The Philippines, located at the center of the coral triangle, may have even more secrets hidden in its various ecosystems.
The 2011 Philippine Expedition spearheaded by the University of the Philippines (UP) and the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Wednesday that it has discovered 75 possibly new species of animals, inserts and sea creatures endemic to the Philippines.
The coral triangle is refers to the area of tropical waters which holds the highest diversity of marine life, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Shallow, deep, and terrestrial and fresh waters in Taal Lake and other areas in Batangas were covered by the expedition, which ran from April 26 to June 8.
Among the new species discovered by groups from the National Museum of the Philippines and CAS include the juvenile singing catfish, Moorish idol and dragon sea moth in Taal Lake and other areas in Batangas. Different species of mollusks, corals and sea urchins were also discovered in Batangas waters.
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In Mt. Makiling, Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Isarog, the UP Los Baños Arachnology team and the CAS discovered possibly new spider species, including one as small as an ant.
The different teams also discovered many more new species, including walking sticks, crickets and assassin spiders.
However, CAS Science and Research Collections dean Terrence Gobliner said that the new species have “always been there," but have been discovered only now.
“We just haven't been looking carefully enough. The expedition is just the initial discovery aspect. The hard work comes when we really start understanding what we've found," he added.
The scientists clarified that further study is needed to confirm that the 75 newly documented creatures actually are new species.
‘Historic, most comprehensive’
Scientist noted during the expedition’s press conference a month ago that the expedition would be the “the first to make a comprehensive survey of both terrestrial and marine diversity" in the country.
Biologist Dr. Perry Ong noted that it has been over 100 years since Mt. Makiling was last comprehensively surveyed.
According to the CAS website for the project, “climate change, increased fishing pressure, increased urbanization, and increased logging" have made the areas involved in the expedition threatened hot spots, heightening the need to explore the area at the soonest possible time.
“In order to protect, we need to understand what exists," according to the CAS.
CAS researchers have long been making trips to the Philippines — since 1992 — and always discovering new species.
The expedition also aims to contribute to the creation of “sustainable development and conservation-related decisions."
For UP Professor Emeritus Dr. Edgardo Gomez, the teams’ discoveries ought to heighten conservation efforts. “What might be happening in Lake Taal, for example, not only are the introduced species being killed but maybe even the indigenous and endemic species are being killed by all the pollution," he said.
Last week, Taal Lake was the subject of headlines because of a massive fish kill caused by fish farming mismanagement and the abrupt change in the lake’s average temperature because of the rainy season.— BC/VS, GMA News
The coral triangle is refers to the area of tropical waters which holds the highest diversity of marine life, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Shallow, deep, and terrestrial and fresh waters in Taal Lake and other areas in Batangas were covered by the expedition, which ran from April 26 to June 8.
Among the new species discovered by groups from the National Museum of the Philippines and CAS include the juvenile singing catfish, Moorish idol and dragon sea moth in Taal Lake and other areas in Batangas. Different species of mollusks, corals and sea urchins were also discovered in Batangas waters.
This page requires a higher version browser
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
In Mt. Makiling, Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Isarog, the UP Los Baños Arachnology team and the CAS discovered possibly new spider species, including one as small as an ant.
The different teams also discovered many more new species, including walking sticks, crickets and assassin spiders.
However, CAS Science and Research Collections dean Terrence Gobliner said that the new species have “always been there," but have been discovered only now.
“We just haven't been looking carefully enough. The expedition is just the initial discovery aspect. The hard work comes when we really start understanding what we've found," he added.
The scientists clarified that further study is needed to confirm that the 75 newly documented creatures actually are new species.
‘Historic, most comprehensive’
Scientist noted during the expedition’s press conference a month ago that the expedition would be the “the first to make a comprehensive survey of both terrestrial and marine diversity" in the country.
Biologist Dr. Perry Ong noted that it has been over 100 years since Mt. Makiling was last comprehensively surveyed.
According to the CAS website for the project, “climate change, increased fishing pressure, increased urbanization, and increased logging" have made the areas involved in the expedition threatened hot spots, heightening the need to explore the area at the soonest possible time.
“In order to protect, we need to understand what exists," according to the CAS.
CAS researchers have long been making trips to the Philippines — since 1992 — and always discovering new species.
The expedition also aims to contribute to the creation of “sustainable development and conservation-related decisions."
For UP Professor Emeritus Dr. Edgardo Gomez, the teams’ discoveries ought to heighten conservation efforts. “What might be happening in Lake Taal, for example, not only are the introduced species being killed but maybe even the indigenous and endemic species are being killed by all the pollution," he said.
Last week, Taal Lake was the subject of headlines because of a massive fish kill caused by fish farming mismanagement and the abrupt change in the lake’s average temperature because of the rainy season.— BC/VS, GMA News
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