Marine Biodiversity Resources and Information System (MBRIS)
Embracing the richness and potential of our country’s natural marine heritage
Through the decades, the UP Marine Science Institute has diligently maintained and expanded special reference collections showcasing the country’s rich marine heritage.
VISION
A hub for collaborative research, expertise, knowledge, and training to catalyze management and conservation of marine biodiversity.
MISSION
Enhance capabilities to document and sustainably utilize marine resources through the following:
- Maintain, grow, and digitize biodiversity collections
- Develop a marine biodiversity data analytics platform
- Conduct cutting-edge collaborative biodiversity research
- Provide training and education for ocean science literacy
- Support national- and local-level policy formulation
Research Themes
Marine biodiversity
Foundational repositories to support sustainable marine resources management, species discoveries, and conservation.
Molecular ecology and genetics
Decoding genetic information to uncover patterns of biodiversity, distribution, ecological and evolutionary processes to support marine genetic resource management.
Natural products discovery
Unlocking the full potential of marine biodiversity resources through their derivatives to develop new benefits for society (e.g. drugs, biotechnology).
Biodiversity informatics
Bridging marine biodiversity information with resources management and decision-making through ocean-to-cloud data pipelines and analytics.
The Collections
Marine biodiversity collections and knowledge have served as foundations for conservation and resource management policies, as well as for breakthroughs in marine biotechnology and pharmacology. With MBRIS, we can do more — and we can do it faster.
MARINE FISHES COLLECTION
For inquiries regarding this collection, you may contact Dr. Rene A. Abesamis at raabesamis@msi.upd.edu.ph.
MARINE INVERTEBRATES COLLECTION
For inquiries regarding this collection, you may contact Dr. Maria Celia D. Malay at mdmalay@msi.upd.edu.ph.
HARD CORALS COLLECTION
For inquiries regarding this collection, you may contact Dr. Patrick C. Cabaitan at pcabaitan@msi.upd.edu.ph.
RHODORA V. AZANZA MARINE MICROALGAL CULTURE COLLECTION
Curated by
The Rhodora V. Azanza Marine Microalgal Culture Collection hosts microalgal species that are critical for studies on ocean productivity, biotechnology, and harmful algal blooms. To date, the collection includes 54 strains of 39 microalgal species isolated from various parts of the country, including Anda, Bolinao, Pangasinan, Masinloc, Manila Bay, and Anilao. It was established by Professor Emeritus Rhodora Azanza in 1998.
THE GREGORIO T. VELASQUEZ PHYCOLOGICAL HERBARIUM
Curated by Dr. Wilfred John Santianez
The Gregorio T. Velasquez Phycological Herbarium holds the largest herbarium collection of marine plants in the Philippines and the entire Southeast Asian region. Originally established by National Scientist Gavino Trono in the 1970s, the herbarium currently houses over 60,000 seaweed and seagrass specimens from the Philippines and abroad. It is named after National Scientist Gregorio T. Velasquez, who donated most of his collections to the herbarium.
MARINE NATURAL PRODUCTS LEGACY COLLECTION
Curated by Dr. Lilibeth Salvador-Reyes
The Marine Natural Products Legacy Collection highlights the biodiversity and chemodiversity of the Philippine Seas. The legacy collection holds 6,106 microbial isolates, 5,052 extracts and fractions, and 237 pure compounds, serving as one of the foundations of the drug discovery program at the UP Marine Science Institute. It was established by Professor Emeritus Gisela Concepcion in the early 2000s.
SEAWEED GENE BANK
For inquiries regarding this collection, you may contact Dr. Michael Y. Roleda at algalecolab@msi.upd.edu.ph.
BOLINAO MARINE LABORATORY MUSEUM
For inquiries regarding this collection, you may contact bml@msi.upd.edu.ph.
MARINE MACROALGAL REFERENCE CULTURE COLLECTION
For inquiries regarding this collection, you may contact Dr. Wilfred John E. Santiañez at wjsantianez@msi.upd.edu.ph.
Core Laboratories
Molecular Ecology and Genetics
Marine Natural Products and Biotechnology
Marine Chemistry
Biodiversity Informatics Facility