Diversity and Status of Odonata across Vegetation Types in Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary, Davao Oriental

Abstract

Diversity and status of odonata in Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary was determined after a year of sampling in five vegetation types: agroecosystem (400 masl), dipterocarp (900 masl), montane (1200 masl), mossy (1400 masl) and pygmy (1600 masl) using 2-Km transect walk sampling to provide information on species richness trend and ecological status of odonata. Study showed 31 species with 94% endemism for damselflies and 33.3% for dragonflies. Species richness and endemism were low in agroecosystem H’=0.631 and 1 endemic; high and increasing in the dipterocarp H’=2.298 and 4 endemic to dense montane forest with H’= 3.056 and 18 endemic; decreasing in mossy H’=2.036 and pygmy H’=1.846. The effects of disturbance on diversity showed highest in agroecosystem (d=83%), mossy and pygmy had intermediate value d=27% and d=24%. Low disturbance was observed in Montane d=10%, dipterocarp d=18.5%. Bray-curtis similarity index for species composition showed four discernible clusters of habitats. Results suggest that odonata has preference for dense forest, undisturbed vegetation, optimum temperature and presence of aquatic habitat.