Also today, after Arvinšs defense, the Honours students on the Tioman field
studies course will present results on their four group studies at LT31
Science Faculty at 3pm.

------ Forwarded Message
From: Chan Ngoh <dbscyn@...>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:22:50 +0800
Subject: PhD Defense Seminar cum Oral Examination: Ecology and Diversity of
Herpetofaunal Communities in Fragmented Lowland Rainforests in the
Philippines (Arvin C D, 18/7 2pm)

Dear All
Gentle Reminder. Thank you.


Department of Biological Sciences, NUS
PhD Defense Seminar cum Oral Examination






Ecology and Diversity of Herpetofaunal Communities in Fragmented Lowland
Rainforests
in the Philippines


Speaker: Arvin C. Diesmos (Graduate Student, Department of Biological
Sciences, NUS)
Date: 18 July 2008, Friday
Time: 2 PM
Venue: DBS Conference Room, S3, Level 5
Supervisors: Prof Navjot S. Sodhi
Prof. Peter K.L. Ng

Abstract:

The effects of deforestation and fragmentation of the lowland forest on
Philippine amphibians and reptiles were assessed at two spatial scales. At
the macro-ecological scale, I used the species-area relationship to estimate
the predicted number of herpetofaunal species extinctions as a consequence
of habitat loss across the Philippines. At the community level, I examined
fragmentation effects on herpetofaunas from forest patches along spatial and
disturbance gradients in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Luzon Island, a key
biodiversity area. The study reveals a looming extinction crisis in
Philippine herpetofauna, with up to 55% of the regional fauna predicted to
become extinct with habitat loss to date. Reptiles are more susceptible to
local extinction than amphibians, and snakes are most vulnerable to
fragmentation effects among all groups. Species that exhibit a reproductive
mode of either direct development or ovoviviparity are similarly prone to
extirpation. The level of species extinction risk is most severe in highly
deforested regions and in small island ecosystems that harbor endemic
species. Forest fragments may still serve as important refuges for rare
endemics and threatened species; thus, the ecological restoration of these
altered habitats is a viable conservation strategy. Immediate and effective
conservation actions are needed for the West Visayas, Mindoro, Batanes, and
Gigante, which were identified as the hotspots of herpetofaunal conservation
in the Philippines. These regions have likely reached a critical threshold
of deforestation and further habitat loss is certain to commit to extinction
over half of their herpetofaunas.



ALL ARE WELCOME



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