UPLB Museum of Natural History
The UPLB Museum of Natural History is a natural science and natural history museum within the University of the Philippines Los Baños campus. It serves as a center for documentation, research, and information of flora and fauna of the Philippines. The museum is one of the research and extension units of the UPLB and its role parallels that of a library for written records.
History
The museum was established through the approval of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents during its 877th meeting in 1976. According to the announcement published at the time, it was to be "organized out of the staff and physical resources of the existing museum and herbaria at UPLB, including the hortorium and culture collections of separate departments in the Colleges of Agriculture, Forestry, and Sciences and Humanities."Its founding director was the late Professor Juan V. Pancho, a plant taxonomist of national and international acclaim and an indefatigable mentor to a select group of Filipino and foreign plant taxonomists.
During World War II, the then UP College of Agriculture and the insect collections of Dr. Charles Fuller Baker, Dr. Leopoldo Uichanco and many other entomologists were burned and destroyed.
Early deans' study of Mount Makiling
The two American deans, Copeland and Baker, studied the vegetation of Mount Makiling, which is the best scientifically studied mountain of the country, with materials dating back to the time of the Malaspina Expedition in 1789.Sections
The museum has more than 600,000 specimens distributed to the following sections: Botanical Herbarium, Entomological Museum, Forestry Herbarium and Wood Collection, Mycological Herbarium, Hortorium, Microbial and Algal Culture Collections, Zoological and Wildlife Museum, and the Integrated Biodiversity Exhibit.Botanical Herbarium
The Botanical Herbarium is listed as CAHUP or College of Agriculture Herbarium UP in the Index Herbariorum and "serves as the repository of about 12,000 plant species represented by around 70,000 specimens; among these, about 3,600 species are bryophytes."Entomological Museum
The Entomological Museum is the largest entomological collection in the Philippines with close to half a million specimens of insects, acari and aranea.The collection is composed of pinned, slide-mounted, and alcohol-preserved insects and arthropod specimens and continuously grows with the help of collection expeditions, biodiversity studies, and student submissions.
Forest Herbarium and Wood Collection
The Forestry Herbarium and Wood Collection, formally recognized as the LBC or Los Banos Collection in the Index Herbariorum has around 15,000 specimens of forest plants, including palms, and a modest wood collection. From 2001-2010, the LBC received 5 holotypes of new taxa of Philippine seed plants.Mycological Herbarium
The Mycological Herbarium, with a fungal collection of around 13,000 specimens, traces its roots to the Dr. Gerardo O. Ocfemia Memorial Herbarium which was established in the 1960s from extensive fungal collections in the Philippines by iconoclast mycologist Dr. Don R. Reynolds and his students. The herbarium was formally recognized in 1966 and became included in the Index Herbariorum in 1968 as CALP.Similar to the Entomological Museum, the collections of the Mycological Herbarium could have been bigger if not for the complete destruction of the Baker Fungus Collection during the Japanese and American invasions of World War II.
Hortorium
The Hortorium is an in-situ collection of around 400 living plants, mostly of food, medicinal, tonic and ornamental value, and maintained and cared for in a small portion of land adjacent the Molawin River that traverses the UPLB campus. The Hortorium also serves as a laboratory area for some university courses focused on ecology, hydrology, and environmental science. Despite being a disturbed freshwater ecosystem, the Hortorium still harbors new and unique organisms such a minute cockroach, several species of predatory mites, and a "pirate" ant.In 2015, the first ex-situ conservation project for native Philippine amphibians, Project Palaka, was established within the Hortorium and focused on amphibians from within Mt. Makiling forest preserve.
Microbial and Algal Culture Collections
The Microbial Culture Collection of the museum is composed of more than 4,000 strains of bacteria, yeasts, mold species and other cultures. In 1984, it became the first Philippine microbial collection included in the World Federation for Culture Collections. The most notable research contribution of the MCC in the biodiversity of Mt. Makiling is the discovery of Caldivirga maquilingensis in 1999 and Caldisphaera lagunensis in 2003 from Mudsprings in Mt. Makiling. The culture collection is currently an affiliate of the Philippine National Collection of Microorganisms and an active member of the Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections.The Algal Culture Collection holds 86 strains.
Zoological and Wildlife Museum
The Zoological and Wildlife Museum consists of around 20,000 specimens of mollusks, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and other wildlife, half of which is represented by the monumental collections of Dioscoro S. Rabor, the Father of Philippine Wildlife conservation. Dr. Rabor led more than 50 biodiversity field expeditions in his 20 years of research, collecting more than 60,000 specimens which was deposited in major Philippines museum and the US. More than 10,000 bird and 4,300 mammal specimens have been deposited at the UPLB Museum of Natural History which have become material for taxonomic and ecological studies, historical DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses.Integrated Biodiversity Exhibit
The Integrated Biodiversity Exhibit is a 1,500 square meter area of displays featuring collected specimens that have been prepared for public exhibition and appreciation. It features specimens distributed to several dioramas depicting marine, forest, and cave ecosystems.New species discoveries
For a small organization, the museum is a productive research organization in terms of discoveries and new descriptions of species. Below are some species of organisms which have been directly described by curators and staff, or in which they were a significant part of, and/or those which have been named in honor of them..
More species listed in UPLB Museum of Natural History website.
Public service activities
As a public service institution dedicated to biodiversity conservation education, the museum regularly holds exhibits, special tours, seminars, training programs, and provide technical assistance to local government units, other organizations and communities.For scientists and researchers, the museum is able to provide services such as scientific name verification, biological specimen identification, and provision of microbial cultures.
The museum publishes its own peer-reviewed journal, Laksambuhay: The UPLB Journal of Natural History.
Aside from hosting its own scientific gathering, i.e. CLADES 2017, to gather stakeholders of the Philippine natural history collections system and enhance the overall appreciation of natural history collections for increased networking and collaboration, the Museum also collaborates with other scientific organizations and societies in the holding of meetings and conferences, e.g. 25th SEAZA Conference and the 11th ANRRC International Meeting Philippines which highlighted the roles of biological resource centers, that includes museums, in the conservation, preservation, and utilization of animal, plant and microbial resources.
Organization and administration
The museum is headed by a Director which is appointed by the UPLB Chancellor for a term of three, renewable for at least two terms. The Director is selected by the Chancellor traditionally from the set of eligible faculty nominees. During the Director's administration, he or she is supported by Coordinators which can be appointed from the regular personnel. To facilitate and assist the Director in administering improvements and execution of the mandates and functions of the Museum, coordinators of major functions are duly appointed.| Name | Tenure of Office |
| Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez | February 16, 2015 to present |
| Dr. Ireneo L. Lit, Jr. | March 1, 2006 – February 15, 2015 |
| Dr. Stephen G. Reyes | February 16, 2006 – February 28, 2006 |
| Dr. Lourdes B. Cardenas | October 15, 2001 – February 15, 2006 |
| Dr. Augusto C. Sumalde | May 1, 1995 – October 14, 2001 |
| Dr. William SM. Gruezo | May 1, 1992 – April 30, 1995 |
| Dr. Venus Christina J. Calilung | September 1, 1985 – April 30, 1992 |
| Dr. Edwino S. Fernando | April 1 - December 31, 1983 in acting capacity |
| Dr. Victor P. Gapud | April 25, 1982 – August 31, 1985 |
| Dr. Irineo J. Dogma, Jr. | April 25, 1980 – April 24, 1982 |
| Prof. Juan V. Pancho | September 30, 1976 – April 24, 1980 |
Museum curators
There are 30 UPLB regular faculty, Professors Emeriti and researchers recently appointed by the UPLB Chancellor to serve as Museum Curators based on their field of expertise. The museum curator's specialization and projects in their own respected academic and research field hold significant contributions to the raising worldwide status and recognition of the museum.At present, there are four curators for the Botanical Herbarium and Hortorium, seven for the Entomological Museum curators, three for the Microbial and Algal Culture Collections, three for the Forestry Herbarium and Wood collection, two for the Mycological Herbarium, 10 for the Zoological and Wildlife Collections and one curator for the Special Collections.
Outstanding achievements
The UPLB Museum of Natural History is a multi-awarded organization with well-recognized staff and curators. Its most active personnel and experts not only contribute to the expansion of the collections but also lend credence to the experience and capability of the museum in terms of natural history research and studies; taxonomy and systematics; biodiversity conservation and education.| Name | Award | Year | |
| Dr. Ireneo L. Lit, Jr. | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Teacher Award in the Biological Sciences | 2020 |
| Dr. David Emmanuel M. General | REPS | UPLB Outstanding Researcher Award | 2020 |
| Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez | Director, curator | UPLB Outstanding Alumni for Biodiversity Conservation Education of Philippine Wildlife | 2019 |
| Dr. Ma. Vivian DC. Camacho | Curator | Philippine Agriculture and Resource Research Foundation, Inc. Research & Development Award | 2018 |
| Prof. Phillip A. Alviola | Curator | 100 Asian Scientists Award | 2018 |
| Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo | Curator | Faces of a Teacher Award | 2017 |
| James DV. Alvarez | REPS | UPLB Outstanding Researcher Award | 2017 |
| Florante A. Cruz | REPS | UPLB Outstanding Extension Personnel Award | 2016 |
| Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo | Curator | National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines Outstanding Young Scientist Award | 2015 |
| Dr. Sheryl A. Yap | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Junior Researcher Award | 2015 |
| Dr. Ivy Amor F. Lambio | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Teacher Award | 2015 |
| Mario M. Navasero | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Senior Researcher | 2015 |
| Eduardo G. Eres | Administrative Staff | UPLB Outstanding Administrative Personnel Award | 2015 |
| Ariel R. Larona | Administrative Staff | Civil Service Commission Pag-asa Award | 2014 |
| Ariel R. Larona | Administrative Staff | UPLB Outstanding Administrative Personnel Award | 2014 |
| Dr. William SM. Gruezo | Curator | UP Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development | 2014 |
| Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Junior Scientist Award | 2013 |
| Dr. Ireneo L. Lit, Jr. | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Senior Scientist Award | 2013 |
| Edison A. Cosico | Administrative Staff | UPLB Outstanding Administrative Personnel Award | 2013 |
| Dr. Leticia A. Afuang | Curator | UPLB Outstanding Extensionist Award | 2012 |
| Rafael D. Tandang | Administrative Staff | UPLB Outstanding Administrative Personnel Award | 2012 |
| UPLB Museum of Natural History | All curators and staff | UPLB Outstanding Extension Program Award | 2011 |
| Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez | Curator | National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines Outstanding Young Scientist Award | 2011 |