The paper “Shifts in the feeding ecology of the endemic and Endangered Sardinella tawilis in Lake Taal, Philippines” showed that the tawilis, which have been found to feed on zooplanktons,preferred “cyclopoid copepods and [showed a] noticeable increased preference for Moina micrura, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, and Bosmina fatalis.” This showed a shift from its earlier preference for calanoids. The findings were elicited from an application of stable isotope analysis and gut content analysis.

The new study was published on June 5, 2025 in Endangered Species Research, Volume 57, and was authored by a team of scientists from UST, De La Salle University, University of Rizal System, and the Department of Science and Technology. The authors are: Dale Anthony L. To (UST, DLSU), Asst. Prof. Elfritzson M. Peralta, MSc (UST), Justine R. De Leon (UST), Alexis E. Belen (UST), Lloyd Matthew L. Pineda (UST), Inst. Walled T. Ali (UST), Miguel Angelo F. Dollete (UST), Inst. Ray Allan N. Zafra (UST), Norman Mendoza (DOST), Prof. Richard Thomas B. Pavia, PhD (UST), Assoc. Prof. Dino T. Tordesillas, PhD (UST), Jonathan Carlo A. Briones (UST, URS), and College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD.

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According to Tordesillas, his yearlong term will be focused on leading the society’s transition from the pandemic “hopefully to its tail end.” The resumption of in-person activities is something Tordesillas is looking forward to, but the annual webinar series and master classes the PSDB sponsors will continue. An innovation they will work on this year is the “Dev Bio Caravan,” “with the goal to reach developmental biology researchers, instructors and students in other parts of the country.” Tordesillas likewise underscored the goal of PSDB to provide a Filipino context to development biology. “Ang salin ng salitang “development” sa Filipino ay paglilinang, na may kinalaman sa salitang pag-unlad. Nawa’y sa pag-aaral natin ng paglilinang, tuloy din ang pag-unlad ng ating kaalaman sa ating espesye at sa mundong ating ginagalawan,” Tordesillas said in an interview with the Communications Bureau.

The Philippine Society for Development Biology (PSDB) aims to elevate the standards of biological studies in the country to help address key scientific problems and the Society believes that this can be achieved through the promotion of best practices of scientific teaching and research. PSDB also encourages cooperative and multidisciplinary research undertakings among its members, so we try our best to provide platforms for dissemination of recent scientific advancements, techniques, and research accomplishments. According to Tordesillas, the leadership wants “PSDB to become a medium for networking among our members, scientists, and educators in the field of Developmental Biology.”

In the past, PSDB included in its board of trustees Biological Sciences faculty members Alicia Ely J. Pagulayan, MSc and Emerita Simeon, PhD (retired).

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Elected to serve as 2021-2023 Officers and Members of the Board of Directors were: Asst. Prof. Marilyn G. Rimando, PhD (Secretary), Mr. Dino Tordesillas, PhD (Public Relations Officer), and Mr. Louie B. Dasas, MA (Member of the Board of Directors). Meanwhile, Professor John Donnie A. Ramos, PhD will remain as an Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Directors after serving as BIOTA President.

Rimando is a faculty researcher of the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Science and is affiliated with the Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences. Meanwhile, Tordesillas and Dasas are faculty members of the Senior High School – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand.

The Biology Teachers Association (BIOTA) is one of the oldest existing pedagogy-oriented associations in the country, with members spanning the different parts of the archipelago. The association annually holds conventions and scientific sessions to update members with the latest trends in teaching, as well as the latest studies in the field.

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