top of page

RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • Spatio-temporal trends of pH, pCO2 and related parameters under DOST-PCAARRD Coastal Acidification Program

coastal acid framework.jpg

The objective of this project is to define the spatio-temporal variation of carbonate  and other related environmental parameters in different study sites as well to define the relationship between growth rate of corals an inter-annual to multi-decadal time scale and the reconstructed environmental parameters such as SST, SSS and upwelling. 

     Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) 

     Project Leader: Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

     Researcher: Raffi Isah, Ryan Carl Magyaya, Natasha Tamayo

  • Modelling, Analysis and Simulation of Blue Carbon Cycle and Budget under the DOST-PCIEERD Blue CyMAS Progam

This project aims to estimate productivity of mangroves and to quantify carbon stored within the sediments in its ecosystem; to estimate export of dissolved and particulate carbon and nutrients; to determine that spatial variation in water parameters; and to determine biomarkers in water, particulate and sediments collected in the study sites. Project activities involve water parameter monitoring, sediment sampling and sub-bottom profiling in mangroves area in Panay Island and Busuanga. 

     Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD) 

     Project Leader: Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

     Researcher: Mary Chris Lagumen, Maryjune Cabiguin, Iris Orizar (2017-2018)

  • Project 1C: Monitoring Biodiversity at NIPAS Sites and Ocean Acidification Baseline Study

P6220519.JPG

The objective of this project is to monitor cryptic biodiversity and determine baseline information on ocean acidification at selected reef sites in the country.  The main activity of this project is to deploy 9 units of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) for a minimum of 1 to 3 years and study the diversity of the organisms that will be collected from these structures.  ARMS units are made of polyvinyl chloride material and they are designed to mimic the complexity of coral reefs to attract and collect colonizing invertebrates.  ARMS were developed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) to determine baseline of reef crypto biodiversity and later on assess the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity.  It provides a systematic, consistent and comparable method to monitor biodiversity and cryptic species.  Over 800 ARMS have been deployed globally.  The ARMS provide a standard method for taxonomic and molecular analysis to assess invertebrate biodiversity and improve the ability to measure/monitor diversity of cryptic organisms globally over 

time, thus increasing the ability to monitor/predict ecological impacts of global climate change, particularly ocean warming and acidification.  Understanding their impacts on biodiversity is essential due to the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem resilience. 

 

The project is a collaborative effort between UP MSI, De La Salle University and National Museum.  The ARMS will be deployed at 5 sites – Palaui, Verde Island Passage (VIP), Zambales, Tubbataha and Siargao.  Aside from baseline carbonate chemistry information (e.g., pH and aragonite saturation maps), other outputs of the project include data on taxonomic biodiversity and other biodiversity indices, repository of some of the organisms collected in the ARMS at the National Museum, guidebook and information, education and communication (IEC) materials about the organisms collected in the ARMS, and trained personnel for capacity building for future retrieval and processing of remaining ARMS units.

     Funding Agency: Biodiversity Management Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resources

     Project Leader: Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

     Researchers: Dr. Charissa Ferrera, Mary Chris Lagumen

  • Monitoring of water quality parameters in Bolinao, Pangasinan

The main goal of the study is to continue monitoring the water quality in Bolinao to describe the long-term changes in water quality conditions over time.  Activities of the project includes daily collection of water samples from a permanent station at the back of Bolinao Marine Laboratory (BML) along Guiguiwanen Channel. The project provides daily monitoring data on nutrient, chlorophyll and carbonate parameters.

     Funding Agency: University of the Philippines Diliman In-house Funds

     Project Leader: Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

     Researcher: John Michael Aguilar, Mary Chris Lagumen (2006- 2014)

Recently Completed Projects

  • Growth, Survival, and Toxin Content for Red-Tide Bloom forming Pyrodinium bahamense exposed to different phytoplankton species (2016 - 2017)

               Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

               Researchers:  Iris Orizar

               Funding Agency:  UP Diliman Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Development

​

  • Identifying Resilient Coral Species (2014 - 2017)

               Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

               Researchers:  Mikhael Clotilde Tanedo

               Funding Agency:  DOST-PCAARRD

​

  • UP-Climate Change Commission-Resilience and Preparedness toward Inclusive Development-Natural Resources Assessment (UP-CCC-RAPID-NRA) (2015 - 2016)

               Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

               Researchers:  Mary Chris Lagumen, Iris Orizar

               Funding Agency:  Climate Change Commission

​

  • Coastal Ecosystem Response to Nutrient and Sediment Inputs and Fluxes from Mariculture, Tourism, and Watershed Activities (2013 - 2015)

              Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

              Researchers:  Mary Chris Lagumen (January - June 2015), Ma. Teresa Escobar (January 2013 -December 2014)

              Funding Agency:  Commission on Higher Education​

​

  • Detection and Mitigation Technology and Early Warning System for Philippine Harmful Algal Blooms (HABTech) Project 1: HAB Detection and Mitigation Technology (2012 - 2015)

              Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

              Researcher:  Iris Orizar

              Funding Agency:  DOST-PCAARRD

​

  • Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive Management under Local and Global Environmental Impacts in the Philippines (CECAM) (2010 - 2015)

              Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

              Funding Agency:  JICA-JIST

​

  • Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Philippines Project 8: Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation in the Tropics (2009 - 2012)

              Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

              Researcher:  Iris Orizar (January 2009 - December 2012)

              Funding Agency:  DOST-PCAARRD

​

  • Shelf-Pacific Interaction in Luzon Project (2013)

              Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

              Researcher:  Ma. Teresa Escobar (January -December 2013)

              Funding Agency:  US Office of Naval Research

​

  • Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Philippines Project 4: Fish Kill, Algal Blooms and Eutrophication in the Tropics, Philippine Harmful Algal Blooms Program (2009 - 2012)

              Project Leader:  Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone

              Researcher:  Ma. Teresa Escobar (January 2009 - December 2012)

              Funding Agency:  DOST-PCAARRD

​

bottom of page