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A new mayfly species, Sparsorythus buntawensis sp. nov. (Tricorythidae) from Layawan River of Mt. Malindang in Mindanao Island, the Philippines is described based on nymphal and adult morphologies. Sparsorythus buntawensis sp. nov. differ from all known members of the genus primarily in the deeper cleft of the hypopharynx and wider distance between compound eyes. Conspecific specimens of various life stages and sexes of this new mayfly were associated using DNA barcode.

Keywords: Mt. Malindang, Macroinvertebrate, Sparsorythus, Freshwater, Layawan River

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The genus Medinilla Gaudich., having about eighty Philippine species, is widely
distributed in the archipelago. This study used morphological and chemical data to explain taxonomic relationship among eighteen species belonging to the genus. For chemical data, two-dimensional paper chromatography was employed to survey different phenolic compounds present in each species considered in this study. A total of seventyseven different phenolic compounds were found to be present among the eighteen species of Medinilla. A phenogram was constructed by PAST version 1.42 (with Ward’s method as algorithm) using only morphological characters, another using chemical characters obtained by paper chromatography, and another using both morphological and chemical characters. In the first phenogram, two distinct clusters were formed while in the second phenogram, three distinct clusters were formed with M. clementis and M. dolichophylla separating from the rest of the species studied. In third phenogram, three major clusters were observed. In all three phenograms generated, M. ternifolia and M. venosa consistently clustered closely together. The same case was observed with M. ramiflora and M. myrtiformis. The phenograms reflect taxonomic affinities among the species used in this study. For further studies, inclusion of more species and molecular sequencing of samples are recommended.

Keywords: Medinilla, Paper Chromatography, Phenetics, Phenolic Compounds, Cluster Analysis

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Appendices

The Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea is a threatened rich fishing ground endowed with diverse flora and fauna. However, studies about gastropods and bivalves in KIG are lacking. This preliminary listing of shelled gastropods and bivalves of KIG is based on collections in 2014 and 2016. Seventy eight species of shelled gastropod and bivalves belonging to 28 families were documented. The list includes some threatened species of giant clams and large reef gastropods. Extensive sampling especially in deep areas is expected to enrich the current list. Species inventory of other taxa is also suggested to understand the extent of biological diversity in this wide eco-region.

Keywords: Bivalves, Gastropods, Kalayaan Island Group, Palawan, West Philippine Sea

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A new ectobiid cockroach, Tagaloblatta kasaysayan gen. et sp. nov. from Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna is described. The new genus externally resembles the Neotropical genera Isoldaia Gurney & Roth 1966 and Agmoblatta Gurney & Roth 1966 but genital morphology shows possible close relation with Sundablatta Hebard 1929, Pseudophyllodromia Brunner 1865, and Allacta Saussure & Zehntner 1895. The genus can be distinguished from the other genera by the minute, non-overlapping tegmina, absence of hind wings and specialized abdominal glands, simple, posteriorly symmetrical subgenital plate and similarly-sized style.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Cockroach fauna, New genus, New species, Philippines

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This paper updates the taxonomy and distribution of microcrustacean zooplankton belonging to Cladocera and Copepoda from selected freshwater bodies of Luzon Island, Panay Island and South Cotabato, Mindanao Island in the Philippines whose zooplankton fauna have remained undocumented to date. A total of 31 sampling sites were visited including 11 ponds, 5 lakes, 12 rivers, 1 man-made dam, and 2 streams. Zooplankton samples were collected using 80mesh size plankton nets, and processed and identified in the laboratory. Morphological characteristics were examined under light compound, dissecting, and phase-contrast microscopes for taxonomic identification. Results showed that 13 species were present from the different sampling sites with 7 cladocerana and 6 copepods. Further analyses revealed new locality records for Mesocyclops ogunnus in Lake Taal and Arctodiaptomus dorsalis in Lake Lahit. All species from Lake Holon are new locality records. Results from this study contributed much needed information to make a thorough analysis on the distribution of microcrustacean zooplankton taxa in the Philippines as well as provide the first accounts of microcrustacean zooplankton from Panay Island.

Keywords: Arctodiaptomus dorsalis, Cladocera, Copepoda, Lake Holon, Lake Lahit, Lake Taal, Philippines
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Mt. Palay-Palay is Cavite’s only protected landscape and yet very few herpetological
studies have been done in this area. Thus, the study aims to provide robust ecological
data on different anuran species so that an effective conservation and management plancould be formulated. Five habitats were sampled using a combination of cruising transect, stratified random strip transect sampling, time-constrained searches, visual encounter survey (VES) and acoustic encounter survey (AES). A total of 1528 individuals belonging to 12 species was recorded from the study area. In addition to previous works, 2 Platymantis spp. were new records bringing the total species richness to 16. Of the 16 species, 10 (62.5%) are endemic to the Philippines. Among the species,  Platymantis mimulus was the most abundant and also had the highest density of 174 frogs ha-1. Among the habitats riparian forests had highest species diversity, Mau Tao and Jackknife1 values which showed dependence of anurans on water. Of the 17 microhabitats, forest floor litter was the most occupied by anurans.

Keywords: Diversity, Species Richness
Density, Microhabitats, Mao Tau, Jackknife1, AES, VES

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