International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 54 Odonata of Island Garden city of Samal and its Relation to other Small Islands in the Philippines Medina Milton Norman Dejadena, Cabras Analyn Anzanoand VillanuevaReagan Joseph ToraynoResearch and Publication Center, University of Mindanao, Davao City, PHILIPPINES Math and Science Department, College of Arts and Sciences Education, University of Mindanao, Matina, Davao City 8000, PHILIPPINES D3C Gahol Apartment, Lopez Jaena St., Davao City, 8000, PHILIPPINESAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 10th August 2015, revised 28th August 2015, accepted 7th September 2015 Abstract The first record of odonata fauna in the Island Garden City of Samal is presented with comparison to other small islands in the Philippines. Opportunistic and photo documentation were employed in all fluvial systems surveyed between April 2014 to April 2015. Thirty one (31) species belonging to 7 families and 22 genera was recorded. Twelve species (12) or 39% are zygopterans and 19 species or 61% are anisopterans. A relatively low level of endemism (35%) is recorded which is attributed to the different habitat modifications of its fluvial systems. Kroeber’s percentage of similarity revealed Island Garden City of Samal shares similar odonata species with Siargao and Saranggani Islands characterized by karst ecosystem with low lying topography. Creation of local policy to protect the head waters where most of the endemic species found is urgently needed. Keywords: Odonata, survey, karst, conservation, Samal. Introduction Odonata are not only aesthetically pleasing insects inhabiting our rivers and lakes but also serve as bio-indicators of water and habitat qualityand control insect-borne diseases1,2. Hämäläinen reported the Philippines as one of the 17 mega diverse countries in the world and a home to 300 odonata species of which 90% are mostly Zygopterans and 40% Anisopterans. Mindanao the second largest island in the country holds 130+ species. Hämäläinen and Muller4 provided the most comprehensive account of the odonata species in various islands of the country and later Villanueva provided more updated records5-8. However many islands remain unexplored including the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS). The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is one of the small islands belonging to the Mindanao faunal region. It is a 300kmwith unique geologic position bordered by Davao del Sur and Davao City on the west, Compostela Valley Province on the north, and Davao Oriental on the east where Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Santuarya UNESCO World Heritage is located. It is relatively flat with no defined mountains and its highest elevation is only 410 masl. It has only two major river systems, Tagbaobo River and Binoling River. The island receives fair rainfall all throughout the year with no pronounced dry or wet season. Recently the island is gaining popularity as one of the major tourist destinations in Region XI. With the recent transformation of the island into a tourist destination, much of the island’s forested land is transformed into commercial and agricultural purposes. More importantly, its fluvial systems are transformed into commercial tourist destination. Cottages and other amenities were built inside Tagbaobo and Binoling Rivers which may cause disturbance to its Odonata inhabitants which is virtually unknown until the 2014-2015 Odonata expedition in the island. This paper provided the first list of Odonata in Samal Island and comparison to other small islands in the Philippines is also presented. Material and Methods Opportunistic and photo documentation were employed in the following fluvial systems, Sampao Falls, Tagbaobo River in Barangay Tagbaobo (7°0'25"N 125°46'43"E), Hagimit Falls, Binoling River in Barangay Cawag (7°3'43.2"N 125°43'44.4"E), Bagsak Lake in Barangay Aumbay (7°3’0"N 125°45'52.2"E) and Bangkalan Lake in Barangay San Agustin the months of April 2014 and April 2015. Species were collected by hand- picking and hand netting for elusive species. Vouchers were soaked for 24 hours in acetone, air dried, and placed in individual paper triangles. Endemicity and conservation status were obtained using the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Results and Discussion Thirty one (31) species belonging to seven (7) families and twenty two (22) genera were documented. Twelve (12) or thirty nine percent (39%) are zygopterans and nineteen (19) or sixty one percent (61%) are anisopterans. Family Libellulidae comprised majority of the species 17 followed by Coenagrionidae (7 spp.), and Platycnemididae and Gomphidae Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 55 with 2 species each and the rest of the families Platystictidae, Protoneuridae and Chlorocyphidae represented by only 1 species (table-1). High representation of the Oriental species from family Libellulidae like Orthetrum pruinosum clelia, Diplacodes trivialis, Neurothemis ramburii, N. terminata, Trithemis aurora, Trithemis festiva, Brachydiplax chalybea chalybea and Acisoma panorpoides was observed in fluvial systems which experience various modifications such as establishment of resorts, human habitation, and agricultural use. Family Libellulidae is known as one of the largest families that dominate standing water and have high tolerance to anthropogenic disturbances. They dominate lentic ecosystems of Bangkalan and Bagsak Lakes which are gradually converted into agro-ecosystems.Few endemic species Drepanosticta flavomaculata, Risiocnemis tendipes, Risiocnemis atripes, Gomphidia kirschii, Diplacina bolivari, Diplacina braueri were recorded from near water sources with few vegetated parts of Sampao Falls, Tagbaobo and Binoling River. The presence of endemic species at the water sources in the island calls for an alarming imbalance ecosystems. These water sources served as the remaining haven of these endemic species10 that urgently needs protection. Continuous modification up to the water sources of each fluvial system would lead to site extinction of endemic species which is crucial to the future of IGACOS ecosystem. Among of the fluvial systems surveyed Sampao Falls and Tagbaobo River host most number of endemic species. This can be attributed to the remaining thick vegetation fragments to some parts of Sampao Falls and Tagbaobo River. The high endemism level in Sampao Falls and Tagbabo River showed that zygopteran species mostly endemic prefer shaded fluvial systems11. The low number of endemic species found in Binoling River implies the detrimental effect of anthropogenic disturbances like the commercialization of the falls into resort and human habitation. Likewise with Bagsak and Bangkalan lakes which are now converted into agricultural uses. Eleven out of 31 species or thirty five percent (35%) are endemic of which 8 are found distributed in the Philippines and 3 species are confined to Mindanao. This is relatively lower compared to other islands in the Philippines which have a comparable size to IGACOS like Babuyan Group and Siargao Islands as recorded by Villanueva5,8 with endemism levels of 45% and 38% respectively. However, its species richness does not lag behind other islands except for Siargao Island which has 47 recorded species. Among of the small islands with relatively low level of endemism compared to IGACOS are Batanes Group of islands and Saranggani with 13% and 18% endemism5,6. Villanueva attributed the low endemism of Saranggani to the low topography of the island which is not favorable for surface flowing water and various anthropogenic disturbances the island experiences which is very similar with Island Garden City of Samal. Figure-1 Map of the A. Philippines, B. IGACOS location in Mindanao and C. IGACOS Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 56 Table-1 List of Odonata Species in IGACOS with their Geographical Distribution Family Species Geographic Distribution Chlorocyphidae Rhinocypha colorata (Hagen in Selys, 1869)Philippine Endemic Coenagrionidae Agriocnemis f. femina (Braeur, 1868)Oriental Argiocnemis rubescens intermedia Oriental Coeriagrion lieftincki (Asahina 1967) Philippine endemic Ishnura senegalensis (Rambur 1842) Oriental Pseudagrion pilidorsum (Brauer, 1868)Oriental Pseudagrion microcephalum (Rambur 1842) Oriental Teinobasis samaritis (Ris 1915) Philippine Endemic Platycnemididae Risiocnemis appendiculata (Brauer, 1868)Mindanao Endemic Risiocnemis atripes (Needham & Gyger, 1941)Mindanao Endemic Platystictidae Drepanosticta flavomaculata van (Tol 2005)Mindanao Endemic Protoneuridae Prodasineura integra (Selys, 1882)Philippine Endemic Gomphidae Gomphidia kirschii (Selys, 1878) Philippine Endemic Heliogomphusbakeri (Laidlaw, 1925)Philippine Endemic Libellulidae Acisoma p. panorpoides(Rambur, 1842) Oriental Agrionoptera insignis (Rambur, 1842)Oriental Brachydiplax chalybeachalybea (Brauer, 1868)Oriental Crocothemis s. servilia (Dury, 1770)Oriental Diplacina bolivari (Selys, 1882)Philippine Endemic Diplacina braueri (Selys, 1882)Philippine Endemic Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur, 1842)Oriental Neurothemis ramburii (Brauer, 1866)Oriental Neurothemis terminate (Ris, 1911)Oriental Orthethrum pruinosum clelia (Selys, 1878)Oriental Orthethrum Sabina Sabina (Drury, 1770)Oriental Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798)Oriental Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842)Oriental Ryothemis Phyllis subphylas (Sulzer, 1776) Oriental Tetrathemi sirregularis irregularis (Brauer 1868) Oriental Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839) Oriental Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842)Oriental TOTAL 31 Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 57 Table-2Odonata fauna of IGACOS and other small islands in the Philippines IGACOS (300km) Babuyan Group (50-196km) Balut Island (80km) Batanes Group (203 km2)Bucas Grande (130km) Siargao Island (436km) Saranggani Island (70km) Total Species Recorded 31 29 23 30 24 47 17 % of Endemism 35% 45% 26% 13% 38% 38% 18% # of Species Shared - 17 15 10 14 23 13 # of Species Not Shared - 12 8 20 10 24 4 Kroeber’s % of Similarity - 56.73% 56.8% 32.79% 51.75% 61.65% 59.2% Kroeber’s percentage of similarity shows odonata of IGACOS is most similar to Siargao and Saranggani Islands which are also karst ecosystems and have almost the same topographic description mainly low lying and no considerable high elevation. Among of the taxa shared by the different islands compared are the Oriental species from the family Libellulidae indicating high distribution of this family to the different parts of the archipelago (table-3). For Zygoptera Rhinocypha colorataand Agriocnemis femina are abundantly distributed in all islands compared (table-3). Most of the taxa not shared are the endemic zygopterans like Euphaea refulgens, Amphicnemis dentifier, Neurobasis sp. (luzonensis) and possible island endemic Drepanostica sp., Risiocnemis atripes which are confined to specific islands. Siargao hosts the most unique species not found in other islands like Pseudagrion schieli, Teinobasis filamentum, Lestes p. praemorsus and Gynacantha bayadera. The unique species found in IGACOS not shared with other islands include the endemic species Risiocnemis atripes, and Gomphidia kirschii of which the latter is rare in most islands in the Philippines except Polillo. No island endemic species is recorded in IGACOS. Conclusion The endemic species observed in the semi-forested area of Sampao Falls and Tagbaobo River is a good indication that the island still hosts a few endemic species. However, the dominance of Oriental species mainly from Libellulidae in almost all fluvial systems surveyed indicates detrimental effect of various habitat modifications like resorts, human habitation, and clearing of forest for agricultural use. An immediate conservation effort such as the creation of a policy to protect the head water sources where most of the endemic species were found is urgent.Acknowledgement We would like to thank the University of Mindanao for the seed grant. References 1.Andrew RJ, Subramanian KA and Tiple AD., Common Odonates of Central India, In: The 18th International Symposium of Odonatology, Hislop College, Nagpur, India, 1-49 (2008) 2.Kalkman VJ, Clausnitzer V, Dijkstra K-DB, Orr AG, Paulson DR and Van Tol J., Global Diversity of Dragonflies (Odonata) in Freshwater, Hydrobiology, 198, 351-363 (2008) 3.Hämäläinen M., Critical species of Odonata in the Philippines, International Journal of Odonatology, 7(2), 305-310 (2004) 4.Hämäläinen M. and Muller R.A., Synopsis of the Philippine Odonata with List of Species Recorded from Forty Islands, Odonatologica, 26(3), 249-315 (1997)5.Villanueva R.J.T., Odonata Fauna of Babuyan and Batanes group of islands, Philippines, International Dragonfly Fund,17, 1-16 (2009) 6.Villanueva R.J.T. and Cahilog L., Odonata Fauna of Balut and Saranggani Island, Davao Occidental Province, Philippines, International Dragonfly Fund , Report, 66, 1-23 (2014)7.Villanueva R.J.T., Odonata fauna of Polillo Island, Revisited, International Dragonfly Fund – Report, 27, 1-6 (2010)8.Villanueva R.J.T., Odonata Fauna of Siargao and Bucas Grande islands, Philippines, International Dragonfly Fund, 34, 1-25 (2011)9.LGU Samal Revised Comprehensive Land Use plan, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Philippines, (2008)10.Oppel S., Comparison of two Odonata communities from a natural and a modified rainforest in Papua New Guinea, International Journal of Odonatology, 9, 89-102 (2006)11.Arulprakash R and Gunathilagaraj K., Abundance and diversity of Odonata in temporary water bodies of Coimbatore and Salem districts in Tamil Nadu, Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2(8), 1099-1102 (2010)12.IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, http:// www.iucnredlist.org, (2014) Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 58 Table-3 Species comparison in different small islands in the PhilippinesSpecies Samal Island Babuyan Group Balut Island Batanes Island Bucas Grande Siargao Saranggani Island Zygoptera Rhinocypha colorata (Hagen in Selys, 1869) PE - Agriocnemis f. femina (Braeur, 1868) O Agriocnemis pygmea (Rambur,1842) O- - - Agriocnemis rubescens intermedia (Selys, 1877) O - - - Coegriagrion lieftincki (Asahina, 1967) PE - - - - Ishnura senegalensis (Rambur,1842) O - - - - Pseudagrion pilidorsum (Brauer, 1868) O - - Pseudagrion microcephalum O - - - - Pseudagrion schieli ME - - - - - - Teinobasis samaritis PE - - Teinobasis sp. ( cf. samaritis) PE- - - - T. filamentum PE - - - - - - T. sp.cf. filamentum PE - - - - T. olivaceous - - - - - Xiphiagrion cyanomelas - - - - - Risiocnemis appendiculata (Brauer, 1868) ME - - - - R. eryhtrura ME- - - - - - R. flammea ME- - - - - - R. fuligifrons ME- - - - - - R.atripes (Needham & Gyger, 1941) ME - - - - - - Drepanosticta flavomaculata ME - - - - - D. schorri ME- - - - - Drepanosticta sp.nov. 1 - - - - - Drepanosticta sp. nov. 2 - - - - - Prodasineura integra (Selys, 1882) PE- - - - Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 59 Euphaea refulgens PE- - - - - - Neurobasis sp. (luzonensis) PE- - - - Amphicnemis dentifier - - - - - - Amphicnemis sp. - - - - - A.lestoides - - - - Lestes p. praemorsus - - - - - Anisoptera Anaxguttatus- - - - - - Gynacantha sp. - - - - - - G. bayadera O - - - - - - Gomphidia kirschii (Selys, 1878) PE - - - - - - Heteronias heterodoxa PE - - - - - Idionyxy olanda - - - - - - Idionyx salva - - - - - - Heliogomphus bakeri (Laidlaw, 1925) PE - - - - - Acisoma p. panorpoides (Rambur, 1842) O - - - - Agrionoptera Insignis (Rambur, 1842) O Brachydiplax chalybea O - - - - - Camacinia gigantea - - - - - - Cratillalinea taassidua O - - - - - - Crocothemis s. servilia (Dury, 1770) O - - - - - Diplacina bolivari (Selys, 1882) PE - - Diplacina braueri (Selys, 1882) PE - - - D. lisa PE - - - - - - D. nana PE - - - - Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur, 1842) O Hydrobasileus croceus - - - - - - Lathrecista a. asiatica (Fabricius, 1798) O- - - - Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 4(9), 54-60, September (2015) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 60 Lyriothemissp. cf. hirundo Ris, 1913 - - - - - - Nannophyapygmea - - - - - - Neurothemisramburii (Brauer, 1866) O - Neurothemis terminata (Ris, 1911) O - Onychothemis abnormis - - - - - - Orthethrum pruinosum clelia(Selys, 1878) O- Orthethrum Sabina Sabina (Drury, 1770) O - Orthetrum t. testaceum (Burmeister, 1839) O- - Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) O Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842) O- - Ryothemis Phyllis subphylis O - - - - - Ryothemisregia O - - - - - - Tholymis tillarga O - - - - - - Tetrathemis irregularis irregularis(Brauer, 1868) PE - - - - Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839) O - - - - - - Trithemis adelpha O - - - - - - Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842) O - - Tramea transmarinaeuryale O - - - - - Tramea virginia O - - - - - - Zyxommaobtusum Albarda, 1881O- - - - Zyxomma petiolatum Rambur, 1842 O - - - - - - Total Species 31 29 23 30 24 47 17