A bilingual book makes the unique biodiversity of Panama’s Escudo de Veraguas Island available to indigenous communities

Botanist Alicia Ibañez hopes the book, which presents new data on the tiny island’s endemic flora and fauna in both Spanish and Ngäbere, will increase awareness of the importance of preserving its biodiversity.

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Text by Vanessa Crooks

Animal Behavior Botany Ecology Long-term monitoring Taxonomy Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet green

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Much more than
a land bridge

Panama's deep history has been the subject of much research over many decades. "Panama, much more than a land bridge" is the first book written in Spanish and from Panama dedicated exclusively to addressing the discoveries and analyses surrounding the archeology of this territory.

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Panama

Anthropology Archaeology Sociology green

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Interns and fellows’ display their photographic skills

Each year since 2018 (with the exception of 2020), the Office of Academic Programs sends a call for interns and fellows (graduate students and postdoc fellows) to submit photos and videos while doing research at STRI as a way to recognize the talent of our academic community.

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Text by Paola Gómez
Cover photo by Luke Linhoff

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Scientists share lessons about the
Anthropocene’s impact on tropical forests

Nine articles explore impacts of ancient human societies on tropical ecosystems, revealing the importance of incorporating the paleosciences, social sciences and Indigenous traditional knowledge to solve contemporary environmental challenges.

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Text by Leila Nilipour

Historical Ecology Archaeology Paleontology and Paleobiology Anthropology Ecosystem Ecology Forest Ecology Life in Deep Time green Dolores Piperno

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First report of dorsal
navigation in a flying insect

Sweat bees navigate through dark tropical forests guided by canopy patterns.

Animal Behavior Canopy Biology Entomology Biodiversity Evolutionary Biology Zoology Origins of Species and Societies green William Wcislo

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New bilingual videos feature tropical landscape management for a sustainable future

The Agua Salud project’s new videos, narrated in Spanish and English by Panamanian actress Hilary Hughes, share the results of tropical reforestation and landscape restoration research pioneered in Panama.

Biodiversity Bioinformatics Conservation Biology Ecosystem Services Ecosystem Ecology Forest Ecology Global Change Long-term monitoring Reforestation and Silviculture Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet Agua Salud green Jefferson Hall

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Male bats with high testosterone
levels have large forearm crusts
when females are fertile

Male Fringe-Lipped bats smear a sticky, odorous substance on their forearms. When this was discovered, researchers guessed that it might play a role in mating. Post-doctoral fellow Mariana Muñoz-Romo has confirmed that the presence and size of the forearm "crust" is, indeed correlated with other reproductive traits.

Animal Behavior Zoology Chemical Ecology Natural History Biodiversity Origins of Species and Societies green Rachel Page

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Animated maps of sea level rise: the Isthmus of Panama during the last 26,000 years 

These maps dramatically illustrate how rising sea levels completely altered the shape of Panama’s coastline, creating islands and submerging large areas of land.

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Panama

Paleontology and Paleobiology Geology Geography and Biogeography Archaeology Natural History Life in Deep Time Naos green Aaron O'Dea

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Brian Gratwicke
Building an amphibian ark
and searching for a cure
for the amphibian Chytrid Fungus

Join Brian as he gives us an update on the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, its progress over the last 10 years, and its efforts to sustain this collection of living frogs and identify clear solutions to the amphibian crisis.  

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Panama

Herpetology Disease Ecology Zoology Microbial Ecology Global Change Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet Gamboa green Roberto Ibañez

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New bird checklists from Jicarón and Jicarita Islands in Coiba National Park, Panama

A trip to Jicarón Island during the Coiba Bioblitz led to a published bird checklist.  

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Panama

Exploration Zoology Biodiversity Taxonomy Origins of Species and Societies Coibita Island green Owen McMillan

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