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Methodology and Format for Monitoring Biological Impacts of Quarrying in Teresa, Rizal, Philippines
Abstract:
The main objective of the study was to develop a methodology and format for monitoring biological impacts of quarry projects. A methodology for monitoring biological impacts of quarrying specifically in Teresa, Rizal, Philippines derived from the study involved triangulation approach: flora and fauna from existing literature, verification of the baseline floral and faunal studies, and validation through ethnobiological surveys. The approach was used in monitoring the changes in biodiversity indices before and after three years of limestone quarrying, and in disturbed and undisturbed quarry areas.
There was a marked increase in floral species richness after three years of quarry expansion activities brought about by the increase in the number of invasive, mostly introduced shrubs, weeds and grasses. Destruction of habitat for forest tree species adapted to limestone areas could also mean habitat improvement for other lesser desirable species than forest tree species.
The floral species density was significantly reduced after three years of continuous limestone quarrying, indicating the devastating effect of quarrying on the number of individuals belonging to a species.
The floral and faunal species evenness and species diversity index before and after quarrying, and in the disturbed and undisturbed quarry areas did not differ significantly. Both plant communities assessed at different time frames and environmental conditions showed the pattern of few abundant species associated with many rare ones. No specific avifaunal species provided extremely high number of individuals.
The format to facilitate monitoring biological impacts of quarrying included a checklist reflecting the species under investigations, its presence or absence in the existing literature, baseline date, verified data, and the ethnobiological surveys.
Information on the species’ conservation status was also considered. Using the format, the biological impacts of quarrying were also determined as manifested in the extirpation of an indigenous forest tree species, himamao (Dysoxylum mollissimum: Meliaceae); a resident bat species, common bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii: Vespertilionidae); and a migrant bird, Asiatic migratory quail (Coturnix japonica: Phasianidae).