The Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio celebrates the International Day of Biodiversity 2025
The Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio celebrates the ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ with the theme โ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ We want to showcase the rich biodiversity of the Philippines, particularly ones that are found in areas of Northern Luzon and the Cordillera Region such as the Blue-headed Fantail (๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ๐ช๐ฅ๐ถ๐ณ๐ข ๐ค๐บ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ด) , Luzon Narrow-mouthed Frog (๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ข ๐ณ๐ช๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ข), ๐๐ฆ๐ถ๐ค๐ฐ๐ด๐บ๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ด, Northern Luzon giant cloud rat (๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ด ๐ฑ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด), ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ช๐ข ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฐ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข, and ๐๐ช๐ฑ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ด ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ซ๐ถ๐จ๐ข๐ต๐ข. We call on everyone to conserve and protect our biological and ecological heritage through scientific research, environmental education and advocacy work, and sustainable action. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-14 (Life on Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
New publication entitled “Bacterial pathogens of non-native rodents and shrews of Busol WAtershed and Forest Reservation, Baguio City” by the Department of Biology faculty
Warmest congratulations to ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐. ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง, ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ณ, and ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒof the Department of Biology, UP Baguio, for the publication of their study: “๐๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ง-๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ” ๐SciEnggJ, Vol. 18 (Supplement), 2025 | ๐https://doi.org/10.54645/202518SupIBG-91 This study explores the bacterial pathogens present in invasive rodents and shrews inhabiting the Busol Watershedโan important forest reserve and water source in Baguio City. By identifying zoonotic risks and potential public health concerns, the research offers valuable information for local disease monitoring and ecosystem health management. It also emphasizes the ecological impacts of non-native species on protected urban environments. ๐ฌ๐ ๐ A vital step toward understanding and mitigating ecological and health threats from biological invasions. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15(Life on Land)
BS Biology students visits Amburayan River Kapangan, Benguet for their Bio 160 course
LOOK: BS Biology students visits Amburayan River Kapangan, Benguet for their Bio 160 course last March 22, 2025. Special thanks to the LGU of Kapangan, particularly the MENRO and Mayorโs Office, and to the Barangay Officials of Taba-ao for their assistance and guidance. Photos taken by faculty chaperones and the BIO 160 students We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
New publication out entitled “Diversity and community structure of abundant microbial eukaryotic communities across nutrient regimes in the West Philippine Sea” by the Department of Biology faculty
Congratulations to ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ญ. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐. ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐งof the Department of Biology, UP Baguio and co-authors for their latest paper, “Diversity and community structure of abundant microbial eukaryotic communities across nutrient regimes in the West Philippine Sea,” now published in Regional Studies in Marine Science! ๐ฅณ๐ This study sheds light on how environmental gradientsโparticularly nutrient levelsโshape microbial eukaryotic communities in tropical marine ecosystems, with insights critical for monitoring ecological changes in the West Philippine Sea. ๐๐ฌ ๐ Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104175 We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Department of Biology faculty represented the University of the Philippines Baguio in the recent update of terrestrial and integrated Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines
Assoc. Prof. Aris Reginaldo, Assoc. Prof. Liezel Magtoto, and Asst. Prof. Arvin Jet Marcaida of the Department of Biology, UP Baguio, represented the university in the recent update of terrestrial and integrated Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines, reinforcing their commitment to biodiversity conservation. The updating of terrestrial and integrated KBAs of the Philippines is being led by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines, Haribon Foundation, UP Institute of Biology’s Biodiversity Research Laboratory, and the Institute of Biology Alumni of UP Diliman, through the generous support of Forest Foundation Philippines, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, and Wildlife Conservation Society Philippines. photos (c) Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land); SDG-17 (Partnership for Goals)
New paper out entitled “Water quality of Balili River before, during and after COVID: lessons learned and ways forwards for tropical river remediation”
Congratulations to Prof. Romeo M. Dizon, and MS CaRE graduate Fernie D. SitSit for their latest publication on the water quality of Balili River before, during, and after COVID-19! Their study, spanning from 2018 to 2023, examines how the pandemic influenced river water quality and what happened afterward. Findings reveal that while water quality improved during lockdowns, pollution levels increased again post-COVID, though not as severely as pre-pandemic levels. The research highlights the role of natural purification processes in tropical rivers and suggests ways forward for sustainable river remediation and water management. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to achieve SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and provides valuable insights for conservation initiatives. Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-024-10151-0 We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
New paper out entitled “Biodiversity and conservation assessment of the non-marine mollusks of the Batanes Group of Islands, Philippines”
Congratulations to Prof. Zenaida G. Baoanan, PhD, and her co-authors on their new publication, โBiodiversity and conservation assessment of the non-marine mollusks of the Batanes Group of Islands, Philippines,โ in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology! This study explores the unique non-marine mollusks of the Batanes Islands, identifying 41 species and highlighting the need to protect these fragile ecosystems. The research shows the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard the rich biodiversity of these islands. Read the full paper here: http://asbp.org.ph/…/PJSBv18-04_Batomalaque-et-al-2025.pdf We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Elective Courses open to BS Biology students enrolled this 2nd Semester, AY 2024-2025
๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ The Department is offering elective courses open to BS Biology students enrolled this 2nd Semester, AY 2024-2025: 1. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ (Introduction to Medicinal Drug Development)2. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ (One Health)3. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ (Coral Reef Ecology) Please refer to the posters below for details. We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-03 (Good Health and Well-being); SDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-14 (Life Below Water)
New paper out entitled โIdentifying direct threats to an inland wetland and its avifauna: the case of Canarem Lake, Central Luzon, Philippinesโ
New Publication Alert! The Department of Biology is proud to share the latest research publication by Prof. Zenaida G. Baoanan, Prof. Wesley S. Gagarin, and MS CaRE student Emmanuel B. Lacadin. Their collaborative study, titled โIdentifying direct threats to an inland wetland and its avifauna: the case of Canarem Lake, Central Luzon, Philippines,โ sheds light on the challenges facing Philippine wetlands, particularly the agricultural town of Victoria, Tarlac, where Canarem Lake is located. This significant research explores how direct human pressures, such as farming, fishing, and recreational activities, threaten the biodiversity of this vital wetland and its bird populations. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines surveys, focus group discussions, and triangulated data analysis to identify and prioritize conservation actions. Read the full paper here: https://www.journalofnaturestudies.org/files/JNS23-2/22-41_Lacadin_Direct%20Threats%20Inland%20Wetland.pdf We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-04 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)
Application for the Master of Science in Conservation and Restoration Ecology (MS CaRE)
Application for the Master of Science in Conservation and Restoration Ecology (MS CaRE) is now open! Please see our publication material for important dates, requirements, and relevant links. If you have inquiries, please forward them to mscare.upbaguio@up.edu.ph See you, environmental warriors! We support the Sustainable Development GoalsSDG-4 (Quality Education); SDG-13 (Climate Action); SDG-14 (Life Below Water); SDG-15 (Life on Land)