Profile

R. Sedricke Lapuz, PhD
Senior Lecturer

Educational Background:

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-2025): School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
  • PhD in Ecology (2022): Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • MSc in Environmental Science and Ecosystems Management (2011): De La Salle University
  • BSc in Biology (2007): University of the Philippines Manila

Research Interests

  • Biome distribution in Tropical East Asia
  • Disturbance ecology in the Philippines
  • OneHealth approaches in disease ecology

Projects

  • Mapping dynamics and distributions of savannas in Tropical East Asia
  • Determining viral spillover risk hotspots in Asia using One Health approaches

Teaching

  • Env 265 and Env 265.1
  • Env Sci 1

Publications

  • Lapuz RS, Chornelia A, & Hughes AC. Mapping the potential risk of coronavirus spillovers in a global hotspot (2025). Global Change Biology , 31(9): e70504. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70504
  • Delos Angeles M, Radbouchoom S, Ngarega BK, Lapuz RS, & Schneider H. Spatial diversity and distribution of fern and lycophyte species in karst and non-karst landscapes towards conservation needs (2025). Frontiers in Plant Science, 16, 1495796. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1495796
  • Pilon N, Peixoto F, Oliveira RS, Oliveira ACC, Alquéres J, Lapuz RS, … & Durigan G. (2025). Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored. Plants, People, Planet. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10635
  • Luo W, Lapuz RS, Wee AK. (2024). Large-scale changes in the distribution of suitable habitat of the endangered subtropical canopy tree species Vatica guangxiensis under climate change. Biodiversity and Conservation, 33(11), 3187-3205. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-024-02908-8
  • Obico JJ, Lapuz RS (co-first author), Barcelona JF, Pelser PB. (2024). What explains the high island endemicity of Philippine Rafflesia? A species distribution modeling analysis of three threatened parasitic plant species and their hosts. American Journal of Botany, 111(1), e16267. DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16267
  • Gao J, Tomlinson KW, Zhao W, Wang BS, Lapuz RS, Liu JX, Pasion BO, Chanthayod S, Chen J, Wang XR (2023). Phylogeography and introgression between Pinus kesiya and Pinus yunnanensis in Southeast Asia. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 00(0): 1-15. DOI: 10.1111/jse.12949
  • Lapuz RS, Jaojoco AKM, Reyes SRC, De Alban JTD, Tomlinson KW (2022). Greater loss and fragmentation of savannas than forests over the last three decades in Yunnan Province, China. Environmental Research Letters, 17: 014003. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3aa2
  • Chu Y, Wee AKS, Lapuz RS, Tomlinson KW (2021). Phylogeography of two widespread C4 grass species suggest tableland and valley grassy biome in southwestern China pre-date human modification. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31: e01835. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01835
  • Mancera JP & Lapuz RS (2021). Environmental Niche Models Reveal Receding Refugia for Philippine Endemic and Threatened Melastome Trees under Accelerated Climate Change. Philippine Journal of Science, 150(S1):93-110. URL: https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/images/pdf/pjs_pdf/vol150_S1_Phil_BiodiversityConservation/enviro nmental_niche_models_reveal_receding_refugia_.pdf  
  • Scheiter S, Kumar D, Corlett RT, Gaillard C, Langan L, Lapuz RS, Martens C, Pfeiffer M, Tomlinson KW (2020). Climate change promotes transitions to tall evergreen vegetation in tropical Asia. Global Change Biology, 26(9):5106-24. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15217
  • Khaing TT, Pasion BO, Lapuz RS, Tomlinson KW (2019). Determinants of composition, diversity and structure in a seasonally dry forest in Myanmar. Global Ecology and Conservation,1;19:e00669. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00669
  • Alcantara MJ, Bolintiam JG, Lapuz RS (2014). Tree Diversity Assessment of the Beach Forest Trail of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines. University of the Philippines Manila Journal, 18:15-29. URL: https://pjhrd.upm.edu.ph/index.php/main/article/view/16