Environment

Many birds rely on tree cavities, or tree holes, for nesting and raising their young. Woodpeckers, known as primary excavators, can create their own cavities. In contrast, non-excavators—also called secondary cavity nesters—depend on naturally occurring or previously excavated cavities for reproduction. These birds face challenges such as a scarcity of suitable cavities, which can limit […]

A striking, silver-colored fish commonly kept as an aquarium pet has been hiding in plain sight in the Philippines’ largest freshwater lake, renewing concerns over the unmonitored and unmitigated release of alien species into the country’s already strained ecosystems. Ateneo de Manila University researchers recently undertook a careful morphological analysis of a fish caught in

The world of social media has become an increasingly important source of data for biodiversity and conservation, especially for rare or little-known species such as the Philippine tarsier. However, despite the tarsier’s popularity, there is still limited information about where it lives and how it behaves in the wild. Maria Sabrina Tabeta and Simeon Gabriel

Mindoro is home to a unique bounty of endemic mammalian wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This includes the famous tamaraw, the Mindoro warty pig, and the humble Mindoro shrew. Now, three more species are added to the list, thanks to the recent discovery of Philippine forest mice—all belonging to the Apomys genus. From 2013

Soft corals, which are members of the class Octocorallia, are major components of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. They are known to contribute to reef complexity and serve as habitats for many organisms. They also have potential economic benefits, such as being sources of compounds that can be used for making medicine, and due to

Tropical cyclones hundreds of kilometers away from the Philippines are often more responsible for heavy rainfall than those that hit the country directly during the annual “Habagat” or southwest monsoon season from July to September, according to new research. The findings undermine the widely-held public misconception that only tropical cyclones that directly hit the country

By Tessa R. Salazar July 14 is Shark Awareness Day, an annual event held to raise awareness about the importance of sharks in marine ecosystems and to promote their conservation. This day aims to dispel myths and fears surrounding sharks, highlighting their vital role in maintaining the balance of our oceans. We could also note

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a process in which groundwater from land seeps into the ocean, transporting freshwater, nutrients, metals, and even pollutants into marine ecosystems. The diverse microbial communities in these SGD sites make them hotspots for biological and chemical activity, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Studying these microorganisms helps scientists

Near the eastern coast of Luzon, Philippines, located 50 meters below the sea surface, is Benham Bank, an underwater seamount taller than Mt. Apo. Benham Bank contains one of the richest mesophotic (or deep) coral ecosystems in the Philippines. One would not expect biodiversity to thrive here, considering the eastern coast of the Philippines is

Groundwater—water trapped beneath the Earth’s surface—is a resource that may be out of sight, but certainly not out of mind for many Filipinos. This invisible resource is vital for everyday life, especially in agriculture, where it provides the lifeblood for irrigation. However, as our demand for food grows and technology allows us to tap deeper