Endangered Endemic species of Culion

Cycas Wadei

Flora

Family: Cycadacea
Genus: Cycas
Species: Wadei
Local Name: Culion Pitogo

Etymology: Honoring an American medical doctor, Howard Windsor Wade M.D., who served as a doctor in Culion Leper Colony.

Cycas Wadei is only within the island of Culion making it a true endemic species that the municipality can be proud of. In nearby Busuanga, most of the cycads in cultivation are Cycas circinalis and a sprinkling of transplanted specimens that are purported to have been dug from the wild populations of Culion. Some cycad species all over the planet are endangered or threatened in the wild from habitat loss and over-collection.

Distinguishing features: 

The plant has narrow leaflets and a ribbed sclerotesta that is symmetrical. Seeds are ovoid or spherical in shape brown-orange in color and 14-19 mm wide and 15-17 mm in length. Leaves are deep green semi glossy.

Danger: Seed is poisonous if ingested.
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.


Habitat: 
Exclusive only from the island of Culion, Palawan in Halsey Harbor and the large open area of cogonal grande in Patag, Quezon and Dita

Causes for Protection:
1. People are unaware of the endangered status of the flora.
2. Unabashed extraction of the flora for ornamental collections and horticultural trade.
3. Absence of flora inventory as reflected by IUCN 2009 Red List.
4. Habitat destruction related to burning of grasslands to regenerate growth of grass for grazing purposes.
5. Conversion of habitat to residential properties.
6. The protected area system is weak and enforcement of the existing law is inadequate.
7. No protection or conservation program is in place to protect the flora and the habitat.
8. No recent study on the flora and habitat.
9. No Fire Marshall or Fire Department.
10. The flora takes several years to grow, sexual reproduction takes place after 10 years of exclusive vegetative growth.

History: 
E.D. Merrill, an American botanist, went to Culion, Palawan in February 11, 1902 to observe and collect materials from this taxon. The species was reported by Foxworthy in 1911 as Cycas cairnsiana based on E. D. Merrill's 1902 study. Later Merrill obtained more materials from Dr. H. W. Wade, an American pathologist, who served as a doctor in Culion Leper Colony. Merrill had received more materials from Dr. Herre of Culion and W. H. Brown to look closely on this taxon. In 1936 Cycas Wadei, was reported by E. D. Merrill as a new species of the Cycadacea and know with certainty only grows in Culion.

The residents and friends of Culion, Palawan request your support in our initiative for the protection, preservation and propagation of Cycas Wadei locally known as Pitogo. This taxon originated from the grassland of Patag cogonal area and Halsey Harbor as reported by Foxworthy (1911) based on the study of an American botanist, E. D. Merrill. This plant was brought to the attention of the botanist by MD Howard Windsor Wade, one of the pioneering American doctor who cared for the leprous patients.

The taxon has been categorized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature at LR, cd in 1997. According to IUCN if there is no conservation program in place specific to the habitat of the Cycas Wadei the plant will be qualified for one of the threatened categories within a period of 5 years.
We join the IUCN in their efforts to stop the extinction of Pitogos and stop the destruction of their natural habitat.

In this initiative we would like the Patag and Quezon areas of Culion, Palawan be declared as a protected habitat for the Cycas Wadei.
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/cycadpg?taxname=Cycas+wadei

Etymology: Honouring US-born medical doctor working in the Philippines, Dr H.W. Wade, the person who brought this species to the attention of its author.

Historical notes: Described as a new species in 1936 by American botanist E.D. Merrill. This species was first reported by Foxworthy (1911), who recorded it as sp. aff. C. cairnsiana on the basis of observations and collections made by Merrill, who had collected sterile material on an excursion inland from Halsey Harbour on Culion Island on 11 Feb 1902 (Merrill 657), and observed that his collection most resembled material of C. cairnsiana when at Kew in 1908 (op. cit.). Merrill also later recorded this species as possibly being C. cairnsiana (1923), although the same year, he obtained more complete material via Dr Wade that clearly showed that the two were not the same. Wade had transplanted a number of plants to the Culion leper colony, and from them seeds were furnished to the botanic gardens at Kew, New York and Berlin.

Schuster (1932) attached an unwieldy and quite nonsensical quadrinomial to this taxon, using Merrill's original collection (657) as the type. In placing this within his elaborate hierarchy under C. circinalis, he showed just how little he understood of this plant, which in fact belonged in a different section of the genus as he had divided it.

Merrill in the meantime had received more material from Dr A. Wade of Culion, which prompted him to look more closely at this taxon. On obtaining more comprehensive collections from W.H. Brown and realising its very distinctive nature, he described it as a new species in 1936. There has been little subsequent disagreement with this recognition, although Zamora & Co (1986) listed plants from Palawan under C. wadei that are quite distinct (see C. curranii).

Seeds have been quite widely distributed over the years, and a number of mature plants are present in collections around the world. Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami has been distributing seeds from their cultivated plants in recent years. Large seed collections from the wild were distributed in the early 1990's, and plants from these are now abundant in cultivation.

Distinguishing features: Readily distinguished by the combination of the symmetrically ribbed sclerotesta and the narrow leaflets. Only C. curranii shares the ribbed sclerotesta, although seeds of the latter are two times larger than those of C. wadei. C. curranii also has leaflets that are about two times broader.

Distribution and habitat: Know with certainly only from Culion Island, on low hills inland from Halsey Harbour on the west of the island. Zamora & Co also record it from Mansaly in Oriental Mindoro Province, but this has not been substantiated by specimens. On Culion, it occurs in a large open area of Imperata grassland known as the `cogonal grande' or `patag grande'. This is a seasonally dry area that suffers frequent grassfires, and the narrow leaflets would appear to be a parallel adaptation to xeric conditions similar to that seen in Australia (C. cairnsiana, C. calcicola) and India (C. beddomei).

Conservation status: Abundant at the site of the original discovery, in a population well in excess of 5000 plants, and showing good reproduction and regeneration. This land is, however, unsecured and, although currently relatively undisturbed, the future is not certain. This species has been poorly known in the wild, and was placed by the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants in category E. It is now regarded as IUCN Red List category LR,cd.

Leaves deep green, semiglossy (75-)130-132 cm long, flat (not keeled) in section (opposing leaflets inserted at 180° on rachis), with 160-180 leaflets, tomentum shedding as leaf expands. Petiole (20-)28-40 cm long, glabrous, spinescent for 100% of length. Basal leaflets not gradually reducing to spines (80-)170-180 mm long.

Median leaflets simple, strongly discolorous (150-)200-290 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, inserted at 100-150simple, strongly discolorous, 220–340 mm long, 9–12 mm wide, inserted at 50–75° to rachis, decurrent for 3–5 mm, narrowed to 2.5–3 mm at base (to 20–25% of maximum width), 10–17 mm apart on rachis; section flat; margins flat, or slightly recurved, not undulate; apex acute, not spinescent; midrib raised above, raised below, narrow. to rachis, 5-6 mm apart on rachis; section flat; margins flat; apex aristate, spinescent; midrib raised above, flat below.

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Pangolin

Pangolin “Balikon”

This species is listed as Endangered A2d+3d+4d due to suspected populations declines of >50% over a period of 21 years (three generations, generation length estimated at seven years), based on potential levels of exploitation for trade, including national and international trade, and which is exacerbated by subsistence hunting and habitat loss and alteration. However, further research is required into the population status of this species and its threats.

Geographic Range

This species is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found in the Palawan faunal region. It is known from mainland Palawan and adjacent islands; Busuanga Island (including the municipalities of Calauit and Coron), Coron Island, Culion Island (1998), and Dumaran Island (2004). It has also been introduced to Apulit Island (Schlitter 2005) while recent interview surveys by Schoppe in 2013 (unpublished) suggest it also occurs on Balabac Island (2013). It is considered to be more abundant in the northern and central parts of Palawan Island and much rarer in the south.  This species was described as uncommon by Heaney et al. (1998) and though local informants considered it fairly common, as reported by Esselstyn in 2004, it is subject to heavy hunting.  It is found in primary and secondary lowland forest (1998), lowland grassland/forest mosaic (2004), including near human habitation, providing there is suitable vegetative cover i.e. abundant trees and logs.

Population

There is very little information available on populations of any species of Asian Pangolin. This species is infrequently observed due, partly to its increasing rarity, but also because of its elusive, solitary and nocturnal habits, and there is a lack of research on population densities or abundance. According to local hunters, populations are declining as a result of hunting both for subsistence use, and increasingly international trade, and which is exacerbated by habitat loss.

Habitat and Ecology

This species is found in lowland primary and secondary forests, grassland/secondary growth mosaics, mixed mosaics of agricultural lands and scrubland adjacent to secondary forests. As with other pangolins, this species feeds on termites and ants. An affinity of the Philippine Pangolin to fig trees has been reported, probably because these trees provide tree hollows and attract ants, primary prey species.

Conservation Actions

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II and zero export quotas for wild-caught animals traded for primarily commercial purposes were established in 2000.  It is classified as 'Endangered' under the Philippine Wildlife Act 9147 (2001), which bans the collection of any form of wildlife in the Province of Palawan without a permit. The entirety of this province was declared a game refuge and bird sanctuary in 1969 (Proclamations 219 and 530-B).  However, further research is needed into populations of this species and the magnitude and types of threats it faces.

Fauna

should be declared (Endangered)

www.fieldmuseum.org/philippine_mammals/Manis_javanica.htm

again...
The residents and friends of Culion, Palawan request your support in
our initiative for the protection, preservation and propagation of
Manis Culionensis locally known as "Balikon". An endemic species of our town Culion.

We want to declare it as endangered now and the efforts to stop the
extinction of this rare animal and stop the destruction of their
natural habitat.

In this initiative we would like to declare Culion area as habitat for Manis Culionensis, as it derive its name CULION-ensis...

http://www.savepangolins.org/what-is-a-pangolin

Did you know? A pangolin’s tongue is attached near its pelvis and last pair of ribs, and when fully extended is longer than the animal’s head and body.

Pangolins help increase species diversity. The burrows they create are also used by other animals for shelter and breeding habitat.

Did you know? Pangolins dig deep burrows for sleeping and nesting. Some burrows contain chambers big enough for a human to crawl inside and stand up.

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Axis Calamianensis

Axis calamianensis

(Calamian Deer) “Usa”

Philippine Deer

This species is endemic to the Philippines, where it is restricted to the Calamian Islands in the Palawan faunal region. The species occurs on three of the four larger islands in Calamians, i.e. Busuanga, Calauit and Culion, but is absent from Coron. The species is also reported to have occurred on at least nine other smaller islands, including three islands where small numbers of individuals translocated from Calauit were released in the late 1980s. However, it was reported to be extinct on at least seven (78%) of these islands (Bacbac, Capari, Panlaitan, Galoc, Apo, Alava and Dicabaito), and to survive on only two of these islands, namely Marily and Dimaquiat. It is not known from anywhere else in the region, including mainland Palawan, nor the larger and intervening of island of Linacapan.

Listed as Endangered because its extent of occurrence (2,591 km2) is less than 5,000 km2; occurring in Busuanga, Calauit, Culion, Marily and Dimaquiat islands. The species is undergoing continuing decline due to hunting pressure and human settlement and agricultural expansion over its very limited range. Pressure on the habitat has increased due to resettlement of victims of typhoon Haiyan, and squatting of outsiders in Busuanga.

The species was reputedly common in all suitable localities throughout the main islands of Busuanga and Culion in the 1940s, but to have drastically declined in numbers on all parts of these islands, except in the extreme south of Culion, by the mid-1970s. A small population of deer surviving on Calauit Island at that time was supplemented by a further 30 translocated individuals in 1977, following the creation of the 'Calauit Island Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary' in 1976, and the eviction and resettlement of the islands former residents. By April 1994, Calauit was reported to hold an estimated population of 1,123 ± 236 individuals; though more recent estimates indicate significant reductions in the numbers of these animals numbers following resettlement of the island by former residents and resurgence of hunting pressure. A survey in 2006 showed the species still to be widespread on Calauit, Busuanga and Culion, though densities remain low in many areas. It was also found still to be present on the islands of Marily and Dimaquiat. In 2010 a field survey conducted on Busuanga (18 days), Culion (15 days) and Coron (2 days) did not record the species from any of the six surveyed sites, but secondary information indicates presence in at least four sites.

The species occurs in grasslands, open woodlands and second-growth forest. It has a gestation length of approximately 180 days, with typically one young, and rarely twins. Age at sexual maturity is 8-12 months, with a life span of 12-20 years. This species is diurnal, browses on leaves, and lives in small herds. This species has a group size up to 27 individuals, but usually 7–14 (with much smaller groups reported in heavily hunted areas.)

The species is threatened due to hunting pressure and human settlement and agricultural expansion over its very limited range, coupled by the evident lack of effective and sustained enforcement of the strong local protective legislation. Hunting was particularly severe during the mid-1970s, but seemingly declined in most areas during the 1980s and 1990s, except on Calauit where hunting pressure increased dramatically following the resettlement of the island by former residents under the auspices of the ‘Balik (Back to) Calauit Movement’. In 1986, 51 out of the 256 families evicted from the island ten years earlier had re-settled on the island, and by 1992 the settlers numbered nearly 500 people. Much of the hunting of the species is recreational, and also to provide venison to the local markets. More recently, pressure on the habitat has increased (and presumably hunting pressure also), due to resettlements of victims of typhoon Haiyan, and squatting of outsiders in Busuanga. On Calauit, introduced African ungulate populations are increasing but are probably not competing with Calamian Deer (Calauit was originally stocked with giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck, gazelle, eland, topi and bushbuck acquired from Kenya). A presidential proclamation that precluded removal or control of exotic species, and the movement or management of Calamian Deer on Calauit Island was recently amended, thereby also potentially enabling the better future control of the exotic ungulate populations, though in fact many of these populations have also been seriously reduced by poaching. While relatively large parts of Busuanga and Culion Islands are still undeveloped and sparsely inhabited, there are no proper reserves on either.

Declared Endangered Species