadequately diagnosed, based on a total of only five specimens. Here we provide brief taxonomic histories, discuss and clarify type localities, and redescribe each species using larger sample sizes and specimens well documented and collected during our recent biodiversity surveys. We include new information on morphological variation, distribution, ecology, and microhabitat.

Morphological Characterization and Variation in the Total Content of Reducing Sugars in Wild Populations of <i>Agave angustifolia</i> Haw

Problem statement: Bacanora, a spirit, is distilled from wild populations of Agave angustifolia Haw. Loss of biodiversity must be taken into account when proposing sustainable management actions for this resource. In this study we identified the morphological variants of this species, as well as the weight and Total Content of Reducing Sugars (TRS) in the stem of the agave. Approach: Twenty-three morphometric variables were measured in three wild populations of A. angustifolia distributed along the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Sonora, Mexico. The relationship of plant weight to stem TRS was evaluated using multivariate analyses. Results: Canonical discriminate analysis explained 100% of the morphological variation with just two canonical variables (p<0.01) and the Mahalanobis distances support the finding of significant differences among the three populations. TRS content did not vary significantly among populations, but did differ between individuals (p<0.01). Cluster analysis then revealed eight groups of morphologically related plants. Conclusion: Based on this analysis and previous studies of genetic variability and cytogenetic on the same individuals, morphologically and genetically related groups of agave were detected and also had heavier stems and a higher TRS content. These plants can be considered the basis for the selection of germplasm.

Amphibians and Reptiles, Luzon Island, Aurora Province and Aurora Memorial National Park, northern Philippines: new island distribution records

We report 35 new amphibian and reptile distribution records for two regions within the southern Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Aurora Province, central Luzon Island, Philippines. Together with results of our previous survey work in Aurora, our new data result in a total of 82 amphibian and reptile species for the area. These results highlight the degree to which the island’s biodiversity continues to be underestimated and poorly understood. We report on observations of rarely encountered species including the skink Sphenomorphus leucospilos, the forest gecko Luperosaurus cf. cumingii, and a sensational new species of monitor lizard, Varanus bitatawa. Our recent collections clarify the conservation status of the “critically endangered” Polillo Island forest frog Platymantis polillensis, now known to be widespread, abundant, and common throughout Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora Provinces on the adjacent mainland of Luzon Island. These results add to our growing understanding of many species’ distributions in the region.

A spectacular new Philippine monitor lizard reveals a hidden biogeographic boundary and a novel flagship species for conservation

As humans continue to explore the last uncharted regions of the planet, discoveries of previously unknown species of large vertebrates have become infrequent. Here, we report on the discovery of a spectacular new species of giant, secretive, frugivorous, forest monitor lizard (Genus: Varanus) from the forests of the northern Philippines. Using data from morphology and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, we demonstrate the taxonomic distinctiveness of this new 2 m long species and provide insight into its historical biogeography and systematic affinities. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species is closely related to Varanus olivaceus (from southern Luzon and nearby islands), but it differs from this and other varanids with respect to characteristics of scalation, colour pattern, body size, anatomy of the reproductive organs and genetic divergence. The new species appears to be restricted to forests of the central and northern Sierra Madre mountain range; it is separated from the range of V. olivaceus by a more than 150 km stretch that includes at least three low-elevation river valley barriers to dispersal. This discovery identifies a seldom-perceived biogeographic boundary and emphasizes the need for continued biodiversity research in the megadiverse conservation hotspot of the Philippines. It is anticipated that the new species will serve as an important flagship species for conservation efforts aimed at preserving the remaining forests of northern Luzon.