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A rapid assessment of spider diversity in Kabigan Falls, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Spiders are the most permeating predators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. In ecological studies, they serve as indicators of environmental quality and as biological control agents in agricultural ecosystems. A total of 38 individuals collected from Kabigan Falls were comprised of 13 species. These species are from the family Araneidae, Sparassidae, Pholcidae, Salticidae, and Tetragnathidae. Most of the specimens collected from the site were under families Tetragnathidae and Araneidae. The most species-rich family is Araneidae (5). These include the following: Araneus inustus, Cyclosa insulana, Cyclosa mulmeinensis, Cyclosa spirifera and Larinia sp. Newly-recorded spiders include are Tetragnatha plena Chamberlin, 1924, a new Philippine record; and new locality distributed spiders are Chalcotropis luceroi Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 and Pholcus arayat Huber, 2011.

Keywords: spiders, Kabigan Falls, spider diversity, taxonomy, Araneae, Tetragnathidae

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The taxonomic classification and unique characteristics of an air-borne actinomycete exhibiting a dark orange pigmentation were determined by polyphasic analysis. The colony appeared as a contaminant in an agar plate
culture of the marine luminous bacterium: Vibrio fischeri USTCMS 1026. Subsequent investigation identified the actinomycete contaminant as MP 1066 for Mycobacterium phlei USTCMS 1066 but was later found to have morphological, physiological, biochemical and genotypic characteristics compatible with member species of the genus Gordonia. BLAST comparison
of MP 1066 yielded 100% 16S rDNA sequence alignment with Gordonia terrae so the strain was renamed as Gordonia terrae USTCMS 1066. Its antimicrobial susceptibility profile is similar to that of the pathogenic mycobacteria yielding small MICs and large inhibition zones against the antibiotics: ampicillin (AMP), azithromycin (AZT), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AUC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), ethambutol (ETHAM), isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), tetracycline (TET), sulfamethoxazole – trimethoprim (SXT), and streptomycin (STREP). In addition, the crude ethanolic extracts of Acanthella carteri, Alstonia scholaris Lunasia amara Blanco, Momordica charantia, Wrightia antidysenterica, Zingiber officinale and the pure synthetic imidazole: 1,3-bis(4-methylphenyl) imidazolium chloride likewise inhibited strongly the growth of Gordonia terrae USTCMS 1066. Substances that
strongly inhibited Gordonia terrae USTCMS 1066 were also observed to be strongly inhibitory to Mycobacterium tuberculosis indicative of its suitability as an initial assay organism for the screening of anti-TB natural products and synthetic compounds most specially for laboratories that are not equipped with Biosafety Level III facilities.

Keywords: Gordonia, Mycobacterium, anti-TB, antibiotics, plant extracts

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This study is a survey of corticolous lichens in the Hundred Islands, Philippines noting their diversity and morpho-anatomical adaptive features. There were only six islands visited due to accessibility and safety reasons. There are at least thirty-two identified species of lichens; majority is crustose dominated by Graphidaceae lichens followed by pyrenolichens in terms of diversity. Morpho-anatomical features considered to be adaptive include crustose and narrow-lobed foliose growth forms, homiomerous thallus organization, thick upper cortex, and presence of pruina in the cortical or medullary layers.

Keywords: Hundred islands, epiphytic lichens, adaptive features

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Monthly variations of Catostylus sp. medusae abundance, size and symbionts, and environmental conditions were studied in Panguil Bay, Philippines from December 2013 to July 2014. Belt transect census at six sampling stations yielded a mean abundance range of 0.1-1 m-2 with highest values recorded during the intermonsoon months of April and May. Size (bell diameter and wet weight)-frequency histograms indicated possible recruitment of medusae during late northeast monsoon months of January to March. A negative allometry was obtained for bell diameter and wet weight. Chlorophyll
a showed a significant positive correlation with abundance suggesting an influence of planktonic food source. A total of 60 individuals of animal symbionts were observed including the crab Charybdis feriata, the carangid fish Alepes djedaba and the poicilostomatoid copepod Paramacrochiron sp. This study reported the first record of Catostylus sp. medusae in Panguil Bay.

Keywords: Belt transect census, zooplankton, intermonsoon, jellyfish

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Most entomologists in the Philippines and abroad have been taught and believe that the Embioptera commonly known as webspinners or embiids are rare. In fact, entomology teachers give higher or extra points to students who are able to collect and submit specimens of these seemingly elusive insects. Previous collections by the first author from rhizomes of some plants in Laguna and UV light trap catches in Quezon as well as collections of the second author from decaying logs and living trees around Laguna reveal that embiopterans or at least a few species belonging to this order may actually be fairly common. These recent observations are discussed vis-a-vis the aspects of commonness or rarity established in conservation biology. Initial results of attempts to culture them in captivity as well as other observations in the field and in the laboratory are summarized to gain insights on possible research needs, potentials for discovery of new forms or species, ecological/environmental significance and conservation status.

Keywords: embiids, Embioptera, environmental indicators, insect conservation, rarity, terrestrial arthropod biodiversity, webspinners

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