Reforming Philippine science

This book discusses the importance of science as the foundation of technological development and economic progress. It also describes the past and current situation of scientific research in the Philippines. The book also illustrates the usefulness of a properly published scientific research to the entire country.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10862/3110

Suggested Citation

Suarez, R. K., & Lacanilao, F. (2010). Reforming Philippine science. Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines: Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.

Introduction
Science and the essentials of development
Doing research for development
Straight talk to Filipino scientists
50 years of DOST, 30 annual meetings of NAST
Nonscientists run Philippine science academy
Celebrating the UP centennial
Research as the principal criterion for faculty recruitment
Problems preventing academic reforms
Adapting to climate change through research and education
Philippine science as world science: the case of milkfish reproduction
Food for thought: feast or famine in Philippine science?
Asking good questions
Airing laundry: the value of critical evaluation in science
Myths in Philippine science
Realities in Philippine science
What good is science education?
Happy birthday Darwin: lamentations on science and religion
Philippine deforestation: a national Spoliarium
Why science alone cannot save the Philippines

Type

Book

ISBN

978971511985

Format

xi, 94 p. : ill.

Collections

Monographs [34]
Reforming Philippine Science [21]

Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

Morphometric and morphomeristic variations in five populations of indigenous Celebes goby Glossogobius celebius (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from Southern Luzon, Philippines

Corpuz, Mark Nell C.; Camacho, Ma. Vivian C.; Ocampo, Pablo P. (College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 2013)

To elucidate the population structure and pattern of morphological divergence of the indigenous Celebes goby Glossogobius celebius (Valenciennes, 1837), morphometric and morphomeristic characters of this species were compared among populations collected from five study sites in Southern Luzon, Philippines. Univariate analysis of variance confirmed significant differences among populations for 20 out of 23 allometrically-transformed metric characters (P<0.05), while nine meristic traits of five populations were comparatively homogeneous (P>0.05). Intrapopulation variability was very low (6.81-7.21%) for each location. Multivariate analysis of variance determined a very high significant group variability (P<0.05). Also, principal component analysis (PC1=36.60%; PC2=18.34%) and canonical variate analysis (CV1=44.59%; CV2=37.30%) identified the 2 super(nd) dorsal fin length, anal fin length, and the 2 super(nd) dorsal fin origin as the main significant contributors of population differentiation. Derived classification functions correctly classified an average of 68% individuals into their original groups. The canonical variate analysis plot exhibited high isolation of lacustrine populations (Lake Taal and Laguna de Bay) from riverine populations (Dampalit River, Alitaaw River and Pansipit River), with the latter having longer metric characters. Likewise, squared Euclidean distance similarity using metric data clearly produced two clusters representing both river and lake populations. This morphological divergence is suggested to be environmentally-induced (phenotypic plasticity) primarily by the differences in flow rate and temperature of the study sites.
Research on seaweeds and mollusks

Hurtado-Ponce, Anicia Q. (Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 1995)

Research on seaweeds focused on the carrageenan-producing Kappaphycus alvarezii and the agar-producing Gracilaria spp. Growth of K. alvarezii was better on horizontal lines than on vertical or cluster lines from bamboo rafts. All morphotypes (brown green, and red) grew faster at 50 cm than at 100 cm below the water surface, but the green morphotype showed better carrageenan properties. A socioeconomic survey of K. alvarezii farming in Panagatan Cays, Antique revealed that a farmer has an average annual production of 3 tons/ha (dry) with the fixed bottom and hanging longline methods. Three species of Gracilaria in natural beds in lloilo showed monthly variations in biomass and agar quality; G. heteroclada had the highest biomass and gel strength. When this species was grown in tanks, growth and agar sulfate content were influenced by the interaction of light, salinity, and nutrients. Enriched and unenriched stocks of G. heteroclada differed in agar quality. When G. heteroclada was grown with the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon in extensive ponds, the highest growth rate and production were obtained at the seaweed stocking density of 250 g/m2; this was in November when average water temperature, transparency, and salinity were low. Salinity tolerance varies among Gracilaria species.Oyster (Crassostrea iredalei) and mussel (Perna viridis) farming in Western Visayas were assessed in 1992 in terms of the culture methods, socioeconomics, marketing, and profitability. A more localized survey of oyster and mussel fanning was conducted through rapid rural appraisal in two coastal towns in 1993. A farmer-participatory study followed in 1994 for the culture of oysters, mussels, seaweeds, and rabbitfishes in a river mouth in Dumangas, lloilo. Green mussel, brown mussel (Modiolus metcalfei), and seaweeds transplanted to Dumangas from Capiz have reproduced. In another study, the green mussel was tested as a biological filter in tiger shrimp ponds; shrimps stocked with mussels grew better than those without. A nationwide survey on the Placuna placenta fishery in 1993 showed 27 remaining 'kapis' beds; many others have been depleted due to excessive gathering, pollution, siltation, and trawling. Broodstocks are being developed to produce 'kapis' seed for grow-out and restocking. For the first time at AQD, adult donkey-ear abalone Haliotis asinina from the wild spawned naturally in laboratory tanks. Juvenile abalones can be successfully grown on Gracilaria or abalone diet.
Research on marine and freshwater fishes

Emata, Arnil C. (Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 1995)

Most of the fish research at SEAFDEC AQD in 1992-1994 was on milkfish. Studies were conducted on year-round spawning through hormonal or environmental manipulation; optimum lipid and protein levels and ration size for captive broodstock; and the influence of spawner age on reproductive performance. The economics of hatchery operations, alone or integrated with broodstock as a commercial enterprise, was assessed. Mass production of larvae was refined with the use of commercial or SEAFDEC-formulated larval diets. Alternative rearing schemes in large tanks and ponds were tried. Hatcheryproduced and wild-caught larvae were compared in terms of growth and production in experimental nursery and grow-out ponds. Supplemental diets for brackishwater grow-out culture were formulated. Studies on broodstock management of grouper Epinephelus spp. included lipid enrichment of the diet and hormonal induction of sex inversion. Seed production techniques were developed but survival rates were low. Grouper culture was found economically feasible in experimental ponds with 'trash' fish as feed. The mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus was successfully induced to spawn with injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. Initial larval rearing trials were successful but survival rates must be improved. Hormonal manipulation of spawning of the Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer allows seed production during most of the year. Photoperiod manipulation leads to maturation of females, but not males, beyond the natural breeding season (April-November). Nursery rearing of 9 mm juveniles is feasible in floating net cages with night lights that attract food zooplankton. The requirements of sea bass for lipid, protein, carbohydrates, and essential amino acids were determined. In the rabbitfish Siganus guttatus, weekly injections of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) sustains milt production for three weeks. Thyroid hormones injected into broodstocks improved the growth of larvae to day 7. Induced spawning techniques for the Asian catfish Clarias macrocephalus were refined by determining the seasonal responsiveness to LHRHa and pimozide injections and testing for pheromonal induction of spontaneous spawning. The optimum insemination rate was determined and egg hatchability was enhanced by removal of the adhesive coat before incubation. Several practical diets for catfish during grow-out culture were tested against 'trash' fish. The broodstock management for bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis was studied. Cage-reared juveniles from cage-reared broodstock showed the best growth. To improve the reproductive performance, the broodstock diets were supplemented with vitamins A, C, and E. Research on tilapias focused on genetics and strain selection. Several strain testing procedures for Nile tilapia were evaluated in their efficiency to detect economically important strain differences. Reference lines were developed from two existing red tilapia strains to measure and reduce the effects of uncontrolled nongenetic variables in strain evaluation experiments with Nile tilapia. The tolerance of two Nile tilapia strains to heavy metals was similar when gauged by the 24-hour and 96-hour lethal concentration and by fish growth, survival, and reproductive performance. In a separate study, four strains of red tilapia showed generally higher seed production when reared in tanks than in cages. Improvements in the feed and feeding management for Nile tilapia were also studied. Intensive tilapia farming and feeding have led to oxygen depletion and fish kills in Sampaloc Lake. To rehabilitate the lake, it is imperative to reduce the farming area from 30 to 6 hectares; stop the use of commercial feeds; and remove the water hyacinths and other debris. Fish kills in Laguna de Bay have also become serious in recent years, and a review of the occurrences, losses, and possible causes is currently being conducted. Studies on the epizootic ulcerative syndrome of snakeheads in Laguna de Bay have yet to pinpoint the pathogen. Skin lesions in tilapias in several ponds and lakes in the country were found to be due to bacteria.