A GROUP of researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University published 46 new species despite the Covid19 pandemic.

The authors include Dr. Jhoana Garces, Professor Hendrik Freitag, Emmanuel Delocado, Arthien Pelingen, Marc Ryan Sabordo, Clister Pangantihon, Kyra Mari Dominique Aldaba and Beverly San Juan.

“Modern approaches of integrative taxonomy were applied, which incorporate genetic, geographic and ecological information to aid in the species description. For instance, many DNA barcodes were generated and uploaded to the global databases,” the team said.

The species of 24 mayflies, 1 stonefly, 4 water bugs and 17 aquatic beetles were named in honor of laboratory members who collected the specimens.

“Philippine localities, ethnic groups, fellow peers from the field of Biodiversity Science and supporters were honored by a species named after Prof. Karl Matthias Wantzen of University of Tours, France & UNESCO Chair ‘River Culture’, who served as keynote speaker during the last Philippine Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems in 2018 and joined an expedition organized by the laboratory,” the group said.

“Another species name was kindly sponsored through the BIOPAT patronage program in honor of Mr. Zoltán Berghauer Sr. of Bratislava, Slovakia. Two new genera of Baetidae were also described from the Philippines,” it added.

The researchers also published a checklist of water bugs found in Mindoro.