Research and Extension Projects

As a center for research and documentation of Philippine biota, the UPLB Museum of Natural History's (MNH) primary role is to take care its most valuable resources - its hundreds of thousands of holdings of precious biological specimens, the preserved records of its life forms, of the Philippines’ natural heritage. 

Even as most of the funds and administration of biodiversity R and E projects in the university does not always come from or go through the MNH or any of its sections, the museum still manages to undertake important research in fulfilment of its objectives as a research institution.

Below are the documented projects conducted by the Museum and its personnel. These projects are:

  1. those which receive financial and/or personnel support, in part or solely, from the MNH Core Budget or Revolving Funds;
  2. UPLB – or externally funded but based or administered through the MNH, i.e. papers processed through or endorsed by the Office of the MNH Director;
  3. officially sanctioned collaborative research between MNH and other UPLB units, or other government/ private agencies; or
  4. student researches conducted in the MNH and coordinated/supervised by MNH Core or Affiliate staff.

Curatorial activities other than routine maintenance are also here counted as research- related activities. These include, among others, inventory, cataloguing and computerization of accessions.

Museum Projects, 2015 to the Present

Director's Office

Title Fund Source Status
Biodiversity in Selected Mountain Ecosystem of Mindanao for Conservation and Sustainable Development: Project 3 DOST-PCAARRD Ongoing
Operation of the Museum Publications in Natural History Journal MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Operation and Maintenance of the UPLB MNH Information Portal MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Basic Introduction to DSLR photography for museum personnel MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Documentating and popularizing scientific research: Invasive herpetofauna and wildlife Diseases MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Echolocation calls of bats in Polillo Island, Quezon UPLB Basic Research Fund Ongoing
Biodiversity in Selected Mountain Ecosystem of Mindanao for Conservation and Sustainable Development. Project 3.  DOST Grants-in-Aid Ongoing
Assessment, Inventory and Biological Field Surveys of Flora and Fauna of the Mangrove Forests in Del Carmen, Siargao Island DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines Completed
Conduct of Biophysical Baseline/Data gaps Research in Kalbario Patapat, Ilocos Norte Foundation for the Philippine Environment Completed
CANOPI PROGRAM (Forest Canopy Vertebrate Fauna) – Diversity and Natural History of Tropical Forest Canopy Vertebrate Fauna, Their Contributions to Ecosystem Services and Sensitivity to Microhabitat Changes DOST-PCAARRD Completed
Survey of Migratory Birds of Sta. Teresita, Cagayan MNH Core Fund and LGU-Sta. Teresita Completed
How Does Academics’ Engagement with Industry Influence Doctoral Science Mentoring? The Case of Philippine Agricultural Scientists Texas A&M International University R&D Agenda Fund Completed
Training on Introduction to Food Business Pests and their Control Universal Robina Corporation Completed
Training on Outcomes-based Education Training on Biodiversity/ Habitat Assessment and Biological Systematics Isabela State University Cabagan Campus Completed 
Training on Introduction to Biodiversity and Survey Techniques Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. Completed
Training on Identification, Biology and Management of Vertebrate Wildlife Pests Pest Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. Completed
Documenting and Popularizing Scientific Research: The Case of On Field Bat and Infectious Disease Research in Siargao Island, Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
2018 Population Estimate of Edible Bird's Nest Producing Swiftlet in Taytay and El Nido, Palawan, Philippines Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Completed
Biodiversity, Geological and Boundary Surveys of Selected Cave and Karst Areas in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan MNH Core Fund and LGU-Sta. Teresita Completed
2018 Summer Short Course on Biodiversity for Beginners UPLB Foundation, Inc. Completed
2017  Summer Short Course on Biodiversity for Beginners UPLB Foundation, Inc. Completed
2016 Summer Short Course on Biodiversity for Beginners UPLB Foundation, Inc. Completed
2015 Summer Short Course on Biodiversity for Beginners UPLB Administration Completed
Refresher Course on the Use of Molecular Phylogeny on Systematics and Biogeography MNH Core Fund Completed
Introduction to Biological Photography MNH Core Fund Completed
Building E-Portfolios for Graduate Students MNH Core Fund Completed
Learning Event in Cave Biodiversity Assessment for the Luzon Cluster DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau Completed
Training and Identification of Pests of Stored Products DA-BIOMECH Completed
Identification, Biology and Management of Vertebrate Pests (Birds, Bats, Rodents, Stray Cats, Reptiles and Amphibians) Pest Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. Completed
Training-Workshop on Managing Your Photo Assets Offline and Online MNH Core Fund Completed
Training-Workshop on Building EPortfolios for OVCRE ION MNH Core Fund Completed
Culture+Learning, Art+Design, Environment+Science: The First Philippine Natural History Museums and Collections Summit Various fund sources Completed
Biodiversity Studies of Selected Areas of Mulanay's Protected Land and Seascapes LGU-Mulanay, Quezon/ MNH Core Fund Completed
Biodiversity Assessment of Caves in Mabini, Pangasinan TEAM Energy-Sual, Pangasinan/
MNH Core Fund		 Completed
Determining the Service Quality of the UPLB Museum of Natural History MNH Core Fund Completed

Botanical and Forestry Herbarium

Title Fund Source Status
Ex-situ morphometric characterization and phenological studies of selected Zingiberaceae taxa accessioned at MBG UPLB Basic Research Fund Ongoing
Inventory, cataloguing and computerized databasing of type speciemens at Botanical Herbarium MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Inventory, cataloguing and computerized database of MNH forestry and botanical holdings MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Description of a possible new species of Begonia in Baras, Rizal MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Description of a possible new species of Amorphophallus in Baras, Rizal MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Description of a possible new species of Cayratia in Baras, Rizal MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Diversity, distribution and conservation management of endemic plants in the Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
Documentation and assessment of local/indigenous knowledge (LINK) for climate change adaptation of agri-fisheries communities DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research Completed
Floral pigments of Strongylogon juangonzalezii Masungi Geo-Reserve Completed

Entomological Museum

Title Fund Source Status
Survey of the bumblebee diversity of the Cordilleras MNH Core Fund Ongoing
A transect study of the ants of Mt. Isarog Natural Park, Camarines Sur UP Enhanced Creative and Research Work Grant Ongoing
Inventory, Cataloguing and Computerized Database of MNH Entomological Museum MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Inventory, cataloguing and computerized database of MNH Acarology Collection MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Updating and maintenance of Philippine Ant Species Database MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Inventory, cataloguing and computerized database of MNH Entomological Museum: VP Gapud Collection (Phase I) MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Inventory of Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from the entomological collections of the two natural history
museums in the Philippines. Study 1: Inventory of bees (Hymenoptera:Apidae) from the entomological
collections of UPLB MNH		 UPLB Bee Program Ongoing
Taxonomy of Philippine Walking Sticks MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Morphology-based diagnostics of armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and their natural enemies on coconuts and associated crops DOST-PCAARRD Completed
Elevational transect study of the ants of Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao Oriental UNEP-GEP Completed
Stomach Contents of Philippine Draco Lizards MNH Core Fund Completed
Ants of Makiling MNH Core Fund Completed
Redefinition of the crematogastrine ant genus Tetheamyrma Bolton, 1991 MNH Core Fund Completed
Description of a new species of Odontomachus ants MNH Core Fund Completed
Towards an updated genus list and identification keys to the ant genera of the Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
Aretidris, a New Genus of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Mountains of Luzon Island, Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
Two new species of Harpegnathos from one mountain in the Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
A Second Species of the Ant Genus Romblonella from the Philippines (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) MNH Core Fund Completed
Studies on Podocinid mites (Acari: Podocinidae)  MNH Core Fund Completed
Monitoring Key Non-Target Arthropods in Transgenic Maize (Zea mays L.) Lines Containing the Combined Trait Products and its Intermediate Stacks and:2013 Indonesia Field Study PT DuPont Indonesia Completed
Taxonomic Study of the Bat Ectoparasitic Mites (Acari: Laelapidae, Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae) of Karst Areas in the Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
Terrestrial Arthropod Survey in Greater Sipit Area, Mount Makiling CFNR MCME Completed
Taxonomic Study of Cave Cheyletid Mites from Biak na Bato Cave Complex (Acari: Cheyletidae) MNH Core Fund Completed

Microbial Culture Collection

Title Fund Source Status
Bat guano from a Philippine cave as potential and sustainable source of antibiotic-producing Streptomyces spp. against pathogenic bacteria DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines Ongoing
Capacity building on biorisk awareness and establishment and sustainability of Institutional Biosafety Committee in the UPLB Museum of Natural History: Development of Training Modules and Manuals on the Fundamentals of Biosafety, Biosecurity and Biorisk Assessment  MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Diversity and systematics of filamentous fungi from guano and guano-enriched soil of Cabalyorisa Cave Complex, Pangasinan UPLB Basic Research Fund Ongoing
Polyphasic taxonomy of possible new species of Streptomyces Korea Collection of Type Cultures and MNH Core Fund Ongoing 
Preliminary characterization of pigments produced by filamentous fungi, Cb-BG1 and Cb-R2, isolated from bat guano of Cabalyorisa Cave, Mabini, Pangasinan ICBiotech and Osaka
University		 Ongoing
Assessment of the Timbac mummies of Kabayan, Benguet National Museum of the Philippines Ongoing 
Metagenomic Analysis of Bat Guano Sampled in Cabalyorisa and Tinmori Caves in Mabini, Pangasinan and Determination of the Efficacy and Safety of the Bat Guano as Organic Agricultural Fertilizer DA-BAR/UPNSRI Completed
Bacterial Diversity of Caves in Mabini, Pangasinan MNH Core Fund Completed
Fungal Diversity of Caves in Mabini, Pangasinan MNH Core Fund Completed
Isolation and preliminary identification of thraustochytrids from mangroves of Polillo Islands, Quezon Province MNH Core Fund Completed
Isolation and identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria (Putative) from Bats of Marinduque Caves, Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed

Mycological Herbarium

Title Fund Source Status
Inventory of Fungal Collection at the UPLB MNH Mycological Herbarium  MNH Core Fund  Ongoing
Diversity and Distribution of Wild Edible Macrofungi in the Forests and Small Islands of Luzon  MNH Core Fund  Ongoing
Ecological Assessment and Monitoring of Biodiversity in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems in Didipio Gold Copper Project Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines Oceanagold Philippines, Inc. Completed

Zoological and Wildlife Museum

Title Fund Source Status
UPLB Museum of Natural History Collections inventory and cataloging: Amphibians and reptiles MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Photographing herpetofauna type specimens in the UPLB Museum of Natural History Zoological Collections MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Image standardization of mollusk shell collection in the UPLB Museum of Natural History MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Inventory, cataloguing and computerized databasing of MNH aquatic zoological holdings MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Identification of Pandaka spp from Polillo island based on morphological structure MNH Core Fund Ongoing
Macro Land Snails of Mt. Banahaw, Luzon Island Philippines: Diversity and Ecological Patterns UPLB Basic Research Fund Ongoing
Bats as Potential Sources of Zoonotic Diseases MNH Core Fund/ Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant Completed
Biodiversity and Ecology in Tuba, Benguet: Mining Impact Assessment for Sustainable Mountain and Resilient Ecosystem Philex Mining Corp. Completed
Micro landsnails in karst ecosystem of Sta. Teresita Cagayan: Diversity and ecological pattern MNH Core Fund Completed
Diversity and distribution of land snails in the vicinity of Cavinti Underground River and Cave Complex, Cavinti, Laguna MNH Core Fund Completed
Environmental factors affecting morphological shape of freshwater gastropods in Lalangawan River,
Cavinti, Laguna		 MNH Core Fund Completed
Diversity and community assembly of macroinvertebrates along watershed streams of UP Laguna Land Grant, Paete, Laguna Institute of Biology, UP Diliman Completed
Diversity of freshwater mollusk along Dakil River in the UP Laguna Land Grant, Paete, Laguna Institute of Biology, UP Diliman Completed
Preliminary survey of freshwater fishes along watershed of UP Laguna Land Grant, Paete, Laguna MNH Core Fund Completed
Diversity of Ectoparasites Associated with Bats in the Philippines MNH Core Fund Completed
Bats in Mt. Guiting-guiting Natural Park, Sibuyan Island, Philippines MNH Core Fund and Rufford Small Grants Completed
Diversity of Macro-inverterates along Streams of Mt. Makiling MNH Core Fund  Completed
MAGUITING TRAINING SERIES: Hands-on Capacity Building on Biodiversity Studies in Sibuyan Rufford Small Grants
Foundation, The Awesome
Foundation and the UP System Enhanced Creative Work and Research Grant		 Completed 

For a listing of the Museum's projects from 2014 and earlier years, you can download the file.