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:
- those which receive financial and/or personnel support, in part or solely, from the MNH Core Budget or Revolving Funds;
- 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;
- officially sanctioned collaborative research between MNH and other UPLB units, or other government/ private agencies; or
- 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 |
