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Description |
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: This species occurs on Busuanga (type locality), Culion, and Palawan Islands in the western Philippines. Additional sites on Palawan Island have been identified through surveys since the 2004 assessment: Cleopatras Needle (Jose and van Beijnen 2017, N. Realubit pers. comm. May 2017), Taytay, and El Nido (E. Sy pers. comm. May 2017), and it has also been recorded from Balabac Island (Fidenci 2007). Records from Culion Island may be in error as surveys in 2009, 2011, and 2012 did not detect the species (L. Afuang pers. comm. May 2017, E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018), but are retained in this assessment until further verification. It is a lowland species occurring from sea level to 800 m asl (Philippines Red List Assessment Workshop May 2017).
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Philippines
Additional data:
? Number of Locations: 6-10
? Upper elevation limit (metres): 800
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: It can occur in large numbers in pristine lowland habitats, though the overall distribution is patchy and fragmented because these habitats are becoming increasingly uncommon. It has been recorded from freshwater areas of Puerto Princessa, but is not found in the main river systems of Mount Irawan River (L. Afuang pers. comm. May 2017).
Based on surveys conducted during 2011 to 2012, the species was not observed on Busuanga, Coron and Culion Islands, where much of the lowland forest has already been largely converted to various anthropogenic land uses (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018). Moreover, no individuals were observed in rice paddies or riparian habitats in Brooke’s Point, where human population is high (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018). The subpopulation in Dumarao, Roxas appears to be confined to a small stream (ca 1 km stretch) in a secondary forest (1 km2) - now a critical habitat managed by Katala Foundation. Similar situations were observed at sites in San Vicente, Taytay, El Nido and Rizal (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018). In 2015, it was observed in Cleopatras Needle Critical Habitat, with ca 30 individuals recorded (N. Realubit pers. comm. May 2017).
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Additional data:
? Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: This aquatic species inhabits clear, unpolluted swift-flowing mountain streams and rivers in lowland rainforests, where it usually floats near the surface of the water unless disturbed, when it will hide under submerged rocks. It is sensitive to habitat alteration, pollution and human disturbances (Schoppe and Cervancia 2009), seems to be restricted to less disturbed areas (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018), and has not been found in open habitats outside forest. Tadpoles have never been observed, and eggs collected from gravid females were large, unpigmented, and few in number (Inger 1954), suggesting that it could possibly reproduce by direct development (Brown and Alcala 1983). However to date breeding habits have not yet been observed.
Systems: Terrestrial; Freshwater
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes
Movement patterns: Not a Migrant
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: The species is collected for local human consumption, however it does not occur at levels that constitute a major threat to this species. There is a chance of it becoming a species of interest in the wildlife trade in the near future (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018).
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): On Palawan Island, the major threat is the destruction and conversion of lowland rainforest habitat due to small-scale agricultural activities, large-scale oil palm plantations, wood collection for charcoal production, expanding human settlements due to high levels of immigration, nickel and chromite mining, and limestone, sand and gravel quarrying. Gold mining and illegal logging are increasingly becoming an issue on Palawan, including Cleopatras Needle (J. van Beijnen pers. comm. 2017). Small secondary forest habitats of the species are threatened by slash and burn agriculture as these activities were observed during 2011–2012 surveys, especially in areas between Taytay and El Nido and in San Vicente, where there is no existing or official environmental protection (E. Jose pers. comm. January 2018). The main threat to the species at El Nido is quarrying along the banks (E. Sy pers. comm. February 2018). In addition, the quality of its stream habitat is subject to pollution due to agricultural effluents, soil erosion, and mine-tailings. Collection of the species for food is opportunistic and does not currently pose a major threat to the species (Philippines Red List Assessment Workshop May 2017).
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Conservation Actions
This species occurs in the newly declared (2016) Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat, Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, the El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area on Palawan. At present, however, there are no management or enforcement systems in place (J. van Beijnen pers. comm. 2017).
The Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan for areas was put into place by the national government in 1992, which aims to divide the island into a network of environmentally critical areas above 1,000 m asl (ECAN - Environmentally Critical Areas Network). The plan is operationalized on a local level by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. The map of these areas is currently being updated to include lowland areas below 1,000 m asl.
Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation is also managing about $30 million in funds from debt payments due to the United States government, which are instead allocated for spending during 2016–2026 towards forest protection in three priority areas: Palawan Island, the Sierra Madre on Luzon Island, and eastern Mindanao Island.
Conservation Needed
Despite being present in several protected areas, the species is still threatened by the continuing decline in the quality and extent of its habitat. Therefore, required conservation measures include the regulation and proper disposal of pesticides and herbicides, and the effective protection of remaining rainforest, especially riverine habitats and gallery forests. In addition, improved enforcement of the SEP is needed as it has had limited success due to challenges in implementation.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species distribution, population status and trends.
Citation: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2018. Barbourula busuangensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T23900A58474888. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T23900A58474888.en. Downloaded on 09 January 2019.
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