A study that assessed the ecological integrity of lotic ecosystems in Zambales, Philippines, through integration of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure with physicochemical parameters across six stream sites, was published in the special issue of SciEnggJ, the official journal of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering.
The study entitled 鈥淓cological status of streams in the Zambales riverscape inferred from benthic macroinvertebrates as biological indicators鈥� was conducted by a team composed of researchers from the UST Graduate School, Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, and the Department of Biological Sciences: Carlos Miguel G. Orale, Eliza Rose Y, Aquino, Lilian N. Dela Cruz, Miguel L. Estrada, Hannah Lorraine C. Frias, Aleck Andrei R. De Guzman, Allyzxia Venisse H. Navarro, Ma. Angela Klarizze H. Solomon, Allan S. Gilles Jr., Justine de Leon, Dino T. Tordesillas, College of Science Dean Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD, and Elfritzson M. Peralta.
Their findings underscored the impact of land use on stream conditions across six stream sites and highlighted the value of integrating biological and physicochemical assessments for effective monitoring and conservation of freshwater ecosystems.
This research was funded by the Simbahayan Community Development Office and the College of Science, with support from the Dominicans for Justice and Peace, to help the community address environmental damage caused by mining in the area through scientific research and immersion.
Read the full paper here: