Provenance of colorless and brown volcanic glass in late Pleistocene tephra layers in the Western Philippine Sea

Tephra layers in the western Philippine Sea,characterized by abundant volcanic glass shards,may provide crucial evidence on the eruption history of volcanoes and tectonic evolution of the western Pacific.A 220-ka sediment core from the Benham Rise in the western Philippine Sea offers new insights into the provenance of four intercalated tephra layers(T1–T4,in chronological order)containing either colorless or brown glass shards.Relative to primitive mantle,all glass shards are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements,such as Rb,Cs,and Pb,and depleted in high field-strength elements,such as Th,Nb,and Ta,indicating a subduction-related origin.The colorless glass shards are characterized by high SiO_(2)(>78%)and light rare earth element(LREE)contents as well as high La/Sm ratios(>9),low FeO and MgO contents(<1%),low Sr/Y(<15)and high Ba/Th ratios(>100),pointing to a rhyolitic composition and a medium-K calc-alkaline serial affinity.In contrast,the brown glass shards are characterized by lower SiO_(2)(<63%)and LREE contents,higher FeO,MgO,and CaO contents,lower La/Sm(<6)and Ba/Th(<75),and similar Sr/Y ratios(<15),indicating derivation from medium to high-K calc-alkaline andesite magma.Brown glass shards from layers T3(152 ka)and T4(172 ka)were correlated with volcanic deposits from the Taal and Laguna Caldera in the Maccolod Corridor,respectively,while the colorless glass shards from layers T1(36.5 ka)and T2(61.2 ka)were likely sourced from the Irosin Caldera in the Bicol Arc.Establishing the provenance of late Pleistocene tephra layers in the western Philippine Sea is helpful to complement a Philippine volcanic history and establish a regional tephrochronostratigraphy.

A review of ethnobotanical studies reveals over 500 medicinal plants in Mindanao,Philippines

Medicinal plants have long been used to treat various diseases in both indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Mindanao,Philippines.Here,we extracted data from ethnobotanical studies to compile a comprehensive list of these medicinal plants and identify how and for what purpose they are most commonly used.We identified 530 verified medicinal plant species across 372 genera in 118 families.The two most frequently cited species were Euphorbia hirta and Psidium guajava.The most represented family was Fabaceae and the most represented genus was Ficus.A total of 28 medicinal plant species are designated as threatened at the national or global level;of these,11 are endemic to the Philippines.Medicinal plant preparations most commonly use leaves for oral administration to treat various diseases such as digestive issues,including diarrhea.This study underscores the need for further ethnobotanical investigations,particularly in areas lacking records.It also emphasizes the need for conservation of threatened and endemic medicinal plants to ensure sustainable utilization of this valuable resource.

Technical efficiency of cocoa farms at varying elevation levels in Davao City, Philippines: implications to sustainable upland farming systems

Elevation is one of many components that influence agriculture, and this in turn affects the level of both inputs and outputs of farmers. This article focuses on the productivity and technical efficiency of 100 cocoa farms using cross-sectional data from areas ranging from 190 to 1021 m above sea level which were classified as low, medium, and high elevation in Davao City, considered as the chocolate capital of the Philippines. Using stochastic frontier analysis, the results showed that the cost of inputs per ha and the number of cocoa trees per ha significantly increase yield. Farms at high elevations were less technically efficient, as this entails lower temperatures and increased rainfall, and cocoa farming in those areas and conditions can be more challenging, especially with changes in farming practices, terrain, and distance to markets. Other significant variables were age of cocoa farms, married farmers, and age of the farmers. Older farms may be more developed, farmers who are married benefit from their spouses being able to readily contribute as farm labor, and lastly, older farmers' inefficiency may likely stem from nonadaptation of newer farming practices. With an average technical efficiency of 0.61, 0.63, and 0.26 in low, medium, and high elevation areas, respectively, farmers therefore have an incentive to improve farm practices and consider topographical variations found in high elevation areas. Recommendations for the improvement of technical efficiency of cocoa farms are better connectivity to markets, enhancing farm practices, and continuation and improvement of government programs on cocoa with an added emphasis on research. For farmers in high elevation areas, mitigating solutions such as sustainable agriculture practices and ecolabelling are key to improving efficiency and minimizing the potential negative impact on upland farming systems. Moreover, such adaptation measures may also contribute to sustainability of cocoa farming in high elevation areas.

Philippine retinoblastoma initiative multi-eye center study 2010-2020

AIM:To provide a comprehensive and more representative national data on the disease,especially on treatment options and outcomes,and to determine access of retinoblastoma patients from Luzon,Visayas and Mindanao to eye care,and determine if access is associated with delay in consultation,staging and outcomes.METHODS:Cohort study of retinoblastoma patients seen in eleven institutions located in the three major areas of the Philippines namely Luzon,Vizayas and Mindanao from 2010-2020.RESULTS:Totally 636 patients,involving 821 eyes,were included.Majority(57%)were from Luzon and were seen in institutions in Luzon(72%).Annually,58±10 new cases were seen with 71%having unilateral disease.Median delay of consultation remained long at 9(3,17)mo,longest in patients with unilateral disease(P<0.02)and those from the Visayas(P<0.003).Based on the International Retinoblastoma Staging System,only 35%of patients had Stage 1 while 47%already had extraocular disease.Enucleation was the most common treatment received by 484 patients while intravenous chemotherapy was received by 469.There were 250(39%)patients alive,195(31%)dead,85(13%)abandoned,17(3%)refused and 89(14%)with no data.CONCLUSION:This study presents the largest cohort of retinoblastoma patients in the Philippines in terms of patients’and participating institutions’number and geographical location and type of institution(private and public).It also presents more comprehensive data on the treatments used and outcomes(survival,globe salvage,and vision retention rates).Delay in consultation was still long among patients leading to advanced disease stage and lower survival rate.Despite increasing capacity to diagnose and manage retinoblastoma in the country,the delay of consultation remains long primarily due to accessibility issues to eye care institutions especially in the Visayas and financial concerns.The delay was still significant that overall survival rate remain low.

Resurgence of dengue in the Philippines

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has significantly influenced the epidemiological landscape of various infectious diseases such as dengue.Dengue is an endemic disease in the Philippines,which showed a significant de-cline in the number of cases beginning in March 2020 due to the stringent public health measures implemented to curb COVID-19 cases.However,the easing of these restrictions subsequently led to a resurgence in dengue cases,as reported by the World Health Organization,with a notable increase compared to previous years.As the country navigates towards a post-pandemic phase,addressing the resurgence of dengue requires sustained efforts in vector control,surveillance,and healthcare preparedness.This article underscores the critical need for collab-orative efforts among stakeholders to mitigate the resurgence of dengue while managing the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caulerpa J. V. Lamouroux (1809) (Chlorophyta: Bryopsidales) Species and Sites in Eastern Samar, Central Philippines

A descriptive survey was conducted in Eastern Samar to identify the Caulerpa species, sites where these species exhibit massive populations, and the most preferred edible species. Results revealed that only four of the eleven species, C. racemosa, C. lentillifera, C. chemnitzia var. peltata, and C. cylindracea, have massive populations;The four Caulerpa sites are the municipalities of Arteche, Guiuan, Salcedo (Matarinao Bay) and Quinapondan, and species C. racemosa, C. lentillifera, and C. chemnitzia var. peltata are most preferred edible species which are considered in the local diet. The study concludes that the distribution of Caulerpa in Eastern Samar is area-specific and should therefore be considered in resource planning and management, particularly in relation to aquaculture.

The formation and tectonic evolution of Philippine Sea Plate and KPR

The Philippine Sea Plate has an extremely special tectonic background. As an oceanic plate,it is almost entirely surrounded by subduction zones with complex internal tectonic features. On the basis of enormous published literature,this paper offers a comprehensive overview of the tectonic and evolution history of the Philippine Basin and the Kyushu-Palau Ridge（KPR） in the Philippine Sea Plate,and discusses the geological features of KPR. Referring to relevant definitions of various ＂ridges＂ stipulated in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,so the KPR is believed to be a remnant arc formed during the opening of the Parece Vela and Shikoku Basins in the Philippine Sea Plate. It is a submarine ridge on oceanic plate rather than a submarine elevation. And thus,it is not a natural component of the Japan continental margin.

Characterization of the proto-Philippine Sea Plate:Evidence from the emplaced oceanic lithospheric fragments along eastern Philippines

The proto-Philippine Sea Plate(pPSP)has been proposed by several authors to account for the origin of the Mesozoic supra-subduction ophiolites along the Philippine archipelago.In this paper,a comprehensive review of the ophiolites in the eastern portion of the Philippines is undertaken.Available data on the geology,ages and geochemical signatures of the oceanic lithospheric fragments in Luzon(Isabela,Lagonoy in Camarines Norte,and Rapu-Rapu island),Central Philippines(Samar,Tacloban,Malitbog and Southeast Bohol),and eastern Mindanao(Dinagat and Pujada)are presented.Characteristics of the Halmahera Ophiolite to the south of the Philippines are also reviewed for comparison.Nearly all of the crust-mantle sequences preserved along the eastern Philippines share Early to Late Cretaceous ages.The geochemical signatures of mantle and crustal sections reflect both mid-oceanic ridge and suprasubduction signatures.Although paleomagnetic information is currently limited to the Samar Ophiolite,results indicate a near-equatorial Mesozoic supra-subduction zone origin.In general,correlation of the crust-mantle sequences along the eastern edge of the Philippines reveal that they likely are fragments of the Mesozoic pPSP.

Abyssal Circulation in the Philippine Sea

The abyssal circulation in the Philippine Sea(PS)is investigated,with outputs from the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation version 2.2.4(SODA224).The deep-water currents in SODA224 are carefully evaluated,with sparse in situ observations in the North Pacific Ocean.In the upper deep layer(20003000 m)of the PS,a strong westward current,which originates from the Northeast Pacific Basin and enters the PS through the Yap-Mariana Junction,exists along 1114 N.This strong westward current bifurcates into two western boundary currents off the Philippines.The northward-flowing current flows out of the PS around 2021 N,whereas the southward-flowing current transports deep water from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere.In the lower deep layer(30004500 m),the inflow water first flows northward to the east of the Western Mariana Basin and then turns westward at approximately 18 N.The inflow water mainly enters the Philippine Basin(PB),with a small part turning southward to constitute a weak cyclonic circulation.The water entering the PB mainly merges into a strong southward western boundary current in the south-ern PB.In the bottom layer(below 4500 m),both the northeast and northwest PB show single cyclonic gyres,whereas the south PB shows a single anticyclonic gyre.Moreover,comparisons with the observations indicate the possible existence of a cyclonic sense of circulation over the Philippine Trench.The current study provides the implications for future observations,which are needed to fur-ther investigate the temporospatial variations of the abyssal circulation in the PS on multiple scales.

Paleoproductivity evolution in the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka

In order to reconstruct the paleoproductivity evolution history of the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka, the vertical gradient of Δδ13C in dissolved inorganic carbon Δδ13C between those of foraminifera Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi） and planktonic foraminiferal assemblages were analysed in piston Core MD06-3047 retrieved from the Benham Rise （east of the Luzon Island）. Paleoproductivity evolution in the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka is closely related to glacial-interglacial cycles and precession-controlled insolation. Controlling factors ofpaleoproductivity could have been both thermocline fluctuations related with ENSO-Iike processes and eolian input associated with East Asian winter monsoon, and the former could have been the primary factor. A higher productivity and a shallower thermocline coeval with the occurrence of low CO2 concentrations in the EPICA Dome C ice core might indicate that biological export production in the low-latitude could act as a significant sink in the global carbon cycle, and modify atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Spectral analysis further reveals that the paleoproductivity is mainly controlled by thermocline fluctuations subjected to ENSO processes responding to processional variability of insolation. High coherences in eccentricity, obliquity and precession periods fiuther revealing the close link between thermocline fluctuations, paleoproductivity and atmospheric CO2 levels.

Diatom distribution as an environmental indicator in surface sediments of the West Philippine Basin

The distribution of diatoms from surface sediments of the West Philippine Basin was analyzed, with 68 species and varieties of diatoms from 26 genera identified. Diatom abundance varied spatially, with the absolute abundance of diatoms ranging from 0 to 3.4× 104 frustules/g. The seven tropical pelagic diatoms were Alveus marinus, Azpeitia africana, Azpeitia nodulifera, Hemidiscus cuneiformis, Hernidiscus cuneiformis var. ventricosus, Roperia tesselata and Rhizosolenia bergonii. The relative abundance of these species was greater than 20%, and their distribution pattern in the sediments was overlaid by the flow of the Kuroshio Current. Ethmodiscus rex was present at 159 stations, formed the most abundant and dominant species in the diatomaceous ooze, and thus referred to as Ethmodiscus ooze. Ethmodiscus rex was also a major contributor to primary production in the region. A principal component analysis was employed to explain the relationship between samples and variations in diatom species from the WPB. Four diatom assemblages were distinguished, representing different oceanographic conditions; their spatial distributions were closely related with the North Equatorial Current and Kuroshio Current patterns in the region. These diatom assemblages can therefore be useful in deciphering late Quaternary palaeoceanographic reconstructions of the West Philippine Basin.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Luzon Island,V:The Herpetofauna of Angat Dam Watershed,Bulacan Province,Luzon Island,Philippines

We report amphibian and reptile distribution records based on recent biodiversity surveys conducted at the Angat Watershed Reservation, Bulacan Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. This watershed constitutes the principal water source for Manila, the Philippines＇ largest metropolitan area. As virtually nothing is known of the herpetological diversity of the immediate area and the surrounding Bulacan Province, all species recorded as part of our surveys constitute major geographical records and/or significant range extensions. Our data result in a total of 63 new records of amphibian （19 frogs） and reptile （22 lizards, 2 turtles, and 20 snakes） species for this protected area （and immediate vicinity） that serves as a watershed for the major metropolitan area of Manila and surrounding cities. Together with the few previous literature records, our new records bring the total number of amphibian and reptile species for Bulacan Province to 68. We discuss several strategies for future survey work （focusing on habitat type, seasonal variation, and elevational variability） that we anticipate will result in increased knowledge of diversity within the Angat Watershed Reserve. The impressive level of herpetological diversity within such a small area, so close to Metro Manila, emphasizes that the diversity and distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles from Luzon are still poorly known and in need of further study.

Preliminary assessment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma incidence in the Philippines: a second look at published data from four centers

In endemic regions such as southern China and Southeast Asia, the annual incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) ranges from 3 to 30 per 100,000. In the Philippines, the estimated incidence in 2010 was 1.2 per 100,000. However, this rate is based on data collected from registries covering only two regions in the country. Here, we report the findings from our study to better approximate the incidence of NPC in the Philippines. Between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012, data were collected from 49 patients from 4 different institutions—University of Santo Tomas, Makati Medical Center, Philippine Oncology Center Corporation, and Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center—using a NPC screening questionnaire. Crude incidence was 0.09 per 100,000. Age-standardized incidences using Segi and WHO standards were 2.08 and 1.79 per 100,000, respectively. Of the 49 patients, 31 were males and 18 were females, and 71% of patients were between 30 and 59 years old. WHO types II and III represented 22% and 78% of the subjects, respectively, and 75.5% of cases were locally advanced(stages III–IVB). Although the age-standardized incidence from the 4 institutions was numerically higher than the published age-standardized incidence(2.07 per 100,000 vs. 1.2 per 100,000), two-proportion z-test showed no significant difference between them(P = 0.68). A more concerted effort is needed for a better approximation of the country's NPC disease burden.

Observation of the abyssal western boundary current in the Philippine Sea

Mooring observations were conducted from July 16, 2011 to March 30, 2012 east of Mindanao, Philippines （127°2.8＇E, 8°0.3＇N） to observe the abyssal current at about 5 600 m deep and 500 m above the ocean bottom. Several features were revealed： 1） the observed abyssal current was highly variable with standard deviations of 57.3 mrn/s and 34.0 ram/s, larger than the mean values of-31.9 and 16.6 mm/s for the zonal and meridional components, respectively; 2） low-frequency current longer than 6 days exhibited strong seasonal variation, flowing southeastward （mean flow direction of 119.0° clockwise from north） before about October 1, 2011 and northwestward （mean flow direction of 60.5° counter-clockwise from north） thereafter; 3） the high-frequency flow bands were dominated by tidal currents O1, K1, M2, and S2, and near-inertial currents, whose frequencies were higher than the local inertial frequency. The two diurnal tidal constituents were much stronger than the two semidiumal ones. This study provides for the first time an observational insight into the abyssal western boundary current east of Mindanao based on long-term observations at one site. It is meaningful for further research into the deep and abyssal circulation over the whole Philippine Sea and the 3D structure of the westem boundary current system in this region. More observational and high-resolution model studies are needed to examine the spatial structure and temporal variation of the abyssal current over a much larger space and longer period, their relation to the upper-layer circulation, and the underlying dynamics.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Philippines:Comparable with other nations?

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and determined the common characteristics of patients diagnosed with non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at the Philippine General Hospital, Manila, from January 1999 to December 2004. METHODS: NAFLD was diagnosed in 134 from a total of 1102 patients, based on clinical, ultrasonographic and/or histopathological findings. Patients with conditions associated with secondary NAFLD were excluded. Chart review was done to note demographics, co- morbid illnesses, physical characteristics, hepatomegaly, aspartate/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) levels, albumin, lipid levels, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time. Data obtained were analyzed using the statistical program SPSS version 10. RESULTS: Of the 134 patients included, 71% were female and 29% male. Mean patient age was 42.2 years. Sixty percent of patients were obese, 56% had hepatomegaly, and 69% had diabetes. AST levels were elevated in 45% of subjects and ALT levels in 64%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFLD at our institution was 12.2%. Patients diagnosed appear to be younger in age in contrast to previous studies. Female sex, obesity, elevated liver enzymes, and diabetes were characteristic features of our NAFLD patients, which is comparable to previous studies from other countries.

Geochemistry and Origin of Layers in Single Manganese Nodule from the Philippine Sea and Manganese Nodules from Offshore Minami-Torishima, Western Pacific

Layers from one manganese nodule dredged from the Philippine Sea（16°56＇N, 129°48＇E; water depth, 5700 m） and 45 bulk nodules from offshore Minami-Torishima Island, Japan（23°3＇N, 153°22＇E; water depth, 1200 m） were analyzed chemically and their origin is discussed based on geochemical constraints. In general, Cu, Ni, Zn and Mo tend to increase with increasing Mn content, while Co, Pb, Ba, V, Sc, Th, and the rare earth elements（REEs） show less variation with increasing Mn content. Nodule 42 H from the Philippine Sea has an average Mn/Fe ratio close to 1 and shows a positive Ce anomaly, suggesting a predominant hydrogenous origin. Profiles of 230Th230 ex and Thex/232 Th ratios in the outer ~0.3 mm of nodule 42 H indicate a steady growth rate of ~1.7 mm/Myr. Nodule E30 from offshore Minami-Torishima is characterized by lower Mn, Fe, Mn/Fe（0.53） and Mo/V（0.2） ratios but higher P and Cu/Ni（0.31） ratio relative to other nodules from that area. The Ce content of E30 is unusually low（82 ppm） when compared with other nodules from the area and it is the only nodule analyzed with a negative Ce anomaly（-0.64）. Based on the geochemical data we suggest that most nodules from offshore Minami-Torishima are primarily of hydrogenous origin except E30, which is dominated by hydrothermal input, and E45, which has about a 35% hydrothermal contribution.

Hepatitis B infection among adults in the philippines:A national seroprevalence study

AIM:To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)seropositivity among adult Filipinos.METHODS:Testing for HBsAg was performed on serum samples from persons aged ≥ 20 years old who participated in the National Nutrition and Health Survey(NNHeS)conducted in 2003.Information on age,sex,marital status,educational attainment,employment status,and income were collected.For this study,marital status was classified as never married or otherwise(i.e.,married,divorced,separated,widowed);educational attainment was classified as high school graduate or below or at least some tertiary education;and employment status was classified as currently employed or currently unemployed.Annual income was divided into 4 quartiles in Philippine pesos(PhP):Q1,≤ PhP 53064;Q2,PhP 53065-92192;Q3,PhP 92193-173387;and Q4,≥ PhP 173388.Prevalence estimates were weighted so that they represented the general population.Social and demographic factors were correlated with HBsAg seropositivity.Multivariate analysis was used to determine independent predictors of HBsAg seropositivity.RESULTS:A total of 2150 randomly selected adults,20 years and over,out of the 4753 adult participants of NNHeS were tested for HBsAg.The HBsAg seroprevalence was 16.7%(95%CI:14.3%-19.1%),which corresponded to an estimated 7278968 persons infected with hepatitis B.There was no significant difference between males and females(17.5% vs 16.0%;P = 0.555).This corresponded to an estimated 3721775 men and 3557193 women infected with hepatitis B.The HBsAg seroprevalence peaked at age 20-39 years old,with declining prevalence in the older age groups.The only independent predictor of HBsAg seropositivity was the annual income,with persons in the highest income quartile being less likely to be HBsAg positive(age-adjusted OR = 0.51;95%CI:0.30-0.86)compared to subjects in the lowest income quartile.Sex,marital status,educational attainment,and employment status were not found to be independent predictors of HBsAg seropositivity.CONCLUSION:The high HBsAg seroprevalence among adults in the Philippines classifies the country as hyperendemic for HBV infection and appears unchanged over the last few decades.

Structural characteristics of the KPR-CBR triple-junction inferred from gravity and magnetic interpretations,Philippine Sea Plate

The intersection of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge(KPR)and the Central Basin Rift(CBR)of the West Philippine Basin(WPB)is a relic of a trench-trench-rift(TTR)type triple-junction,which preserves some pivotal information on the cessation of the seafloor spreading of the WPB,the emplacement and disintegration of the proto-Izu-Bonin-Mariana(IBM)Arc,and the transition from initial rifting to steady-state spreading of the Parece Vela Basin(PVB).However,the structural characteristics of this triple-junction have not been thoroughly understood.In this paper,using the newly acquired multi-beam bathymetric,gravity,and magnetic data obtained by the Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology,China Geological Survey,the authors depict the topographic,gravity,and magnetic characteristics of the triple-junction and adjacent region.Calculations including the upward continuations and total horizontal derivatives of gravity anomaly are also performed to highlight the major structural features and discontinuities.Based on these works,the morphological and structural features and their formation mechanisms are analyzed.The results show that the last episode amagmatic extension along the CBR led to the formation of a deep rift valley,which extends eastward and incised the KPR.The morphological and structural fabrics of the KPR near and to the south of the triple-junction are consistent with those of the western PVB,manifesting as a series of NNE-SSW-and N-S-trending ridges and troughs,which were produced by the extensional faults associated with the initial rifting of the PVB.The superposition of the above two reasons induced the prominent discontinuity of the KPR in deep and shallow crustal structures between 15°N‒15°30′N and 13°30′N‒14°N.Combined with previous authors’results,we propose that the stress produced by the early spreading of the PVB transmitted westward and promoted the final stage amagmatic extension of the CBR.The eastward propagation of the CBR destroyed the KPR,of which the magmatism had decayed or ceased at that time.The destruction mechanism of the KPR associated with the rifting of the PVB varies along strike the KPR.Adjacent to the triple-junction,the KPR was destroyed mainly due to the oblique intersection of the PVB rifting center.Whereas south of the triple-junction,the KPR was destroyed by the E-W-directional extensional faulting on its whole width.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Luzon Island,Philippines,VI: The Herpetofauna of the Subic Bay Area

We present detailed species accounts for 55 species of amphibians and reptiles(14 species of frogs,24 snakes,16 lizards,one turtle) from 24 localities in the vicinity of Subic Bay,southern Zambales Province,Luzon Island,Philippines. Although we note numerous species that are conspicuously absent in Subic Bay(and which we expect will eventually be recorded in the region),our many new records plus a summary of the available historical museum specimen data depict a diverse subset of species diversity known from the southern Zambales Mountains of southwestern Luzon. We compare our data to several other recent herpetofunal surveys from Luzon,discuss biogeographic regionalism of this complex island,and report on numerous new natural history observations for many included species. With the absence of any protected areas in the entire province,the amphibians and reptiles of Zambales should be a particularly important future conservation priority.

Mineral provinces and matter provenance of the surficial sediments in the western Philippine Sea:implication for modern sedimentation in West Pacific marginal basin

The characteristics and distribution patterns of detrital minerals （0. 063 -0. 125 mm） in marine sediments provide a significant indicator for the identification of the origin of sediment. The detrital mineral composition of 219 surface sediment samples was ana- lysed to identify the distribution of sediments within the western Philippine Sea. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces ： （Ⅰ） province east of the Philippine Trench, the detrital minerals in this province are mainly composed of calcareous or siliceous organisms, with the addition of volcanogenic minerals from an adjacent island arc; （Ⅱ） middle mineral province, clastic minerals including feldspar, quartz and colorless volcanic glass, sourced from seamounts with intermediate-acid volcanic rock, or erupting intermediate-acid volcano; （Ⅲ） province west of the Palau--Kyushu Ridge, the matter provenance within this province is complex; the small quantity of feldspar and quartz may be sourced from seamounts or erupting volcano with intermediate - acid composition, with a component of volcanic scoria sourced from a volcano erupting on the Palau--Kyushu Ridge. it is suggested that, （ 1 ） Biogenic debris of the study area is closely related to water depth, with the amount of biogenic debris controlled by carbonate lysocline. （2） Volcaniclastic matter derived from the adjacent island arc can be entrained by oceanic currents and transported towards the abyssal basin over a short distance. The weathering products of volcanic rocks of the submarine plateau （e. g. , Benham Plateau） and adjacent ridges provide an important source of detrital sedimentation, and the influence scope of them is constrained by the intensity of submarine weathering. （3） Terrigenous sediments from the continent of Asia and the adjacent Philippine island arc have little influence on the sedimentation of this study area, and the felsic mineral component is probably sourced from volcanic seamounts of intermediate-acid composition.