Avian Assessment in PFLA 1 to PFLA 3, Mt.

Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR), CFNR-

UPLB using Transect Walk Method
Dela Cruz, R1. Evaristo, M. B.4, Icomo, G.1, Lazo, L1., Maligalig, R.1, Manarpaac, R.4,Tendencia, I3.

1
Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, CFNR-UPLB
2
Forest Biological Sciences, CFNR-UPLB
3
Forest Products and Paper Science, CFNR-UPLB
4
Social Forestry and Forest Governance, CFNR-UPLB

ABSTRACT

The third country in the world comprising numerous endemic birds is the Philippines.
The country has about 234 endemic birds. Endemic birds are those birds that are found only in
the Philippines and nowhere else. The aim of this study is to assess the avian diversity in Mt.
Makiling Forest Reserve. The 2 km transect route was established from Permanent Field
Laboratory Area 1 (PFLA 1) to Permanent Field Laboratory Area 3 (PFLA 3). In order to assess
the avian diversity of the site, different species were identified by visually and aurally observing
the birds present. Variation of the population of the birds within the area was also determined.
According to the results, a total of 39 avian individuals are observed in PFLA 1 to PFLA that is
divided into 20 types of avian species. In determining avian diversity, different biodiversity
indices were used including Shannon-Weiner’s Index (H’), Simpson’s Diversity Index (D), and
Evenness (E). For each biodiversity index, the computed values are 2.6893, 0.0688, and 0.8959,
respectively. The observed area showed moderate species richness and very high evenness
according to the computed values using the Biodiversity Scale of Dr. Fernando. Two biodiversity
parameters were also used in the assessment. First is the Menhinick’s Index with computed value
of 3.2026, and second is the Margalef’s Diversity Index with computed value of 5.1862. With
these presented findings, moderate diversity of avian species can be found in PFLA 1 to PFLA 3.

KEYWORDS: Avian, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Biodiversity, Bird endemism

INTRODUCTION
Philippines is considered to be an archipelago consisting of islands varying in sizes and
distribution of resources. Due to the reason that most of the country’s biodiversity remain only at
the documented phase and some areas are still poorly documented, priority on the biodiversity
conservation has been compromised. These islands are composed of different bird species. There
are actually 552 bird species present in the country (Dickinson et al., 1991). For each of these
species, taxonomic identification was provided and distributions described at least to the level of
occurrence on individual islands. Although the study provided minimal analysis of the diversity,
it will still lead to the analysis of distributional patterns, concentrations of species diversity, and
emphasis of endemism in the country.
Birds play an important role in the seed dispersal and forest recovery in agroforest
ecosystems, increasing seed deposition leading to the high seedling regeneration of species that
have not been locally present in previous years (Cornell University, 2007). The presence of large
trees in an agroforest habitat can provide breeding niches for birds as well as the source of food
for survival. Presence of more large trees may also lead to high diversity of bird in an area (Van
Bael et al., 2007). For this reason, conservation value had been given more point in agroforest
habitats but still higher level of bird’s diversity can still be found in natural forests which are
their natural habitat.
Disturbances leading to the degradation of habitats for birds may affect the condition of
the bird species present in the country. Some of these obstructions might lead to the loss of a
particular bird species. Parasitic pathogens from birds can be transmitted either internally or
externally causing hazardous effect to humans. Birds’ feces excreted from above may
contaminate products for human consumption. They may also transmit diseases they got from
different destinations they had been since they migrated.
This paper has principally three objectives: (1) to identify bird species present in PFLA 1
to PFLA 3 through visually and through the sound they make, (2) to determine how the
population of birds vary within the covered area, and (3) to make students think of some ways on
how to protect avian species.
MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

Site Description

The area of study for the assessment of avian diversity is Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve
(MMFR) located exactly at 14°8′ north and 121°12′ east, 65 km southeast of Metro Manila,
which encompasses a total of 4,244 hectares. The average temperature ranges from 25.5°C to
27.5°C with average annual rainfall of 239.7 cm. During the conduction of the exercise, the
observed weather is mostly clear; temperature is at 29°C with 83% chance of precipitation. And,
wind speed and direction is 2 m/s North East according to Accuweather (2018).

The MMFR is considered an ASEAN Heritage Park and serves as an existing forest
training laboratory for the researches especially of UPLB students about conservation,
preservation, management and protection of the forests and natural resources therein. For this
particular exercise, the study was conducted from Permanent Field Laboratory Area 1 (PFLA 1)
to Permanent Field Laboratory Area 3 (PFLA 3) located in the MMFR.

Figure 1. A location and boundary map of the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) derived
from the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME).
Sampling

A 2 km transect route from PFLA 1-PFLA 3 was established by the groups of the FBS
101 B laboratory section students: (1) groups 1 and 2 on the left side and, (2) groups 3 and 4 on
the right side of the trail (Refer to Figure 2). An approximate distance of 150m was also
maintained between sections to avoid unwanted redundancy in recording of the data (Refer to
Figure 3). Each group was given a tally sheet where data of bird presence was inputted. Data to
be recorded include birds’ species, sounds, characteristics and frequencies. It was also important
to note if the birds seen or heard was only observed while they were flying, or when they
perched in the branches of the trees.
Data Analysis

Upon the consolidation of the findings, the Shannon-Wiener’s Diversity Index, Species
Evenness, Simpson’s Dominance Index, Simpson’s Diversity Index, Margalef’s Index and
Menhinick’s Index were used for the evaluation of sampled area’s avian diversity. Accordingly,
the formula for these aforementioned analysis methods are as follows (Refer to Table 1):

Table 1. The parameters used for the analysis of the Avian Diversity Indexes of PFLA 1 to PFLA 3.

Accordingly, the computed values for Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H’) and
Evenness (E) parameters were then interpreted using Dr. Fernando’s Biodiversity Scale (Refer to
Table 2). On the other hand, since the range of values for the Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) is 0
- 1, it implies that there is a higher diversity as the computed value approaches 1. Meanwhile,
there is a higher richness of species in the area if the computed values of both Margalef’s
Diversity Index (Ri) and Menhinick’s Index (DME) is higher.

Table 2. Tabulated Biodiversity Scale of Dr. Fernando

RESULTS

The findings of the avian diversity assessment revealed that there are a total of 39 avian
individuals observed in PFLA 1 to PFLA 3, which falls into twenty (20) species types of avian.
Four (4) out of twenty (20) avian species were seen, while the remaining sixteen (16) were
simply heard. Accordingly, the classification of these avian species is based on the sounds it had
produced and its physical features (i.e. color of the feather, wings, size, etc.) (Refer to Appendix,
Table 3). As what can be observed from Figure 4, the most prevalent avian species is Species 2,
which has a frequency of 8 constituting for 20.5% of the cumulative avian population observed.
On the other hand, the least observed species in the sampled area are Species 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, Malchoa, Balikasiao, Grass Owl, and Manok Labuyo were only observed once during
the entire assessment period, each comprising for 2.6% of the total avian population.
Figure 4. Graph depicting the percentage distribution of the twenty avian species in PFLA 1 to PFLA 3
identified by section B-3L.

Using the various biodiversity indices for the determination of avian diversity of the
sampled area, it was discovered that the computed values for Shannon-Weiner’s Index (H’),
Simpson’s Diversity Index (D), and Evenness (E) are 2.6893, 0.0688, and 0.8959, respectively.
With accordance to the Biodiversity Scale of Dr. Fernando, the computed values imply a
moderate species richness and very high evenness observed in the sampled area. In terms of the
last two biodiversity parameters, the computed value for Menhinick’s Index is 3.2026, while the
value 5.1862 was yielded using the Margalef’s Diversity Index. Accordingly, given that the
range of value for Menhinick’s and Margalef’s Diversity Index reaches up to positive infinity,
this entails that there is a moderate species richness of avian observed in the area. The
consolidated values computed using the various biodiversity indices are as follows:
Table 3. Tabulated computed values using the multiple biodiversity parameters.

DISCUSSION

Bird endemism is, as expected low compared to flora diversity in a particular area,
mainly because birds are known to migrate from one place to another whenever the conditions in
a particular place are not favorable for them. To exemplify, during winter season (or when the
season is already approaching), birds were observed to migrate to warmer places. The only
reason of bird settlement to its actual place is when there is availability of food resource and
nesting place.

The avian diversity assessment in Permanent Field Laboratory Area 1 (PFLA 1) to

Permanent Field Laboratory Area 3 (PFLA 3) revealed a moderate diversity of the said species.
This can be attributed to multiple factors, such as the climate, topography, species specificity
requirements, anthropogenic activities within the area, and others. Delving deeper to the aspect
of climate, another probable reason for the moderate diversity of avian observed in the sampled
area is the high probability of precipitation, which is 83% (Accuweather, 2018) during the time
the assessment was conducted. Moreover, the time the activity was conducted is at 1:30 PM to
2:10 PM. According to Angehr et al. (2002), the diversity assessment of avian is ideally
conducted within the first few hours after daybreak. This is primarily because of two reasons.
First, the area is generally undisturbed during this period. Lastly, the singing activities of the
birds are typically within the said time span.
 Based from the findings, species 2 is the most dominant avian species observed at 20.5%
through listening to its chirping sound. The Simpson’s Diversity index computed was 0.0688
which implies that there is 6.88% chance of getting two different species randomly from the
sampled site. It is considered very low that may be attributable to the various factors explained
above. However, the observed trend is dissimilar to the hypothesis of the group that Mt.
Makiling contains a great number and diversity of bird species since the Philippines is a tropical
country that comprises a high flora and fauna species diversity which should provide more food
resource for birds (Brown, 2014). Thus, aside from regular migration of birds, the rapid
biodiversity assessment conducted for this exercise was believed to yield error also that have
resulted to the outcomes of this exercise. One research conducted by a group of world birders
who travels around the world to assess avian species diversity, known as Birding Adventure
Philippines, last November 15 to December 7, 2011 confirmed the high diversity of avian species
in the Philippines (Constantino, n.d.). In Mt. Makiling, bird species observed includes Rough-
crested (Red-crested) Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus superciliosus), Scaled-feathered Malkoha(
Phaenicophaeus cumingi), Hodgson´s Hawk Cuckoo(Hierococcyx nisicolor), Feeding Striped
Flowerpeckers (Dicauem aeruginosum), and Mettallic – winged sunbird (Aethopyga
pulcherrima). Moreover, Mt. Makiling is a home of two endemic avian species namely,
Phaenicophaeus superciliosus and Dicauem aeruginosum.

CONCLUSION

Based from the findings, since there is a moderate species richness and a very high
species evenness, it can be inferred that there a moderate diversity of avian species observed in
PFLA 1 to PFLA 3. However, it should be taken into consideration that there are many factors
that can be attributed to the result of the avian diversity assessment. For instance, this may be
influenced by the time the assessment was conducted, the chosen sampled area, the climate and
others. Moreover, given the size of the sample area, the flying ability of birds, and the duration
of the assessment, it is safe to conclude that the findings is still not enough to represent the entire
avian population in Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve. Nevertheless, this does not imply that there is
still an abundance of avian in the area nor there is no need for a conservation practices. Hence,
further analysis of the sampled area is recommended for a more accurate estimation of the area's
avian diversity and the determination of the suitable conservation practices for the area.
REFERENCES

Accuweather. (2018). Batong Malake, Laguna, Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.accu

weather.com/en/ph/batong-malake/781273/march-weather/781273.

Angehr, G. R., Siegel, J., Aucca, C., Christian, D. G., & Pequeño, T. (2002). An assessment and
monitoring program for birds in the Lower Urubamba Region, Peru. Environmental
monitoring and assessment, 76(1), 69-87.

Brown, J. H. (2014). Why are there so many species in the tropics?. Journal of biogeography,
41(1), 8-22.

Constantino, A. A. (n.d.). Tag: mt. makiling. Retrieved from http://www.birdingphilippines.

com/tag/mt-makiling/

Cornell University. (2007). The Basics of Bird Migration: How, Why, And Where.
Retrieved from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/the-basics-how-why-and-where-of-bird
migration/.

Dickinson, M., Ayvaz, Y., (1991). Ecological Importance of Birds. Retrieved from
http://eprints.ibu.edu.ba/601/1/issd2010_science_book_p560-p565.pdf

Driscoll, M. (2013). Why Do Birds Matter? Retrieved from http://www.audubon.org/magazine

/march-april-2013/why-do-birds-matter.

Van Bael, S.A., Bichier, P., Ochoa, I., Greenberg, R. (2007). Bird diversity in cocao farms and
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APPENDIX

Table 4. Tabulated record of the observations during the avian assessment in PFLA 1 to PFLA 3
conducted by B-3L.

Note: H implies that the birds were simple Heard, while S denotes that it was Seen.
Table 5. This illustrates the computation for Shannon-Weiner’s Diversity Index.
Table 6. This is the tabulated values for the computation of Simpson’s Index.