MANILA – Researchers from Central Mindanao University have discovered new animal species in several mountains in Mindanao.
Their findings were part of the Biodiversity S&T Program of the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
The three-year study, led by botanist and university professor Dr. Victor Amoroso, aims “to update, assess and monitor the biodiversity and evaluate the physico-chemical properties of selected mountain ecosystems in Mindanao for conservation and sustainable development.”
The research was conducted in the mountain ecosystems of Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental, Mt. Apo in North Cotobato, Mt. Pantaron Range in Bukidnon, and Mt. Tago Range in Bukidnon.
Among the recently-discovered species is the Metapocyrtus bronsi sp. nov., a type of snout beetle.
According to the DOST, this new species was named after the Mandaya (a known ethnic group living in Eastern Mindanao) word “bronsi,” which means bronze, pertaining to the prominent color of the markings on its scales.
Researchers have also found a new species of pygmy grasshopper called Arulenus validispinus. It is more commonly known as the “four-spines pygmy devil,” and it had not been recorded for more than a century.
Aside from animal species, four new plant species have been identified.
One of the new discoveries is the terrestrial orchid species Dilochia deleoniae, a new species of Orchidaceae or the orchid family.
“This endemic species prefers to open in partly shaded habitat, where it is found in clumps or scattered,” according to a DOST report.
Labeled as Hypericum perryongii Galindon, a new species of a flowering plant was also discovered in the narrow summit of Mt. Hamiguitan.
The new Hypericum species was named after the late Dr. Perry Ong, a known conservation biologist from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Another newly discovered species of a flowering plant belonging to the family of Burmaniaceae was named Gymnosiphon syceorosensis.
It is a type of plant that obtains nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi, also discovered in Mt. Hamiguitan.
“Considered as the second new species for the Philippines, because only one population of G. syceorosensis was discovered, no estimation of its abundance or overall distribution can be made,” the Science department said.
Researchers were also able to find a new species of grass fern called Actinostachys minuta Amoroso & Coritico.
The A. minuta is an epiphyte on the trunk of the tree fern with embedded between adventitious roots.
Science Sec. Fortunato de la Peña commended the significant discovery of new species. He said the findings will contribute to better documentation and understanding of Mt. Hamiguitan’s high biological diversity.
This will also lead to the mountains conservation and sustainable utilization, he said.
“New species are potential sources of economically important products such as compounds of medical importance, food, and other valuable materials. These could also be sources of important genes that can be used in future breeding and other genomic applications,” he told Bombo Radyo.
The findings of the studies were published in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology and the peer-reviewed journals Phytotaxa, and Journal of Orthoptera Research.
Among the researchers who took part of the study were Romeo Patano Jr., Alma Mohagan, Sheryl Yap, Fulgent Coritico, Mescel Acola, Daniel Amper, John Michael Galindon, Darin Penneys, Noel Lagunday, Danilo Tandang, Peter Fritsch, Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante, and Daniel Nickrent.
