Fruit bats are important seed dispersers that aid in natural forest regeneration in degraded areas. This study assessed fruit bat species in a portion of Mt. Apo, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato from September to December 2010 covering six habitat types: human settlement area/residential area, agro-ecosystem/cultivated area, secondary forest/ reforested site, forest edge, riverine/riparian area and montane forest for 1,118 net night hours. The food habits of the bats were also determined based on fecal examination and dropped fruits, which were verified through secondary information using indigenous knowledge interviews. A total of five bat species were noted such as Cynopterus brachyotis (n=83), Haplonycteris fisheri (n=33), Ptenochirus minor (n=25), Macroglossus minimus (n=20) and Ptenochirus jagori (n=12) wherein almost 50% of these are Philippine endemics and could be considered as seed dispersers of diverse trees. This study recommends the protection of Philippine and Mindanao endemic fruit bats such as P. minor, H. fischeri and P. jagori, through the conservation of their staple food (Ficus species) and the remaining primary forest habitat.

The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary harbors numerous species of Anurans (Amphibia Anura) that have highly threatened habitats. The species of anurans were observed in different vegetation types such as Terminalia forest, sago palms, and rice fields in the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur on May and October 2008. Result showed abundant, diverse, endemic, and threatened anuran species. Nine species of frogs with 148 individuals were documented. The sago forest had the highest anuran population with 76 inviduals (3 species) followed by 41 (5 species) in the Terminalia forest and 31 (3 species) in the agricultural areas adjacent to sago stands. Of these, 66.7% are Philippine endemics. However, the remaining 33.3% are threatened by natural habitat conversion. Naturally grown sago stands are ultimately a habitat for several anurans found only in the Philippine archipelago. O. laevis and L. leytensis are identified as sago forest indicators. Indeed, their absence or decline in population over time may have detrimental impact on the survival of the sago stands in the Agusan wetlands. The anuran species are highly habitat specific. Indeed, sago stands harbor endemic and unique anuran species that need to be conserved and protected.

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