Philippine Crocodile Biodiversity

• Biodiversity includes all the different kinds of life in an area, referring to the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.
• Key considerations for biodiversity are the number of species and the number of individuals in a habitat at a specific time, which is defined as the population.

Philippine Freshwater Crocodile

• Scientists have not yet determined the exact lifespan of the Philippine crocodile.
• Most other crocodile species can live for up to 100 years.
• During the day, Philippine crocodiles rest in the sun to warm up and open their mouths to release heat when they get too hot
• Killing a Philippine crocodile has been illegal since 2001 and carries a $2,500 fine.
• Crocodylus mindorensis is the scientific name of the Philippine Freshwater Crocodile.
• The conservation status of the Philippine Freshwater Crocodile is critically endangered.

Primary Ecological Factors

• How the number of births affects population: Postive correlation.
• How the population affects the number of births: Positive correlation.
• How the population affects the number of deaths: Positive correlation.
• How the number of deaths affects population: Negative correlation.

Secondary Ecological Factors: Density-Independent Factors

• In 2011, Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi) brought death and damage to the southern Philippines through flooding and landslides.
• Sendong caused adverse changes to freshwater environments by flushing saltwater into freshwater sources.
• The mixture of salt and fresh water forced crocodiles to find new freshwater sources or adapt to saltwater which decreased the crocodile population.

Secondary Ecological Factors: Density-Dependent Factors (Symbiotic Relationships)

• Freshwater crocodiles eat fishes, crustaceans, snails, and frogs.
• Young crocodiles are prey for goannas, feral pigs, and adult crocodiles.
• If saltwater intrusion to freshwater reservoirs happens:
• Crocodile emigration and adaptation will decrease the population of crocodiles, therefore increasing the prey populations.
• Freshwater prey populations will decline, reducing the crocodile population due to a lack of food.
• A decrease in the crocodile population will reduce the number of young crocodiles available as prey.
• Major threats to the freshwater crocodile, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are habitat destruction through human activity, persecution, and fishnet entanglement.
• Calamities like Sendong damage shelters and livelihoods, which increases the need for land to build houses and infrastructures.
• Converting habitats to housing may also include the elimination of crocodiles.
• Increased fishing activities increase fishnet entanglement, decrease in freshwater animals, and decrease in available food for the crocodiles leading to a decrease in the crocodile population.

Biotic Potential

• Reproductive rate
• Ability to migrate (animals) or disperse (seeds)
• Ability to invade new habitats
• defense mechanisms
• Ability to cope with adverse conditions

Environmental resistance

• Lack of food or nutrients
• Lack of water
• Lack of suitable habitat
• Adverse weather
• Predators
• Disease
• Parasites
• Competitors

Extinction

• When environmental resistance exceeds the biotic potential, a population declines, which might lead to extinction.

Endangered Species in the Philippines

• Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
• Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis)
• Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta)
• Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
• Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)
• Philippine Forest Turtle (Siebenrockiella leytensis)
• Palawan Pangolin (Manis culionensis)
• Negros Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba keayi)
• Rufous Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax)
• Sea Turtle/Pawikan (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Primary Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

• Habitat Loss: ecosystem destruction impacting plants, soil, hydrologic, and nutrient resources.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species disrupt ecosystems.
• Overexploitation: Harvesting too many animals and plants depletes stocks.
• Pollution: Introduction of harmful substances to the environment faster than they can be rendered harmless.
• Climate Change Associated with Global Warming: modifications to Earth's climate due to greenhouse gasses.

Influencers of primary drivers

• Human population growth
• Increasing consumption
• Reduced resource efficiency

Biodiversity Loss

• Biodiversity loss is the reduction in the number of genes, individual organisms, species, and ecosystems in a given area