A report to the rufford small grants foundation
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METHODOLOGY Initial Visits and Obtaining Community Consent In March 2007, Prof. Wilfredo Alangui, the project leader, sent letters to local officials and community leaders in Tulgao and to another nearby community to explain the research project and to get their consent. During this time, the provincial office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples was conducting FPIC in relation to the proposed explorations. While initial feedback on the letters were positive, the team decided to delay the start of the research due to the sensitive situation brought about by conflicting community positions on the proposed explorations and geothermal project. On 6 December 2007, Ms. Alicia Follosco went to Tinglayan to formally get research project endorsement from the municipality through its mayor, Hon. Johnny Maymaya. On 27-28 December, training on the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) for research was conducted for the research team and five (5) locals from Tinglayan. This was part of the capacity-building for both the team and the community. After the workshop, the research team and the Tinglayan participants finalized the research site, drew up the timetable and discussed preparations for the fieldwork. On 17 January 2008, Mayor Maymaya visited UP Baguio and met with some members of the team led by Prof. Wilfredo Alangui. In this meeting, the mayor briefed the research team about the sensitivity of the situation in the communities brought about by the proposed geothermal project. Prof. Alangui assured the mayor that the team will not get involved on the issues surrounding the project. Community Consultations The team went to Tinglayan on 19 January 2008 and visited three barangays (Tulgao East and Tulgao West, and another village). The objective of the visit was to meet with the community people and obtain their consent for the project. In Tulgao, the visit coincided with the sapata, a community event attended by household members from both East and West, and facilitated by the two barangay captains Mr. JosephOlao (Tulgao West) and Mr. Miguel Guyang (Tulgao East). The sapata was called that day to resolve the problem of theft of power cables used to operate the microhydro power plant that serviced the communities of Tulgao and Dananao. Almost every household was represented in the ritual, which required household representatives to swear their innocence before an antique jar wrapped with burial cloth. Everyone who swore on the jar was expected to tell the truth. Doing otherwise would invite tragedy to the person or to any member of the family. It was a chance for the team to observe an indigenous method of conflict resolution. After the sapata, and after the research team was introduced by Mr. Joseph Olao, barangay captain of Tulgao West, Prof. Alangui was invited to explain the research project. Questions were raised and answered, mostly by the older men who were around. The two barangay captains later assured the team that we have obtained the consent of the two communities. As soon as community consent was given by the community of Tulgao for the conduct of mapping and ecological and hydrologic inventory in the domain, the barangay leaders mobilized local councilmen and a few other individuals to provide support in the research. They were also instrumental in the selection of field sites. Once clear about what the research required for the ecological and hydrologic survey, the local leadership in consultation with knowledgeable hunters and forest users helped find the appropriate actual field sites. Several areas were described and suggested until the appropriate sites were chosen based on the requirements and resources of the team. The community contingent at the time of field work was composed of twelve (12) men and two (2) young girls. They assisted in hauling field supplies to the site, provided information and supported the research team in data collection as requested and again hauled down field materials and gathered specimens for analysis ex situ. The following are descriptions of the methods used in each of the research component. Geophysical Features The general setting and surface features of the study area were determined by careful examination of the available maps obtained from NAMRIA, Bureau of Soils and Water Management and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Rocks were collected with a sample pick at certain outcrops and examined under the hand lens. Water quality was examined with the YSI Model 85 handheld oxygen, conductivity, salinity, and temperature system. Water quality measurements were taken from four (4) field sites. Fauna Site The collection area is located in Sitio Muscot at coordinates 17º28’41”E and 121º06’09”N, and covered approximately 1.19 hectares. It has at an altitude range of 1700 masl to 1900 masl. The area used to be a settlement in the late 1970s for several households who cleared some parts of the mossy forest for agriculture. According to a respondent, they abandoned the area because it was not fertile. Since then, the land was covered by tall grasses, dominated by Miscanthus sp. The surrounding thick mossy forest remains intact. The grass area is well noted for the many tracks of rodents, specifically diggings that are approximately 13 centimeters apart. The relatively thick organic layer of the area, which allowed easy digging in search for food, may explain such behavior. Method The standard procedure on trapping was used to assess the area. Small mammals were caught using Victor rat-traps, about 95 %, and National Live traps. The team used the earthworm and peanut butter-coated coconuts bait combinations for about 95 % of the baits. Earthworm baits were used for the rest. Most of the traps were placed on the ground while the rest were placed on top of rocks, fallen logs and trees. They were laid at 2-5 meters distance. The traps were checked regularly at 7 in the morning, re-baited around 3 pm, and placed at sites different from their earlier position. The trapping was done for seven (7) successive nights and a total of 774 trap-nights were set for the entire sampling period. Seven different sites were sampled in the entire stretch of the area. These consisted of five (5) sites covered by Miscanthus sp. and two (2) sites in the edges of the mossy forest. The animals collected from each trap night were immediately processed. Body measurements (total body length, tail length, hind foot and ear length) were recorded. All collections were preserved in 10% formalin solutions and were subjected for confirmation of identifications. Bats and birds were sampled using mist nets. The method did not follow the standard and minimum number of trap nights to make a complete assessment. The nets were just left in the sites and were checked early in the morning and late in the afternoon. They were strategically positioned in edges of the forest and the grassland near water sources and trails. Some of the nets were moved into different sites during the 4th day. The collected specimens were measured and documented. To validate the initial identification of the specimens, the team consulted Mr. Danny Balete of the Chicago Field Museum. Flora A 10m x 50m plot was established in sitio Balugon, at coordinates 17º28’69”E and 121º06’53”N, which is within the territory of Tulgao West. The plot was investigated of its existing flora. All plants including fern and fern ally, gymnosperm and angiosperm representatives were collected as voucher specimens for identification. The voucher specimens were pressed on-site and transported to UP Baguio for drying and poisoning with sodium pentachlorophenate. It was then mounted on herbarium sheets. These specimens were then sent to Mr. Leonardo Co of the Conservation International for identification. On July 2008, the team went back for validation of preliminary results. The common names of the collected specimens were then provided by two hunter-elders. Microbiology Sampling Procedure The acquisition of soil samples were done using a soil corer, a tool designed to get soil samples from fields. Six locations were selected by the researchers. The soil samples fromthese chosen locations were pooled into a plastic bag and kept for serial dilution and further processing in the laboratory. Isolation and Purification of Microorganisms Ten grams of soil in each of the samples was measured and transferred to a bottle with 90 ml sterile water. The serial dilution and spread plating techniques were done according to the method described by Westreich (1997). Petri plates were inoculated and incubated at 37o C for 2 days. After which the number of viable microorganisms were estimated by counting the colony forming units (CFUs) per gram of soil sample collected. Characterization of Microorganisms The morphological characteristics of microorganisms were observed in each of the plates. After counting the viable number of microorganisms and describing their characteristics, morphologically different microorganisms each from the NA, (Nutrient Agar) and PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) were selected and purified in freshly prepared media plates. These plates were then incubated for two to three days at 37o C. After a day of incubation, the microorganisms cultured from Nutrient Agar plates were characterized further using biochemical tests. Bacteria can be characterized and classified mostly by their enzymes or chemical reactions. As they are grown on different types of media, they produce certain types of metabolites that are detected by their interactions with test reagents, which may result in color change. The following biochemical tests were applied: Catalase test, Oxidase test, Casein hydrolysis, Hydrogen Sulfide Production, Gelatin hydrolysis, and Indole test. Morphological characteristics and biochemical tests reactions served as basis for speculating probable bacterial genera known to exhibit these characteristics. Microorganisms cultured in PDA were characterized by examining a sample of their cells under a microscope, describing and noting their morphology using a key in identifying the genera of yeast and fungi. Mapping Data in various forms were collected to produce maps on Tulgao. The domain of Tulgao is made up of the two socio-political units, namely Tulgao East and Tulgao West. Informants claimed that in 1979, the two government units were created following an unresolved conflict between two barangay chairman aspirants. The solution to the conflict was to divide the barangay into two and give each individual one political unit to manage. In this study, however, the site is treated as one distinct domain (or bogis as is the local term) that is occupied by one ethno-lingustic group, called the i-Turkao. Topographic maps with a 1:50,000 scale were acquired from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). The Lubuagan and Sallapadan sheets in particular were scanned, geo-referenced and joined (made into a mosaic) to locate Tulgao. Similarly, the base map of Tinglayan in the approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2004) was scanned, geo-referenced and digitized. A municipal map was created, from which the political boundaries of the two Tulgao barangays were taken. In addition, visible features in the topographic maps, such as creeks and rivers within the area were also digitized. A Landsat ETM+ scene with a 30-meter spatial resolution (dated April 3, 2002) was acquired. Using the political boundary of the Tulgao domain extracted from the CLUP, a subset of the area was taken from this satellite image, and henceforth was used to perform image classification to generate a land cover map. Image classification with Image Processing Software is a “process of classifying multispectral images into patterns of varying gray or assigned colors that represent clusters of statistically different sets of multiband data, some of which can be correlated with separable classes or features. It is used to convert spectral raster data into a finite set of classifications that represent the surface types seen in the imagery. As such, it can be used to identify different vegetation types, anthropogenic structures, and other natural resources... and the classified raster image can be converted to vector features, for example, polygon, in order to compare with other data sets or to calculate spatial attributes, like area” (Tiburan: 2008). Due to resource and time constraints, image classification was done as an alternative to generate the land cover/land use of Tulgao. The area per land cover/land use as computed from the classification was thus treated as indicative and not authoritative, especially since the satellite image is also not recent. The flowchart below describes the steps followed by the project in generating the resource map. Figure 2: Steps in Creating the Resource Map 
Training points were generated using GPS receivers. Positional data were collected in January, April and July 2008 and used to classify the image, arriving at an indicative land cover classification of the area. Ground truthing was limited and done in the settlement and accessible agricultural areas. In the course of data collection in April, positional data on the sampling sites were also generated and plotted in a map (see two maps below). Figure 3: Map showing the sampling areas plotted in the April 3, 2002 Landsat ETM+ Satellite Image 
Figure 4: Survey sites in 3D View (Background: April 3, 2002 Landsat ETM+ Satellite Image, Exaggeration: 2) 
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY Limited resources and time constraints, as well as the difficult terrain prevented the team from reaching Mount Mosimus which was the original target site. While the research focused on areas that may be classified as ‘disturbed,’ the results obtained may serve as indicators of what lies in the thickly forested and relatively untouched forests of Mount Mosimus. Some of the limitations per component are enumerated below. • The results obtained for the geology component are at a reconnaissance level only. The following posed as limitations to fully accomplishing the objectives of the study: limited geological work (public domain) by earlier workers in the area, accessibility to the field site, and unavailability of complete digital data and appropriate software for storing digital information. • The Microbiology group attempted to isolate and purify fungal isolates, but had difficulty in growing them in the laboratory media. Very few or scanty growth was observed making it difficult to characterize the fungi found at the different sampling sites. Hence, the focus of the study was limited to the bacterial isolates. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Geophysical Features Morphology and Drainage The highest elevation in Tulgao is at 2525 masl in Mount Cauitan in the south. The second highest elevation is at 2468 masl in Mount Bangbanglang in the west. The lowest elevation is 800 masl, adjacent to a hot spring discharge point in Tinglayan River. Slopes vary from steep (30-50%) to very steep (>50%). Relief is generally rugged. Tulgao belongs to the watershed demarcated by the Mount Mauban drainage divide. It is drained by Pasil and Tinglayan rivers in the northwest and the southeast, respectively. The Pasil and Tinglayan rivers flow to the northeast and east, respectively, to join the Chico River, which then drains through the Cagayan Valley and into the Babuyan Channel. Drainage pattern is predominantly dendritic (like tree branches) and radial around inferred volcanic peaks, such as Mount Mosimus and Mount Binulauan. Land Use Surrounding the Pasil headwaters east of Mount Bangbanglang are gullies of open grasslands. Adjacent to Mount Mauban, down to the Balay settlement, the forest is the dominant land use. At Balay and going east towards Tulgao residences, grassland is observed in association with shrubs and various plantations such as rice, beans and bananas. The two sampling sites in Balugon and Muskot are within the forest area. Soil and Rock In the west and central region of the barangay, soils in the area are mostly unclassified mountain soils. In the vicinity of Balay and Tulgao, clay loam predominates. Near its northwest end in the vicinity of the headwaters of Pasil, Tulgao is underlain by andesite/diorite intrusives. Towards the east, it is underlain by metavolcanics and metasediments, interspersed with wackes and conglomerates, and intermediate flows and pyroclastics. Pillow lavas in the field are shown in Figure 5. A small outcropping diorite intrusive is being extracted to make stone stoves for domestic use (Figure 6). Most rocks are used primarily as retaining walls for trails, rice fields and residences. In the two major sampling sites in Muscot and Balugon, outcrops of tan- to gray-colored tuffs and tuffaceous sediments were encountered. Durkee and Pederson (1961) and Peña (2008) report a dacitic composition for the sediments. Well-formed crystals of quartz and feldspar were observed. The rocks were further recognized by Durkee and Pederson (1961) as valley filling deposits in the Pasil and Chico River valleys and are part of the Awidon Mesa Formation of Pleistocene age. The volcanic rocks, hot springs, gas emitting vents (Figure 7) and radial drainage confirm the volcanic nature of the area. The topography north of the sample sites suggests deposits that could possibly have been erupted towards the southwest from Mount Mosimus and Mount Binulauan. The northeast-trending range containing peaks from Mount Cauitan to Mount Binulauan appear to delimit one side of the deposits. Figure 5: Pillow lavas behind our field aides 
Figure 6: Indigenous stove carved from diorite. Top view (left) and bottom view (right)  
Figure 7: Gas emitting vent (encircled) looking north towards Mount Binulauan 
Water Quality At creeks higher than the field collection sites, dissolved oxygen measurements were taken. Saclit and Pinit creeks, with elevations of 1853 masl and 1775 masl, measured DO levels of 9.3 and 13.8 milligrams per liter respectively, and an average water temperature of 13.5 degrees Celsius. Based on the DO values, these waters may be classified as Class AA, a classification that meets the intended quality of water from watersheds that are uninhabited and otherwise protected; disinfection following approved methods is necessary in order to meet the National Standards for Drinking Water of the Philippines (DENR DAO 34). At the confluence of Bonog and Tinglayan creeks downstream of Balay and Tulgao East, DO measured to be 6.3 milligrams per liter. The lower DO could be a result of stronger anthropogenic impact in this area. It has been recognized that pollutants, such as agricultural runoff or sewage could build up organic matter that can be broken down by microbial decomposers as they conserve dissolved oxygen. Fauna Six species of mammals were collected from the trappings conducted from April 17-23, 2008. Five species were murids (Family Muridae), namely Apomys abrae. Apomys datae, Chrotomys whiteheadii, Rattus everetii, and Rattus exulans, and one species of bat (Family Pteropodidae) identified as Otopteropus cartilagonodus. Four species of birds were collected: Spilornis cheela or crested serpent eagle, Pachycephala Lanius cristatus. During the initial visit in January 2008, the team bought three hunted birds from an elderly woman resident of Tulgao West. The birds turned out to be P. marchei. From 774 traps set, the team collected ten (10) individuals of Apomys abrae, twelve (12) Apomys datae, four (4) Chrotomys cwhiteheadii, four (4) Rattus everetii, and five (5) Rattus exulans. Most of the individuals that were collected were trapped in parts where Miscanthus grows. Unfortunately, some of the Apomys cannot be accurately identified because key morphological features cannot be identified. All in all, 22 Genus of Apomys were collected. The densities of the five rodent species were compared and are illustrated in the diagram below (Figure 8). Note that among the entire collection, Apomys abrae recorded the highest density, comprising 34%; but if grouped into a single genus, 63%. Figure 8: Density of individuals per species 
Using data on frequency, both Apomys abrae and Apomys datae showed the highest frequencies, at 86 % (see Table 1 below). If clumped into the genus Apomys, the frequency will be 100%. Table 1: Frequency Distribution of Collected Species of Rodents
Among Philippine forest rodents, the genus Apomys belongs to Family Murinae and includes the most new species (Goodman & Ingle, 1993). Apomys, a branch of the earthworm eaters, also ingest seeds and some climb trees. More than 15 species have evolved in this branch, often reaching new volcanic islands not long after they emerge from the sea (Heaney, 2005). The frequencies and abundance record of this group may suggest that they are the main individuals that caused most of the tracks observed in the area. Apomys abrae (Sanborn, 1952) is recorded with the common name Luzon Cordillera Forest Mouse. It is Endemic to the Central Cordillera of Northern Luzon. Museum records of it are from Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Mountain Provinces. It is moderately common in primary forest and second growth forests, at elevations of 1000 masl to 2000 masl, and occasionally, up to 2500 masl. Its reported status is Probably Stable (see Appendix A, Figure A.1). Apomys datae (Meyer, 1899), also known as Luzon Montane Forest Mouse, is Endemic to Northern Luzon. It has been recorded in primary montane and mossy forest from 750 masl to 1650 masl elevation in the Sierra Madre and from 1660 masl to 2500 masl in montane and mossy forest in the Central Cordillera. Museum records are from Benguet, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela and Mountain Province. Its status is Moderately Common and Widespread. The data however, also suggest that Chrotomy whiteheadii and the species of Rattus have relatively high reproductive status. Chrotomys whiteheadii (Thomas, 1895) is recorded with the common name Luzon Montane Striped Shrew Rat. Its reported distribution is in mossy forest from 2300 masl to 2500 masl in the Central Cordillera, Luzon. The museum records are from Benguet and Mountain Provinces only. But a report from Heaney et. al (2000) have already confirmed the presence of this species in Kalinga Province. The recorded Status is Uncertain but Heaney, et al (1997) stated that it may be moderately common and widespread in the Central Cordillera (Appendix A, Figure A.2). The capture of this species by our team at lower elevations, 1700 masl to 1900 masl, suggests that their habitat is relatively wider than it is first perceived. Rattus everetii (Gunther, 1879) is also called Common Philippine Forest Rat (Appendix A, Figure A.3). It is Endemic but widespread in the Philippines (except in the Palawan and Sulu faunal regions and the Batanes/Babuyan groups). In the Cordillera, museum records are from Abra, Benguet and Mountain Provinces. Its habitat covers primary and disturbed lowland, montane and mossy forest, from sea level to 2200 masl in Luzon Island. The Status is Common in primary forest, Uncommon in secondary forest, and Usually Absent in agricultural areas. Rattus exulans (Peale, 1848) was first described in U.S. Expl. Surv., 8:47. Its common names are Polynesian rat and Small spiny rice-field rat. According to Alcala & Alviola (1970), its distribution is from Bangladesh to Easter Island and throughout the Philippines. Its habitat covers agricultural areas throughout the country at all elevations (Barbehenn et al., 1973; Rabor, 1986), is often present in disturbed forest (Danielsen et al., 1994), and is usually rare in primary forest, but may be Common in primary forest on islands such as Negros with few native rodents (Heaney et al., 1989). The status of R. exulans is Non-native and Abundant (Figure 9 below). |