2021 MNH Biodiversity Seminar: Justin M. Bernstein
Channel: UPLB MNH
Date: 2021-05-26

Video documentation of the UPLB Museum of Natural History Biodiversity Seminar on "Serpents, Sequences, and Statistics: Using DNA and Morphology to Study the Biodiversity and Evolution of Philippine Snakes" by Justin M. Bernstein of Rutgers University-Newark, New Jersey, USA on 26 May 2021.

SUMMARY OF TALK

Reptiles and amphibians are among the least known group of vertebrates with respect to their diversity, with dozens to over a hundred new species being described every year. A large proportion of undescribed species that have recently been discovered in the last decade are reported from Southeast Asia, which has been recognized as containing several biodiversity hotspots of herpetofauna with high levels of endemicity. Though great advances in technology and field surveys have led to the discovery of biodiversity, there is still a strong need to continue these efforts and learn more about the Southeast Asian herpetofaunal biodiversity, as well as the roles it plays in the respective ecosystems. This is especially important for groups that are secretive and poorly understood, such as snakes. The Philippines has long been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot of reptilian species, and harbors over 100 species of snakes. Only recently have we begun to understand the processes that have shaped these snake assemblages in the Philippine archipelago. Using two widely distributed snake systems, a commonly observed semi-aquatic snake, and a secretive terrestrial snake, I show how we can use DNA and morphology from field-based collection efforts and natural history museums to elucidate the species richness of Philippine snakes and their natural and evolutionary histories. Computer software and statistical analyses show evidence of mechanisms of how species have been formed and insight into the diversity of Philippine snake populations. Survey and field work, as well as collaborative efforts, will guide us towards a better understanding of how many species exist in different parts of the archipelago, the geographic origins of Philippines snakes, their ecological roles, and the environmental factors that affect the evolution and abundance of these communities.