Polillo ’99: an Oxford-Los Banos university expedition

Katie Hampson

A collaboration between Oxford University and University of the Philippines at Los Banos. The expedition will study a 200 hectare remnant forest reserve and its surrounding area on the Island of Polillo; a sub-centre of endemicity within the Luzon Faunal region of critical conservation importance. The team will be addressing a number of research priorities identified by recent research. Studies will include baseline amphibian and bird surveys and a detailed distribution survey of Gray’s monitor lizard (Varanus olivaceus). Sound recordings of all vocalising species will be made and an acoustic identification guide to the amphibians produced. Results of the surveys will focus decision makers attention on the importance of the area and serve to better define the boundaries of the reserve to maximise conservation gain.