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Making waves in the Marine Biotechnology track
Written by Dorothy Andrada There is a wealth of resources found beneath the ocean’s waves, and new breakthroughs in science and technology make it easier for us to use them. Under the Marine Biotechnology track of UP Marine Science Institute’s (UP MSI) MSc and PhD programs, students are taught how to develop the natural products…
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Turning the tide through the Marine Physical Sciences track
Written by Dorothy Andrada The ocean is a force of nature that harbors both powerful currents and calm waves. Understanding its power and how it ebbs and flows is important. Under the Marine Physical Sciences track of UP Marine Science Institute’s (UP MSI) MSc and PhD programs, students are taught how our oceans move: the…
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Diving deep into the Marine Biology track
Written by Dorothy Andrada Fish, corals, and seaweed are what usually come to mind when one thinks of the sea. The vibrant biodiversity beneath the waves is a core part of any ocean, and understanding this is a major field of study in marine science. Under the Marine Biology track of UP Marine Science Institute’s…
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Morphological and Molecular Evidence for the Identity of Two Land Hermit Crabs Coenobita longitarsis De Man, 1902 and C. pseudorugosus Nakasone, 1988 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Coenobitidae)
Summary The hermit crabs that most people encounter are terrestrial, occupying a a variety of snail shells (and even plastic trash when shells are rare) throughout the tropics. Despite their iconic presence on tropical beaches, few people are aware that the taxonomy of terrestrial hermit crabs is still not fully resolved. All terrestrial hermit crabs…
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A multi-framework analysis of stakeholders’ perceptions in developing a localized blue carbon ecosystems strategy in Eastern Samar, Philippines
Summary Blue carbon ecosystem (BCE) is composed of mangroves, seagrasses, and seaweeds that have the capacity to absorb large amount of carbon from the atmosphere. With the rising global temperatures and carbon emissions, BCEs can help in mitigating the potential impacts of human-induced global changes by storing and sequestering carbon through the years. The Philippine…
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Utility of low-cost recreational-grade echosounders in imaging and characterizing bubbly coastal submarine groundwater discharge
Summary Despite the growing knowledge on the significance of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), mapping its occurrence is a continuing challenge. This study explores the utility of low-cost, accessible, recreational-grade echosounders (RGESs) to image different types and identify specific locations of bubble-dominated coastal SGD. Standard and systematic methodologies for efficient imaging and processing were established. The…
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Seafloor Structures and Static Stress Changes Associated With Two Recent Earthquakes in Offshore Southern Batangas, Philippines
Summary This research mapped the active offshore faults in Batangas Bay and part of Verde Island Passage. It is of such importance since the area of interest is the site of the 1994 Mindoro Earthquake and the 2017 Batangas Earthquake. The only known fault in the vicinity is the Verde Passage Fault but the characteristics…
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The Diversity of Eucheumatoid Seaweed Cultivars in the Philippines
Summary Collectively known as eucheumatoids, Eucheuma denticulatum, Kappaphycus alvarezii, K. malesianus, and K. striatus are the main farmed seaweed species in the Philippines. This group of seaweeds is the main source of the high-value carrageenan. There are three major types of carrageenan, each having properties that make one type more suitable for a specific application…
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Processing technologies for solid and flexible packaging materials from macroalgae
Summary The non-degradability of most plastic packaging materials and the deficiency in recycling infrastructure on aglobal scale causes huge environmental problems. Production of packaging materials from natural macroalgae polymers is a very promising alternative to address the problems. The cultivation potential for macroalgae is huge and they are not in competition to food crops. Although…
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MPA-FishMApp – A Citizen Science App That Simplifies Monitoring of Coral Reef Fish Density and Biomass in Marine Protected Areas
Summary Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas where extraction of marine organism are prohibited to promote fisheries conservation and population recovery, specifically for reef fishes. In order to determine if MPAs are effective, annual monitoring survey is conducted wherein technical skills are required. Monitoring of reef fish can be done either by snorkeling and/or SCUBA…
