Above the tropical forest canopy,
sensors capture the fluxes of gases
between the trees and the atmosphere

The air moving above the forest carries valuable information about how trees absorb carbon, and what may happen in the future as global temperatures rise.

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By: Vanessa Crooks

Canopy Biology Long-term monitoring Forest Ecology Global Change Plant Physiology Soil Science Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet Barro Colorado purple S. Joseph Wright

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Drawing out the secrets
of coral reef resilience to
high ocean temperatures

Researchers compared DNA from corals and their symbiotic organisms from two sites along the Pacific coast of Panama to better understand how the different members of the coral holobiont influence their ability to tolerate temperature extremes.

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By: Beth King

Marine Biology Conservation Biology Global Change Biodiversity Physical Monitoring Fisheries and Marine Conservation Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet Naos purple Sean Connolly

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Butterflies of Pipeline Road:
the new book that will make
you fall for the butterflies
of Panama

Butterflies of Pipeline Road is a concise and colorful field guide that brings together 120 of the most commonly observed butterflies from one of the most biodiverse trails in Panama: Pipeline Road.

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By: Rosannette Quesada-Hidalgo

Taxonomy Biodiversity Entomology Zoology Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet purple Annette Aiello

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Archaeologists study the connections
between the deceased buried at
Cerro Juan Díaz, Panama

Individuals recovered at the archaeological site of Cerro Juan Díaz shed more light on how the local communities buried and honored their dead.

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By: Vanessa Crooks

Anthropology Archaeology Life in Deep Time CTPA Naos purple Nicole Smith-Guzmán

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Hungry bats: Listen up

Spix’s disc-winged bats shrieked when they were first shown mealworms, a new food for them. Were they alarmed, or were they communicating their excitement to their fellow bats?

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By: Beth King

Animal Behavior Zoology Natural History Biodiversity Origins of Species and Societies Gamboa purple Rachel Page

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Best wishes for a happy
and healthy 2025!

Last year we celebrated 100 years of tropical biology research, a testament to the teamwork and commitment of the STRI team to science across national boundaries. This year will bring new challenges, but our dedication to the study of tropical forests and reefs will not waver.

Biodiversity Exploration Forest Ecology Natural History Conservation Biology Earl S. Tupper purple

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STRI special events,
November-December 2024

BCI 100 Plant and Ecosystem Science volumes online, Q?Bus visits, STRI celebrates Panama and more.

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2023 Smithsonian Secretary Award, Family of tent-making bats sets up camp in the Tupper Plaza and more.

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Tropical forests may be approaching a critical high-temperature threshold, but there is still time to act

A new study in Nature combining satellite thermal- and in situ warming data found that a percentage of tropical leaves are already reaching the temperatures at which they can no longer function.

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Byline: Adapted from a Northern Arizona University (NAU) release.

Plant Physiology Global Change Canopy Biology Ecosystem Services Forest Ecology Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet purple Martijn Slot

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Commitments, partnerships, and hope: The Smithsonian at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama

The 8th Our Ocean Conference concluded with 341 commitments worth nearly $20 billion, including the expansion of Banco Volcán Managed Resources Area in the Panamanian Caribbean that led Panama to protect over 54% of its oceans.

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Text by Leila Nilipour

Fisheries and Marine Conservation Marine Biology Ecosystem Ecology Biodiversity Ecosystem Ecology Exploration Life in Deep Time Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet purple Hector M. Guzman Mark Torchin Rachel Collin Matthieu Leray

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