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Richel E. Relox

  • Biodiversity Journal, 9 (3): 227-236

    Richel E. Relox & Fritzie A. Camino
    Comparative study on the Anuran Communities (Amphibia Anura) in Agusan Marsh  Wildlife Sanctuary, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2018.9.3.227.236

    ABSTRACT
    The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary harbors numerous species of Anurans (Amphibia Anura) that have highly threatened habitats. The species of anurans were observed in different vegetation types such as Terminalia forest, sago palms, and rice fields in the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur on May and October 2008. Result showed abundant, diverse, endemic, and threatened anuran species. Nine species of frogs with 148 individuals were documented. The sago forest had the highest anuran population with 76 inviduals (3 species) followed by 41 (5 species) in the Terminalia forest and 31 (3 species) in the agricultural areas adjacent to sago stands. Of these, 66.7% are Philippine endemics. However, the remaining 33.3% are threatened by natural habitat conversion. Naturally grown sago stands are ultimately a habitat for several anurans found only in the Philippine archipelago. O. laevis and L. leytensis are identified as sago forest indicators. Indeed, their absence or decline in population over time may have detrimental impact on the survival of the sago stands in the Agusan wetlands. The anuran species are highly habitat specific. Indeed, sago stands harbor endemic and unique anuran species that need to be conserved and protected.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (4): 885-896

    Melvin H. Madroñal & Richel E. Relox
    Species-Habitat Relationship of Bats and Mangroves in the Selected Coastal Areas in Northern Mindanao, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.4.885.896

    ABSTRACT
    In the Philippines, mangrove coverage has been declining in Misamis Oriental, impacting bat populations due to coastal and aquaculture development. This study evaluated the relationship between bats and mangroves. Mist netting was used to capture bat species, while quadrat sampling was used to sample mangrove species. Six different bat species have been identified and classified as least concern (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Cynopterus brachyotis was the most common bat species in all sampling locations, while Ptenochirus jagori, Eonycteris spelaea, and Harpyionycteris whiteheadi were first recorded in mangrove forests, adding to existing bat fauna literature in Mindanao. Cynopterus brachyotis is strongly associated with taller mangroves with larger diameter at breast height (DBH) and denser canopy cover based on canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). All the mangrove species found were classified as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, except for Ceriops decandra, which were classified as ‘Near Threatened.’

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (3): 683-692

    Richel E. Relox, Christine Mae M. Eugenio, Flonica F. Imperial & Aira Jayne L. Raut
    Effect of Microclimate to Bat Diversity in Mangrove Forest of Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines (Mammalia Chiroptera)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.3.683.692

    ABSTRACT
    Bat diversity is declining in the country because of habitat loss. Hence, an assessment study of the environmental factors affecting bat diversity was conducted in mangrove forest of Tubajon, Misamis Oriental. Quadrat sampling and mist-netting were used to assess mangroves and bats respectively, and mapped using the Geographic Information System (GIS). Shannon Diversity Index was used for both mangroves and bats while the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Canonical Correspondence Coefficient were used to correlate bats with rainfall, temperature and humidity. Results showed that there are two species of mangroves, namely Rhizophora mucronata and Rhizophora apiculata, and three species of bats, namely Cynopterus brachyotis, Macroglossus minimus, and Ptenochirus minor, in the site. Mangroves and bats obtained the diversity index of 0.6428 and 1.018 respectively. Among the three species of bats, only C. brachyotis has relationship with humidity with a result of 0.04065. Thus, bats in the area highly depend on the quality of the habitat with low diversity of mangroves and varied climatic factors.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (2): 0361-0366

    Amy A. Legaspi, Aizel T. Dela Peña, Zachary P. Osin & Richel E. Relox
    Diet Composition and Determination of Total Mercury in the Gut of Fejervarya cancrivora (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Anura Dicroglossidae) in Gango, Libona, Bukidnon, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.2.361.366

    ABSTRACT
    Mercury toxicity is believed to be a widespread environmental dilemma that has been creating tremendous damages not only to humans, but also to wildlife. Owing to its sensitivity to mercury toxicity, F. cancrivora was subjected for the determination of total mercury (THg). The food intake of frogs is claimed to influence mercury concentration on its body, thus its stomach content was also subjected for analysis. The analysis on the gut contents of F. cancrivora revealed ten (10) food items in which the insect parts got the highest percentage of occurrence (74.19%). In addition, the total mercury concentration found on the gut of F. cancrivora is below the detection limit of <0.02 ug/g which passed USEPA standard of 0.50 ug/g implying that the detected mercury level is still acceptable. This study would like to recommend control and prevention of mercury contamination in the mining area.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (2): 0385-0390

    Jennyveive P. Cabigquez, Leia Andion N. Corrales, Angelica O. Millama & Richel E. Relox
    Effect of Microclimate on Avifaunal Diversity in Brgy. Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.2.385.390

    ABSTRACT
    Avifaunal species provide a range of ecosystem services, however their habitats have been altered rapidly by anthropogenic activities. The study was conducted in the Barangay of Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City to assess the variation of bird species composition, abundance, richness and diversity with varied levels of disturbance such as agricultural, forested and residential area and correlated to the microclimate of the area. Based on the results, a total number of eight (8) avifaunal species and 377 individuals belonging to eight (8) families were identified, namely: Nectarinia jugularis, Lonchura atricapilla, Columba livia, Gallus gallus, Passer Montanus, Rhipidura superciliaris, Motacilla flava, and Hirundo rustica. The residential area has the most abundant species, while forested area has the least abundance. The forested area is more diverse among the other habitat area with a value of H=1.172. In terms of microclimate, if the temperature is low the number of avifauna species is lesser compared to high temperature. Meanwhile, relative humidity and precipitation have a negative correlation with species diversity. Hence, the micro-climate of the area affects the diversity of avifauna in Barangay Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City. The study serves as a baseline data that can be used for conservation and protection for the remaining forest ecosystem in Cagayan de Oro City.