Amphibians and Reptiles in Selected Sites in Palawan Province, the Philippines

Study Extent

The general geographic coverage of this dataset is Palawan Province, the Philippines. This dataset comprise of sample-event data from herpetofaunal surveys conducted in: (1) Mabentangen Creek, Barangay Poblacion 6, Municipality of Coron, Busuanga Island; (2) Estrella River Falls Park, Barangay Estrella, Municipality of Narra, Palawan Island; (3) Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island; (4) Palawan Center for Sustainable Development Training Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island.

Sampling

We conducted systematic herpetofaunal surveys following the protocol of timed visual encounter survey (transect and patch sampling method; Crump & Scott 1994). We established a total of thirty 10 X 100m standardized transect strips, spaced 100m apart, in different habitat types (e.g., along the road, along streams in secondary growth forests, trail and non-trail transects in secondary growth forests), in an effort to avoid sampling bias. Moreover, we established one-hectare habitat patches in human-modified habitats (e.g., agricultural and built-up areas). We surveyed transect and habitat patches for approximately 45 minutes during day-light (07:00–10:00 h) and at night (18:00–23:00 h). To avoid disturbance, we made sure that transects surveyed during the day were not traversed at night, and vice-versa, on successive days/nights. We also conducted general observations and opportunistic sampling around the camp and trails to maximize information collected from the study areas. We searched for animals by visually scanning the ground, over rocks and boulders, in pits, cavities, and crevices of limestone karsts, and vegetation, while raking the forest floor litter, probing epiphytes and tree hollows, upturning dead logs, debris, rocks, and man-made items. The animals that we encountered during the surveys were recorded, as were associated data, including their habitat and activity upon first notice (e.g., calling, foraging, mating, etc.). We collected a limited number of voucher specimens for each species that was encountered and were preserved following McDiarmid (1994) and Gotte et al. (2016). We followed the field survey protocols as outlined in an existing active Wildlife Gratuitous Permit to Collect (GP) No. 2018-33 (c/o Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, Arman N. Pili, and colleagues HerpWatch Pilipinas, inc.) provided by the Palawan Center for Sustainable Development. We followed Brown & Alcala (1978), Brown & Alcala (1980), Alcala and Brown (1998), and Alcala (1986) for initial species identification. These identifications were verified by A.C. Diesmos. We adopted the taxonomic arrangements of AmphibiaWeb (2019), Amphibian species of the world (Frost 2019), and the Reptile Database (Uetz et al. 2019).

Quality Control

The dataset was cleaned and validated using OpenRefine and Species Names Resolver. The dataset was standardized to Darwin Core format.

Method steps

1. Sampling and Survey method -- systematic herpetofaunal surveys following the protocol of timed visual encounter survey (transect and patch sampling method; Crump & Scott 1994). We established a total of thirty 10 X 100m standardized transect strips, spaced 100m apart, in different habitat types (e.g., along the road, along streams in secondary growth forests, trail and non-trail transects in secondary growth forests), in an effort to avoid sampling bias. Moreover, we established one-hectare habitat patches in human-modified habitats (e.g., agricultural and built-up areas). Survey method -- We surveyed transect and habitat patches for approximately 45 minutes during day-light (07:00–10:00 h) and at night (18:00–23:00 h). To avoid disturbance, we made sure that transects surveyed during the day were not traversed at night, and vice-versa, on successive days/nights. We also conducted general observations and opportunistic sampling around the camp and trails to maximize information collected from the study areas. We searched for animals by visually scanning the ground, over rocks and boulders, in pits, cavities, and crevices of limestone karsts, and vegetation, while raking the forest floor litter, probing epiphytes and tree hollows, upturning dead logs, debris, rocks, and man-made items. The animals that we encountered during the surveys were recorded, as were associated data, including their habitat and activity upon first notice (e.g., calling, foraging, mating, etc.). The animals that we encountered during the surveys were recorded, as were associated data, including their habitat and activity upon first notice (e.g., calling, foraging, mating, etc.).
2. Preservation method -- We collected a limited number of voucher specimens for each species that was encountered and were preserved following McDiarmid (1994) and Gotte et al. (2016). We followed the field survey protocols as outlined in an existing active Wildlife Gratuitous Permit to Collect (GP) No. 2018-33 (c/o Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, Arman N. Pili, and colleagues HerpWatch Pilipinas, inc.) provided by the Palawan Center for Sustainable Development.
3. Permit -- We followed the field survey protocols as outlined in an existing active Wildlife Gratuitous Permit to Collect (GP) No. 2018-33 (c/o Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, Arman N. Pili, and colleagues HerpWatch Pilipinas, inc.) provided by the Palawan Center for Sustainable Development.
4. Specimen identification and taxonomic reference -- We followed Brown & Alcala (1978), Brown & Alcala (1980), Alcala and Brown (1998), and Alcala (1986) for initial species identification. These identifications were verified by A.C. Diesmos. We adopted the taxonomic arrangements of AmphibiaWeb (2019), Amphibian species of the world (Frost 2019), and the Reptile Database (Uetz et al. 2019).

1. Leptobrachium tagbanorum
   rank: species
2. Megophrys ligayae
   rank: species
3. Kaloula pulchra
   rank: species
4. Staurois nubilus
   rank: species
5. Barbourula busuangensis
   rank: species
6. Limnonectes acanthi
   rank: species
7. Sanguirana sanguinea
   rank: species
8. Pulchrana moellendorffi
   rank: species
9. Ingerophrynus philippinicus
   rank: species
10. Cyclemys dentata
    rank: species
11. Gekko palawanensis
    rank: species
12. Fejervarya vittigera
    rank: species
13. Hoplobatrachus rugulosus
    rank: species
14. Draco palawanensis
    rank: species
15. Chaperina fusca
    rank: species
16. Dendrelaphis levitoni
    rank: species
17. Dendrelaphis marenae
    rank: species
18. Coelognathus philippinus
    rank: species
19. Polypedates macrotis
    rank: species
20. Bronchocela cristatella
    rank: species
21. Occidozyga laevis
    rank: species

The general geographic coverage of this dataset is Palawan Province, the Philippines. This dataset comprise of sample-event data from herpetofaunal surveys conducted in: (1) Mabentangen Creek, Barangay Poblacion 6, Municipality of Coron, Busuanga Island; (2) Estrella River Falls Park, Barangay Estrella, Municipality of Narra, Palawan Island; (3) Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island; (4) Palawan Center for Sustainable Development Training Center, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island.