An Information System on the Philippine Freshwater Biodiversity

Pablo P. Ocampo, PhD Ocampo,

Project Leader

Monalisa Cachuela Palacio

Researcher

philbatis@gmail.com

Philippine freshwater biodiversity

resultant tributaries within the 7,107 islands and more than 36,000 km of coastline from the South China Sea and Philippine Sea 211 lakes 18 major rivers 22 marshes, swamps and reservoirs

Philippine freshwater biodiversity

285 fish (native & endemic) 41 crab species (endemic) Habitat restriction results to high sensitivity to any habitat disturbance Most vulnerable to threats Freshwater biodiversity index is a must. Sound measure of national status of freshwater resources is vital for the common good of the Filipinos.

Status
No centralized Philippine freshwater biodiversity index yet exists. Scattered data, myriad sources

Where are the data on Philippine freshwaters?

Status
No comprehensive data access to address the following needs: Data/information on freshwater species that have impacts on economy and human health
 Aquaculture, ornamental trades  Introduced and invasive species  Harmfulness to human health
like toxic Cyanobacteria blooms human parasites with freshwater hosts or stages in their life cycle  Conservation or exploitation

Status
No comprehensive data access to address the following needs (cont d): Information requirements for decision-making decisionof local governments and national agencies on the inventory and status of freshwater resources
Economic and resources management of species for exploitation and conservation Development of national plans for wetlands and biodiversity Commitments to various international conventions for biodiversity conservation Designation of areas for protection

Proposed solution

Online Biodiversity Information System on the Freshwaters of the Philippines

How do we manage Philippine freshwaters data?

PhilBatIS
FishBase (fish) SeaLife Base (non(non-fish) NAEIS species distribution biology ecology PCAMRD s Five Zonal Center Offices National Aquatic Resources Research and Development System (NARRDS)

National Museum Local institutions Private individuals

Goals / Proposed outcomes

1. Develop a free online Biodiversity Information System that will: link with other existing databases capture data from published and grey literature link to and repatriate data from international sources. 2. Develop a network of freshwater experts and enthusiasts that will: contribute towards building of national freshwater biodiversity awareness, education, conservation and management.

Project highlights
1. Software Development Desktop application (PhilBatIS Encoder s Interface) (PhilBatIS Web interface http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Project/philbatis/index.htm SettingSetting-up of FishBase mirror in PCAMRD s server

2. Data Encoding Literature search and collection

A listing of Philippine freshwater lakes and rivers were searched through different government institutions. NAMRIA, DENR Environmental Management Bureau, PCAMRD, National Water Resource Board, DENR Statistics and Planning Office, LLDA

Source: Namria 1986 Gazetteer

8,099 data points lakes, rivers and creeks

Project highlights .cont d

No database or spreadsheet yet exists on a complete inventory of Philippine lakes and rivers. Listing of rivers is incorporated in the water quality reports produced by EMB. A paper map incorporating Philippine lakes is available in NAMRIA office. Scattered data on Philippine freshwater ecosystem were integrated from current listings of data sources.
EcosystemType Count 2 4 209 4 12 605 2

838 ecosystems

creek dam lake marsh reservoir river swamp

Project highlights .cont d

2. Data Encoding Encoding from literatures Freshwater groups were indexed using Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment and their hierarchies were added in SeaLife Base FishBase (348 freshwater species) SeaLife Base (131 freshwater species)

3. Networking Establishment of network of collaborators Workshop/Training Workshop/Training of Zonal personnels

Data Sources
Research conducted through the Zonal Centers

Data Sources ..cont d

PhilBatIS webpage

http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Project/philbatis/

PhilBatIS webpage .cont d

PhilBatIS Encoder s Interface

Challenges
1. Prolonged administrative processing 1.Prolonged Collaborative environment Novelty of the project in host institution 2. Data sharing practices among the Filipino scientific environment 3. Funding Indexing of several references (many are available as citations and abstracts only) Digitizing of grey literatures

Data Requirements for PhilBatIS Information System

Core 1. Species names 2. Ecosystems (lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, etc.) 3. References (complete referencing of data source such as reports, journals, thesis, etc.)

Other data requirements

1. Localities (administrative areas such as barangays,, towns, provinces) barangays 2. Local common names 3. Threats and conservation status of species Introduced and invasive species 4. Threats and conservation status of ecosystems Water quality assessment, sediment analysis, pollution studies 5. Human uses Economic and resource management of species for aquaculture

Act now, Filipino!

Manage and conserve Philippine freshwater biodiversity. Collaborate with PhilBatIS. PhilBatIS. Be a data provider. Publications Technical reports Thesis Rapid assessments, surveys Pictures (all freshwater fauna and flora, ecosystems) Link your database with PhilBatIS website Network with freshwater experts and enthusiasts in the country.

Contact us
philbatis@gmail.com philbatis@googlegroups.com
Southern Luzon Zonal Center for Aquatic and Marine R & D University of the Philippines Los Baos Limnological Research Station Mayondon, Mayondon, Los Baos, Laguna 4031 Philippines Baos, Phone: +6349 536-7527, 536-0188 536536-

Maraming salamat po. po.