Eco/Con Lab

‎Kabacan, Cotabato - Interns from the Ecology and Conservation (Eco/Con) Lab took a dive into data science today, attending a specialized workshop on Biodiversity Synthesis and Meta-Analysis, led by renowned ecologist Dr. Krizler C. Tanalgo at CSM 212, University of Southern Mindanao.
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‎​"Meta-analysis allows us to connect the dots; it serves as a powerful framework for synthesizing the vast landscape of biological data," says Dr. Tanalgo. In his view, this high-level synthesis is vital for uncovering coherent patterns across many studies, helping researchers identify trends and knowledge gaps, and guides them in future research efforts.
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‎The trainees, all graduating students from the Department of Biological Sciences, will delve into various meta-analysis projects and field works as part of their on-the-job training until June 2026.
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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀: 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗰𝗼/𝗖𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿

It sounds like an odd question, but researchers at the Eco/Con Lab wanted to know: does your clothing colour change how birds hunt nearby insects? As it turns out, it does.

A new study led by Christian Jay Sabanal, a former undergraduate student of the lab, found that bird attacks on caterpillar-like larvae in urban green spaces varied depending on the dominant clothing colour of people nearby. The closer a human decoy was to the prey, and the more visually prominent, the more attack rates shifted. Birds, it seems, are paying attention to us in ways we rarely think about.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence behind the Human Shield Hypothesis, the idea that small prey animals survive longer simply because predators are wary of getting too close to people. Urban birds may read human presence as a risk, pulling back from areas where people are active and, in doing so, giving insects an unintended protection. Sabanal and his teammates, supervised by Professor Tanalgo, argue that this dynamic is possible, measurable, and shaped by something as everyday as what colour shirt you put on in the morning.

For urban ecologists, the implications go beyond the novelty of the finding. How cities are designed, where paths run, how parks are used, how much foot traffic moves through green spaces, may quietly influence which animals survive and which don't. Wildlife management has long focused on habitat and food. This study suggests human behaviour, down to the details, belongs in that conversation too.

The work was conducted under the Eco/Con Lab, with Christian completing the study as an undergraduate researcher.

The full version of the manuscript can be accessed here: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/G94NZB9JAGCXHVCMUMVD/full?target=10.1080/03949370.2026.2630790

or through Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/402163358_Dress_code_for_birds_attack_frequency_of_birds_to_artificial_larvae_is_mediated_by_clothing_colour_in_urban_green_space

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿? 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀

A new study by the Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), published in Écoscience, found that prey occurring in groups are more likely to be attacked by predators than those found alone in agro-urban environments.
The study, led by Ramdhia Baluno together with the Eco/Con team, examined how prey grouping, body colouration, and habitat structure affect predation risk in a human-altered landscape in the Philippines.

Predator-prey interactions are an important part of ecosystem dynamics, and prey species often rely on a range of strategies to avoid being eaten. These include both physical traits, such as body colouration, and behavioural strategies, such as staying in groups. To explore how these factors work in modified environments, the researchers used artificial caterpillar models placed across an urban-agricultural setting.

Of the 1,026 dummy model prey placed in the field, 204 were attacked. Most of the attacks came from mammals, while fewer were caused by birds and reptiles.

The team from Eco/Con first thought that prey colour would affect whether they were attacked. But the study showed that colour did not really make a difference. What mattered more was whether the prey was solitary or in groups. Prey placed in groups were attacked more often than those placed alone, no matter their colour. The characteristics of the landscape also influenced how often attacks happened.

This study shows that human-altered environments can reshape natural ecological interactions in ways that are not always easy to predict. The findings suggest that in human-altered environments, grouped prey may be more noticeable or attractive to predators, puzzling the common expectation that grouping or warning colouration always provides protection.

The study highlights the need to better understand how ecological interactions change in disturbed landscapes and why context matters in predator-prey relationships. As landscapes become more modified by agriculture and urban development, the survival strategies of animals may also change.

This research was developed from the undergraduate thesis of Ramdhia Baluno, under the supervision of Professor Krizler C. Tanalgo.

The paper can be accessed here:
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RUYRX9UEXW43ITHNWNFX/full?target=10.1080/11956860.2026.2641879

Or through ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/401710985_Predation_risk_of_gregarious_and_aposematic_insect_larvae_in_an_urban-agricultural_landscape

𝗘𝗰𝗼/𝗖𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻-𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

The year 2025 stands as a landmark period for the Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), reflecting both sustained productivity and expanding national and global relevance of the laboratory.

This year, the Eco/Con Lab adopted a new organisational structure anchored on the 4I principles that guide our work: Integrity, Independence, Integration, and Interdisciplinarity. To operationalise these principles, we implemented a research group–based structure designed to strengthen scientific independence, foster collaboration across disciplines, and enhance our capacity to serve diverse stakeholders. Under this framework, six (6) thematic research groups were established: Ecology and Biodiversity Synthesis Research Group, led by Professor Tanalgo together with Kier Dela Cruz and Asraf K. Lidasan; Ecophysiology in a Changing Environment, led by Professor Angelo R. Agduma; Human and Environment Research Group, led by Assistant Professor Bona Abigail Hilario-Husain; Genetic Resources Conservation Research Group, led by Assistant Professor Renee Jane A. Ele; Freshwater Biodiversity Research Group, led by Associate Professor Meriam M. Rubio; and Outreach and Extension Group, led by Associate Professor Sedra A. Murray.

Beyond publication metrics, the Eco/Con Lab’s work in year was defined by its depth, diversity, and applied relevance. The Lab advances conservation science through the development of practical tools, large-scale syntheses, and critical perspectives addressing biodiversity loss, data inequities, climate extremes, and human–nature interactions.

A major highlight was the release of BCVI 3.0, the latest iteration of the Bat Cave Vulnerability Index, developed through international collaboration under the DarkCideS initiative. By simplifying metrics, integrating satellite-derived environmental data, and improving assessments of cave biotic potential, BCVI 3.0 translates complex vulnerability analyses into an accessible, globally applicable conservation tool, bridging science and on-the-ground conservation decision-making.

Equally impactful was the Lab’s leadership in biocultural conservation, exemplified by the most comprehensive national synthesis of traditional medicinal plant use in the Philippines. Documenting nearly 800 plant species across 34 ethnolinguistic communities, this study highlights the inseparability of biodiversity, language, culture, and health, while reinforcing the urgency of conservation strategies that protect both ecosystems and indigenous knowledge systems.

At the global scale, the Lab advanced the understanding of emerging conservation risks through a synthesis of ecological and evolutionary traps in bats, identifying at least 318 bat species worldwide as potentially vulnerable to human-modified landscapes. Crucially, this study challenges conventional conservation assumptions by demonstrating that high-density habitats can function as ecological traps when underlying processes are misunderstood, an insight with far-reaching implications for conservation planning and policy.

The Eco/Con Lab also addresses the structural challenges in biodiversity science. Perspective papers on open and FAIR biodiversity data in Southeast Asia and life-history trait data shortfalls in Philippine terrestrial vertebrates revealed persistent inequities in data availability, research effort, and authorship. By proposing practical frameworks and capacity-building pathways, these contributions position the Lab not only as a producer of high-quality research but also as a thought leader advocating for fairer, more inclusive, and more transparent biodiversity science.
Importantly, the Lab embraces constructive scientific dialogue. The exchange surrounding sociopolitical conflict and biodiversity research in Mindanao demonstrates a commitment to rigour, transparency, and intellectual openness. By responding substantively to critiques and conducting additional fine-scale analyses, the Lab reaffirmed that meaningful scientific progress is built through careful questioning, contextualisation, and continued dialogue.

The year also saw strong contributions to applied ecology and technological innovation, including AI-driven mangrove mapping and biomass estimation, as well as climate-linked studies revealing how El Niño droughts reshape predator–prey interactions in tropical agro-urban ecosystems. Collectively, these studies highlight the lab’s capacity to integrate ecology, remote sensing, machine learning, and climate science to address urgent environmental challenges.

Equally central to the Eco/Con Lab’s mission in 2025 was its commitment to mentorship, capacity building and knowledge transfer. The Lab directly mentored at least 30 students, with a minimum of 10 undergraduate students leading or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications during their undergraduate training, a strong indicator of the lab’s inclusive and training-oriented research culture. The Lab also hosted its first Summer Writeshop, providing structured mentoring in scientific writing and publication, and capacitated at least 10 colleagues across the University of Southern Mindanao through targeted training and collaborative research engagement.

In parallel, the Lab strengthened its research pipeline by conducting follow-up studies from earlier work and submitting three research proposals to national and international grant agencies, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of its research agenda. The Eco/Con Lab further expanded its collaborative network, establishing and deepening joint research partnerships across Europe, Asia, and other regions, reinforcing its role as a hub for international, interdisciplinary conservation research.

Importantly, the Lab’s research extends well beyond academia. At least five of the lab’s studies were featured in mainstream media, including national newspapers and online news platforms, amplifying the societal relevance of their findings and strengthening public engagement with science. This media visibility reflects the Lab’s growing influence in shaping public discourse and informing conservation awareness at the national and international levels.

Taken together, the Eco/Con Lab’s achievements in 2025 reflect more than productivity; they reflect purpose. The Lab has demonstrated that high-impact science can be locally grounded, globally relevant, methodologically rigorous, and socially engaged while simultaneously investing in people, partnerships, and long-term capacity.

In a year marked by accelerating biodiversity loss and environmental uncertainty, the Eco/Con Lab has shown that thoughtful, collaborative, and evidence-based science, paired with strong mentorship, open dialogue, and public engagement, remains one of the most powerful tools for understanding and protecting the natural world.

In 2026, the Eco/Con Lab will reaffirm its commitment to its core goals and objectives by focusing more deliberately on delivering research, training, and outreach activities that are aligned with our long-term vision and the 4I principles: Integrity, Independence, Integration, and Interdisciplinarity. We also reaffirm our commitment to mentoring and capacity building, particularly for students and early career researchers. This includes fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment, promoting skill development, encouraging intellectual independence, and creating opportunities for students and junior colleagues to lead, publish and grow as scientists and professionals.