International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD) ISSN (P): 2249–6890; ISSN (E): 2249–8001 Vol. 10, Issue 3, Jun 2020, 13997–14004 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd. NEW RECORDS OF CARABID BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) IN EASTERN VISAYAS, PHILIPPINES DR. MYRA A. ABAYON College of Arts and Sciences, Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City ABSTRACT A survey of carabid beetles was conducted in six protected forests of Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) namely: Lake Danao, Mt. Nacolod, KuapnitBalinsasayao, Asug Forest, City Forest, and Closed Canopy on January to June of 2019. A total of 7844 individuals belonging to 41 species under 25 genera, 13 tribes, and two (2) subfamilies were recorded in the six selected forests of Leyte and Samar, Eastern Visayas, Philippines. There were 26 species recorded from Lake Danao, 32 species in Mt. Nacolod, 20 species in KuapnitBalinsasayao Forest, 11 species in Asug Forest, 19 species in City Forest and 26 species in Closed Canopy Forest. A total of 19 endemic species were recorded of which 12 are Philippine endemic, six (6) are endemic to Leyte and one (1) is endemic to Samar. After thorough examinations, the study provided new records of carabid beetles in the region. Likewise, new species of carabid beetles were discovered during the conduct of this study. The new records include Brachinusleytensis, Trigonotomagoeltenbothi, Pheropsophusuliweberiin Leyte and Lesticussamarensis in Samar. The new species discovered are Pheropsophusuliweberi and Pheropsophus sp. both are Original Article found in Leyte. These findings proved that the forests in Eastern Visayas can be considered as hotspots of carabid diversity. Appropriate protection and conservation mechanisms should be put in place. KEYWORDS: Carabid Beetles, Protected Forests, Endemic, Ecology & Diversity Received: Jun 05, 2020; Accepted: Jun 25, 2020; Published: Sep 18, 2020; Paper Id.: IJMPERDJUN20201336 I. INTRODUCTION Tropical forests, which include a crucial part of terrestrial biodiversity (Myers et al. 2000) are decreasing at a fast rate (Tole 1998, Dudley et al. 1998, Laurance et al. 1999, Chazdon 2003). Specifically, the tropical forests of South East Asia are among the most truly disturbed because of excessive logging and continuous slash-and-burn agriculture (Laurance et al. 1999, Fu 2003, Giri et al. 2003). The forested regions of South East Asia showed a decline of more than 16 million ha in 1990s, with a yearly loss rate of 1.2% (FAO 2001). Among the mostly affected are biodiversity hotspots of the Philippine archipelago, which contain a high number of endemic species (Brooks et al. 2002). Philippines has one of the most astounding deforestation rates in the most recent decade, with a loss of 30,350 ha every year (Kincaid 2002) Change in land use like forest conversion to agricultural land, has been pinpointed as the leading source of variation in species composition at both local and regional scales (Huston 1993; Myers & Knoll 2001; Adams 2010), and has been influential to the decrease of responsive species like carabid beetles in various parts of the world (Brooks et al. 2002; Kotze& O’Hara 2003; Vanbergen et al. 2010). Carabid beetles are noticeably distributed, and taxonomically acclaimed, with a solid systematics, and their ecological behavior has been widely studied (Lövei& Sunderland 1996; Homburg et al. 2014). Carabid beetles are important for the following reasons; (1) experimental evidence proposes that carabid beetles maybe used as keystone indicators (Kotze et al. 2011); (2) carabids are responsive to anthropogenic induced conditions, such as pesticide use in agro ecosystems or contamination of soils www.tjprc.org SCOPUS Indexed Journal [email protected] 13998 Dr. Myra A. Abayon by heavy metals (Menalled et al. 2007; Butovsky 2011); (3) carabid beetles host various species that are representative of a particular habitat types or successional stages, making them promising bio indicators (Lövei& Sunderland 1996); (4) carabids can also perform as early-warning signalers, as suggested by recent studies linking climate and carabid distributions (Pozsgai&Littlewood 2014); and (5) Carabids contemplates natural and human-induced disturbances and management (Lövei& Sunderland 1996). Carabid beetle fauna is a standout amongst the exceptional organisms on the planet in spite of its small geographical area. The Philippines positions fifth in terms of its lavishness and third on the level of endemism after Madagascar and Australia (Cassola and Pearson 2000; Cassola and Ward 2004; Cassola 2011). On the other hand, the Philippines lands number one in relation to endemism per unit area. Yet, little consideration has been given to the nation's carabid fauna, to their conservation status, and the presumable impact of environmental changes and human activities on these groups Carabids are present worldwide, with species richness highest in the tropical regions (Erwin 1985). However, our knowledge mainly stems from research done in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The resulting bias is inevitable. Despite their significant role in the ecosystem, ecological studies of ground dwelling beetles are rather scarce in northeastern hemisphere, particularly in Asia (Samways et al. 1996; Magagula 2003; Padayachi et al. 2014). The majority of studies focus on beetles in northern hemisphere where the taxonomy and ecology of this group of beetles is well-known (Thiele 1977; Atlegrim et al. 1997; Fahy&Gormally 1998; Jukes et al. 2001; Woodcock et al. 2003). But in the Philippines, although sporadic studies were conducted, which focused mostly on tiger beetles cannot be used to account for the total number of carabids in the country. Philippines is known as one of the mega-diverse countries in the world, and the study of insect diversity in the Philippines has great value. The study of Baltazar (2001), showed that Philippines under Order Coleoptera including carabid beetles has a total of 87 families, 1567 genera and 7375 species where 5840 are endemic to the country, indicating an even bigger contribution. However, very limited attention has been given to the country’s beetle communities, their conservation status, and the likely influence of habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic activities on these communities. Latest publication and review on the carabid fauna of the Philippines were conducted by Ceniza (1994), Cassola (2000, 2011), Cassola and Ward (2004), Cassola and Zettel (2006), Deuve (2015),Kavanaugh et al, 2014,Dheurle (2015), Naviaux (1992, 2002), Wiesner (1980, 1988a, 1988b, 1989, 1992a, 1992b, 2015). The identification of new speciesThopeuticamilanae by Weisner in 1992 in Leyte, marked the beginning of carabid study in Eastern Visayas, and is continuously being given an attention because of its promising endemic species. Additional four carabid species were identified from Leyte in succeeding years namely: Elaphropusschawalleri, E. surrulipennis, E. martensiand ParatachysleytensisBaehr (2016). Still, new species of carabids from Leyte and Cebu were identified by Lassalle & Schnell (2018) namely:Brachinusbendanilloi andPheropsophus (Stenaptinus) azoulayi. Similar recommendations were given in these studies, and that is to continue collecting for the discovery of new species and conduct collections in other forests of Eastern Visayas. The study investigated the occurrence and preferences of habitats of the carabid beetles in Lake Danao, Mount Ncolod, KuapnitBalinsasayao, Asug forest, City forest, and Closed Canopy Forest. Notes on their ecology and occurrence are also presented. This will serve as baseline data which is very important in conserving the carabid beetles in forest landscapes. The study aims to identify and classify carabid beetles occupying different habitat types, particularly the natural forest and agricultural lands present in the selected forests of Eastern Visayas. Impact Factor (JCC): 8.8746 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11 New Records of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Eastern Visayas, Philippines 13999 II. METHODS Site Selection The study was conducted in selected forests of Eastern Visayas namely: (1) Lake Danao National Park of Ormoc City, Leyte; (2) KuapnitBalinsasayao National Forest of Abuyog and Baybay City, Leyte; (3) City Forest and Marble Park in Calbayog City, Samar; (4) Asug Forest Reserve in Biliran; (5) Mount Nacolod forest in Silago, Southern Leyte; and (6) Borongan- Llorente Closed Canopy Forest in Borongan, Eastern Samar (Figure 1.1). These forests were chosen based on: (a) slope position (incline extending from ≥8-18% can be utilized for regular and lasting yield generation), (b)cultivated area is nearby the forest; (c) portion of the forest has been formed by kaingin (slash- and-burn) practices; and (d) under current cultivation. These forests are either declared as protected areas or proposed protected areas by DENR Eastern Visayas. Collecting Methods Carabid beetles were collected using two methods, namely pitfall trapping (PT) and handpicking and/or searching on the ground (GS). With pitfall trapping, plastic containers comprising of two settled 500 ml. plastic tubs (11.4 cm in measurement; 8 cm top to bottom) were half-filled with bait substance and were buried in the ground. Each trap was secured with a metal rooftop (13 cm x 13 cm) to shield from rain, litter-fall and unsettling influence by animals. Traps were emptied and refilled two times every week. Hand picking/searching on the ground (GS) was carried out by the proponent