Recent molecular-assisted taxonomic studies on the brown algal genus Hydroclathrus has resulted in discoveries of new taxa in the family Scytosiphonaceae, both at the genus and species level. However, phylogenetic studies on Hydroclathrus based on wide geographical sampling also suggested that the genus is not monophyletic. That is, one of the recently described species Hydroclathrus minutus is consistently segregated from the Hydroclathrus main clade. We propose here to segregate H. minutus from the brown algal genus Hydroclathrus and establish the new monotypic genus Manzaea (i.e., Manzaea minuta gen. & comb. nov.) based on information on molecular phylogenetics and morpho-anatomy. Morphologically, M. minuta is similar to Hydroclathrus and Tronoella in having clathrate (net-like) and spreading thalli but is differentiated from the latter two genera in having membranous thalli that are sometimes interadhesive resulting in portions of the thallus forming amorphous clumps. Additionally, Manzaea is distinguished from both clathrate genera in having thick-walled medullary cells and short closely arranged quadriseriate plurangia. Phylogenetic analyses (Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference) based on single (plastidial psaA and rbcL genes) and concatenated (cox3 + psaA + rbcL) genes showed that M. minuta is consistently segregated from the highly supported clade of Hydroclathrus species and often clustering with Tronoella and/or Rosenvingea. Our proposal further increases the diversity of monotypic genera in the Scytosiphonaceae and underscores the need to conduct further studies on tropical seaweed biodiversity.

KEYWORDS: brown seaweed, Hydroclathrus, Japan, phylogeny, taxonomy

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A new variety of Cyrtandra villosissima from Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, C. villosissima var. flavovirens, is here described. Both C. villosissima var. villosissima and C. villosissima var. flavovirens are erect suffrutescent plants, with large leaves that are slightly falcate, and have inflorescences with linear, densely hirsute bracts. Cyrtandra villosissima var. flavovirens can be distinguished from C. villosissima var. villosissima by its pale yellow to yellow-green corollas and its pedunculate inflorescences. A key to morphologically similar taxa, distribution maps, and photographs of the varieties are here provided.

KEYWORDS: biodiversity, systematics, taxonomy, variety

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This paper reports two Parmotrema species new to the Philippines, sampled from Mt. Candalaga, Maragusan, Davao De Oro during an initial survey of lichen diversity and distribution on the mountain. This resulted to a total of 32 Parmotrema species described from the Philippines to date. The finding confirmed the presence of more undiscovered lichen species in many places around the country, especially in Mindanao. In addition, an updated key for the identification of the known Philippine Parmotrema species is given.

KEYWORDS: lichen, mycology, Parmeliaceae, Parmotrema melanothrix, Parmotrema planatilobatum

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Seaweeds research in the Philippines—from studies on their diversity, natural products chemistry, and the utilization of their derivatives—is largely based on spot collections of large and conspicuous components of the seaweed flora found along the coasts. Such efforts are often focused on commercially important seaweeds; thus, most of the smaller and even microscopic seaweeds remain understudied, if not completely overlooked. Consequently, little to none is known on many aspects of the biology, ecology, and even biochemistry of these components of the Philippine seaweed flora. To understand aspects of seaweed biology and serve as a facility for preserving the genetic resources of Philippine seaweeds, we established the Marine Macroalgal Reference Culture Collection at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMMARCC). We are currently maintaining 446 seaweed strains (or isolates) collected from several coastal and offshore areas in the Philippines, the latter including the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea, and 25 isolates from Okinawa, Japan. To our knowledge, the UP-MMARCC is the most diverse and widely sampled culture collection in the Philippines so far. Moreover, our preliminary molecular-assisted biodiversity studies suggest that UP-MMARCC houses several isolates that are either new records to the Philippines or putative new taxa. We anticipate that with continued support, we will be able to sustain and expand our culture collection, not only to facilitate discoveries but also to cater to the needs of the Philippine seaweed industry and in support of its call for diversifying our seaweed commodities and their products.

KEYWORDS: germling emergence method, marine biodiversity, seaweed culture, Pacific Ocean, tropical seaweeds, rbcL

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Parajapyx giecuevasae, n. sp., the first Philippine member of the Parajapygidae and the second reported Diplura from the Philippines, is described from Mt. Makiling, Laguna. It is distinct from other Parajapyx species by having the following combination of characters: mandible with five teeth and three denticles; prescutum of metanotum with 2+1 setae; tergite X with 12+1+12 macrosetae and 10+1+10 normal setae; and subcoxal organ with 4 accompanying setae, 9 glandular setae and 5 sensorial setae.

KEYWORDS: Arthropoda, Entognatha, Hexapoda, Parajapyx, taxonomy

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Earthworm diversity and populations in the seaward and landward portions of Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape (ILPLS) were assessed. Soil physico-chemical properties in the area were also assessed to explain such occurrences. Pheretima cf. lantapanensis, Amynthas sp., and Polypheretima sp., all belonging to the family Megascolecidae, were detected in the area. ILPLS has a very low diversity of earthworms and the soil physico-chemical properties had no significant relationship with earthworm species diversity. The soil physicochemical properties between the seaward and landward portions of the protected area were not significantly different. This study was undertaken to provide baseline information on earthworm species diversity in ILPLS, which will serve to help strengthen the policy on the conservation and protection of biodiversity in the protected area.

KEYWORDS: Amynthas, Annelida, Megascolecidae, Pheretima, Polypheretima

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A new Philippine weevil species of the genus Pachyrhynchus Germar, 1824 is described and illustrated from Mount Candalaga, Davao de Oro as P. cebrem sp. nov. Its habitat, ecology, and threats are also discussed.

KEYWORDS: Coleoptera, curculionid, genitalia, Mount Candalaga, new species

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The occurrence of the scale insect family Conchaspididae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) in the Philippines is reported for the first time, based on a collection of false armored scale insects from Hoya landgrantensis Kloppenburg et al. (Apocynaceae), and a few other wax plants that are endemic to the Philippines. The minute scale insects belong to the genus Conchaspis Cockerell, and are identified as Conchaspis angraeci Cockerell, the only widespread species in this family. The occurrence of C. angraeci on H. cagayanensis, H. landgrantensis, and H. pimenteliana also constitute new host records, and the potential of this insect to become a pest of domesticated ornamental Hoya is also noted, should their population reach levels injurious to plants.

KEYWORDS: Coccoidea, entomology, false armored scale, Hoya, Sternorrhyncha

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The monotypic Scale-feathered Malkoha Lepidogrammus cumingi (Fraser 1839) and polytypic Red-crested Malkoha Dasylophus superciliosus (Dumont 1823) are two of the endemic cuckoos in the Philippines. The taxonomy and distribution of these endemic cuckoos are poorly known. Recent distribution data of these cuckoos showed broader distribution patterns in the islands of Luzon, Catanduanes, and Marinduque; however, morphometric variations among these island populations are still unknown. While both species are sexually monomorphic, the differences between sexes were mainly based on plumage coloration. Dasylophus superciliosus is composed of two subspecies: ssp. superciliosus (Southern Luzon) and ssp. cagayanensis (Northern Luzon). The separation of the two subspecies of D. superciliosus was determined by the differences in superciliary feather, the coloration of breast plumage, and the tail band. In this study, we investigated the morphometric variations (1) between subspecies of D. superciliosus, (2) among island populations, and (3) between sexes (sexual dimorphism) of the two malkoha species. Four linear measurements (bill length, wing length, tarsus length, and tail length) were measured from 184 museum specimens. Results showed that the Catanduanes group (n=10) of L. cumingi exhibited a smaller body size than the Marinduque group (n=9). Red-crested Malkoha D. superciliosus showed significant differences between its two subspecies where the ssp. cagayanensis (n=28) exhibited smaller body size (bill length, wing length, and tail length) compared to ssp. superciliosus (n=81). Lastly, this study confirms that the two malkoha species are sexually monomorphic based on the analyzed morphometric data.

KEYWORDS: endemics, island population, linear measurements, ornithology, Philippine malkohas

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Recent biodiversity inventory efforts in the Anonang-Lobi mountain range in Leyte resulted in an additional distribution record for Utricularia striatula Sm. (Lentibulariaceae) in the Philippines. An updated distributional map of this species and notes on its habitat and ecology in the Philippines are provided in this paper.

KEYWORDS: bladderworts, Burauen, carnivorous plant, lithophytic, phytogeography

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The Verde Island Passage (VIP) is a region in the Philippines with very high marine biodiversity. Baseline coral assessments were conducted in selected sites in the four provinces of the VIP (Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro) to compare coral abundance and biodiversity in Marine Protected Area (MPA) and non-MPA sites that were subjected to anthropogenic stressors. A total of eight sites were surveyed to measure average hard coral cover (HCC) relative to other benthic components. Generic richness and the dominant coral genera were also obtained for the eight sites. The average HCC and generic richness of Batangas MPA and Batangas non-MPA were (39.82 ± 7.59%, 22 coral TAUs) and (38.80 ± 5.56%, 27 coral TAUs), respectively. The average HCC and generic richness of Marinduque MPA and Marinduque non-MPA were (25.58 ± 2.37%, 13 coral TAUs) and (35.73 ± 4.05%, 17 coral TAUs), respectively. The average HCC and generic richness of Occidental Mindoro MPA and Occidental Mindoro non-MPA were (49.49 ± 4.50%, 26 coral TAUs) and (32.32 ± 5.60%, 19 coral TAUs), respectively. The average HCC and generic richness of Oriental Mindoro MPA and Oriental Mindoro non-MPA were (25.02 ± 4.72%, 24 coral TAUs) and (5.93 ± 2.10%, 10 coral TAUs), respectively. Batangas non-MPA
and Marinduque non-MPA showed potential to become MPAs due to their higher HCC and generic richness which were attributed to natural disturbances and duration of local reef management in their MPA counterparts. Continued monitoring and assessment should be done to build on the growing database of biodiversity data that is being compiled for the VIP.

KEYWORDS: benthic diversitty, biodiversity, coral reef, macroalgae, Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

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