Ricksterlie Verzosa

• Ph.D. in Environmental Science (candidate)
• Assistant Professor at Davao Oriental State University

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising technology for biogas production, but optimizing feedstock composition is still a key challenge. The present study investigated invasive macroalgae Sargassum polycystum as co-feedstock source combined with pig dung to enhance methane production. Three feedstock groups were assessed: (1) mechanically pretreate...

of Mati, Davao Oriental 8200 the Philippines Litopenaeus vannamei requires a specific range of water quality parameters for optimal growth and health. Monitoring these parameters, as water enters (inlet) and exits (outlet) the shrimp ponds and throughout the canal system, is crucial in optimizing shrimp production, nutrient management, disease prev...

Coconut, a vital tropical crop, and the Philippines’ leading agricultural export, particularly in Davao Oriental, the “Coconut Capital” of the country, is profoundly impacted by climate change, which disrupts its productivity and agricultural practices, thereby threatening its sustainability. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, practices...

Beetles play significant ecological roles, including as floral pollinators. In the Philippines, many Coleoptera species have been introduced as new to science over the recent years. However, their ecological roles are often understudied, leading to an incomplete understanding of beetle diversity and forest ecology. In this paper, a possible pollina...

This book chapter (Chapter 14) discusses the Philippine brown deer (Rusa marianna Desmarest, 1822), an endangered deer endemic to the Philippine islands. It was introduced in the Mariana islands in the 1770s, posing threats to agricultural landscapes due to overgrazing. Based on its 2014 assessment, the IUCN categorized the Philippine deer as Vulne...

Context The emergence of pan-resistant bacteria requires the development of new antibiotics and antibiotic potentiators. Objective This review identifies antibacterial phenolic compounds that have been identified in Asian and Pacific Angiosperms from 1945 to 2023 and analyzes their strengths and spectra of activity, distributions, molecular masses...

Effective solid waste management (SWM) is paramount for environmental sustainability and public health, particularly in coastal communities. This cross-sectional descriptive study determines SWM awareness and practices among 399 households in selected coastal barangays in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental, Philippines. Employing a structured four-po...

Philippine warty pig Sus philippensis Nehring, 1886, is a vulnerable species endemic to the Philippines. Its population is reportedly declining due to anthropogenic pressures, including deforestation, habitat loss, hunting, and reemerging infectious diseases. This research note provides information on the unusual mortality of seven warty pig indivi...

The Province of Davao Oriental is home to diverse and rich ecosystems, from the ridge-to-reefs. Mindanao’s lone UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS) is located in the province, along with the Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW) like the Pujada, Balete, and Mayo Bays. The province’s fertile landscapes...