HERPETOFAUNAL COMMUNITIES IN BUTUAN CITY, PHILIPPINES: A SATOYAMA-SATOUMI APPROACH TO BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT
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ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Community-managed landscapes and seascapes support endemic and native amphibian and reptile species
- Forty-three amphibian and reptile species were recorded in Butuan City.
- The landscape and seascape are dominated by lowland amphibian and reptile species.
- This study provides baseline data for biodiversity conservation and monitoring.
ABSTRACT
This study provides the first systematic assessment of amphibians and reptiles within the Satoyama-Satoumi landscape-seascape mosaic of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines. Herpetofaunal surveys were conducted across six habitat types in Barangays Tungao (agroforest, grassland-agroecosystem, riparian) and Masao (landward, middleward, and seaward mangroves) using habitat-stratified transects, diurnal and nocturnal searches, passive trapping, and standardized field recording. A total of 43 species were documented, comprising 14 amphibians and 29 reptiles, including 24 Philippine endemics, of which 13 species are Mindanao Faunal Region endemics. Three invasive amphibians were also recorded. Species diversity was higher in Tungao (H′ = 2.57) than in Masao (H′ = 1.94), reflecting contrasts in habitat condition and disturbance intensity. Most species were classified as Least Concern (n = 36). However, the presence of Near Threatened (n = 1) and nationally recognized Other Threatened Species (n = 11) highlights the conservation importance of the area. Distinct microhabitat associations from forest floors and riparian zones to mangroves and human-modified areas emphasize the ecological heterogeneity supporting these assemblages. This baseline inventory demonstrates that community-managed Satoyama–Satoumi habitats serve as important secondary refugia for herpetofauna and highlights the need for sustained monitoring and habitat protection in Butuan City.
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