Biodiversity & Threatened Species: Comprehensive Study Notes

Competency code: SCPiS_EnS9LT-II-f-8
Task: Determine the various environmental factors that affect the extinction of species.

Classify sample organisms as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), or Vulnerable (VU).
Propose local, practical actions to help protect threatened species in the Philippines.

Giant forest raptor; among the largest & most powerful in the world.
Distribution: limited to $4$ Philippine islands – Luzon, Samar, Leyte, Mindanao.
Morphology:
• Wingspan ≈ $7\text{ ft}$
• Height ≈ $3\text{ ft}$ (from crown feathers to tail)
• Eye color: blue-grey.
Ecological need: $4000{-}11000\text{ ha}$ of intact forest per breeding pair (depends on prey density).
Key threats: deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting, slow reproductive rate (1 egg every 2 yrs).

Small, stocky endemic buffalo.
Color: grayish-black; darker dorsal stripe; pale “eyebrow” patches & inner-leg markings.
Former range: all over Mindoro from sea level up to >2000\text{ m} elevation; now highly restricted.
Habitat: remaining forests, grasslands, marshy areas.
Decline drivers: land conversion, cattle diseases (rinderpest), hunting, road expansion.

Prehistoric cousin of modern elephants; lived during Pliocene–Pleistocene epochs.
Once roamed Cagayan Valley plains (N. Luzon) and vast portions of Asia, Africa, N. America.
Size: height ≈ $13\text{ ft}$ ( $4\text{ m}$ ), length ≈ $26\text{ ft}$ ( $8\text{ m}$ ) excluding $10\text{ ft}$ ( $3\text{ m}$ ) tusks.
Extinction time: ~ $4000$ years ago (contemporary with Egyptian pharaohs).
Importance: underscores that even megafauna vanish when ecological pressure exceeds resilience.

Famed Greco-Roman multipurpose herb: medicine, spice, perfume, contraceptive.
Economic value: reportedly worth its weight in silver; appeared on Cyrenean coinage.
Iconic heart-shaped seedpod may have inspired modern ♥ symbol.
Could not be cultivated outside native Cyrenaica (Libya); over-harvest + habitat loss → extinction.

What commonality links Philippine Eagle, Tamaraw, Stegodon & Silphion? (All are — or were — threatened / extinct due to environmental & anthropogenic pressures).
Why is it crucial to track species at risk?
• Early warning → conservation prioritization.
• Protects ecosystem services & genetic resources.
• Upholds cultural, aesthetic, scientific and ethical values.
Major threat categories: habitat loss, over-exploitation, invasive species, disease, pollution, climate change, small population effects.

Definition: Extremely high risk of imminent extinction.
Typical criteria:
• Population decline $\ge 80{-}90\%$ over $10$ yrs or $3$ generations.
• Population <50 mature individuals.
• Extent of occurrence <100\text{ km}^2 & declining.
Example species:
• Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
• Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
• Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
• Magnificent Rafflesia (Rafflesia magnifica)

Definition: Very high risk of extinction in the near future.
Criteria (less severe than CR):
• Pop. decline $\ge 50{-}70\%$ .
• Pop. <2500 mature individuals.
• Extent of occurrence <5000\text{ km}^2 & continuing decline.
Example species:
• Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis)
• Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
• Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
• Dungon-latik / Philippine Hopea (Hopea philippinensis)

Definition: High risk of extinction in the medium-term future.
Criteria:
• Pop. decline $\ge 30{-}50\%$ .
• Pop. <10,000 mature individuals.
• Habitat fragmented / declining.
Example species:
• Dugong (Dugong dugon)
• Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
• Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
• Apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus)

CR > EN > VU in urgency (descending).
Each category uses quantitative thresholds for population trend, size, & geographic range.

Habitat Destruction: logging, agriculture, urbanization, mining.
Over-exploitation: hunting, poaching, illegal trade (eagle feathers, ivory, timber).
Pollution: oil spills, pesticides, plastic debris, heavy metals.
Invasive Species & Disease: foreign pathogens, competitors (e.g., invasive vines smothering native trees).
Climate Change: altered rainfall, temperature extremes, sea-level rise impacting nesting beaches (sea turtles).
Small-Population Effects: inbreeding, demographic stochasticity.

Scope: native & exotic wildlife in all Philippine territories, incl. critical habitats.
Goals: regulate possession, trade, & transport; establish sanctuaries; enforce penalties; encourage research & citizen participation.
Aligns with CITES & Convention on Biological Diversity.

Determine conservation status (CR/EN/VU).
List environmental factors responsible.
Describe Philippine distribution.
Propose one protective measure (e.g., habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols).

Case: A mining firm plans to operate on a mountain habitat of Philippine Teak & Tamaraw.
Potential impacts:
• Loss of primary forest cover → forage decline, breeding disruption.
• Increased road access → poaching risk.
• Soil erosion & water contamination harming teak seedlings.
Possible actions & alternatives:
• Deny / relocate mining concession (apply RA 9147 & EIA laws).
• Enforce buffer zones, strict waste management.
• Establish community-based ecotourism as alternative livelihood.

Name one CR species & cite a key threat.
Propose one community action (e.g., tree-planting, waste reduction, citizen science monitoring).

Reforestation & Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR).
Protected Area Expansion & Corridor Design.
Community Education & Sustainable Livelihoods (reduce dependence on resource extraction).
Strengthening Law Enforcement: anti-poaching patrols, checkpoints, wildlife crime hotlines.
Research & Monitoring: tagging, drone surveys, genetic studies for population health.
Policy Advocacy: stricter penalties, mining moratoria in key biodiversity areas.

Biodiversity underpins food security, medicine, climate regulation, cultural identity.
Loss of a keystone species (e.g., Philippine Eagle) can trigger trophic cascades affecting entire ecosystems.
Stewardship is both a moral duty and practical necessity for sustainable development.

Species are classified CR, EN, VU based on quantitative criteria assessing extinction risk.
Main pressures: habitat loss, exploitation, climate change, invasive species, small-population dynamics.
Philippine law RA 9147 provides legal backbone for conservation, yet effective implementation requires community participation & strong governance.
Localized, evidence-based actions can meaningfully reduce extinction risk and safeguard ecosystem services vital to human well-being.