Trapped in time
Unearthing the prehistoric plant species of Panama
Julio 04, 2019
Little is known about the early flora of the isthmus. The first Panamanian paleobotanist aims to change this
Little is known about the early flora of the isthmus. The first Panamanian paleobotanist aims to change this
Through a participatory forest-carbon monitoring project, scientists and indigenous technicians found that, even in disturbed areas, Darien forests maintained the same tree species richness and a disproportionately high capacity to sequester carbon
How do microorganisms influence seed survival in the forest?
A scientific mission in the Panamanian jungle found some of the largest trees in the country
A study in Science by 225 researchers working with data from 590 forest sites around the world concludes that tropical forests release much more carbon into the atmosphere at high temperatures.
A trip to Jicarón Island during the Coiba Bioblitz led to a published bird checklist.
Between 1944 and 1966, Dr. Alexander Wetmore, a legendary ornithologist and Sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, investigated the avifauna of the Isthmus of Panama. This became the basis of his four-volume ‘The Birds of the Republic of Panama’. In this webinar, STRI anthropologist Dr. Stanley Heckadon-Moreno takes us for a historical and photographic journey across Dr. Wetmore’s expeditions in Panama, with the support of Dr. Pamela Henson, director of Institutional History at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Teak often underperforms on poor soils. By planting valuable native trees in existing teak plantations, researchers will evaluate the potential increase in timber value, biodiversity value and ecosystem services provided.
As the Earth’s surface transforms, entire ecosystems come and go. The anatomy of fossil plants growing in the Andean Altiplano region 10 million years ago calls current paleoclimate models into question, suggesting that the area was more humid than models predict.
Anthropologist Fernando Santos-Granero has pieced together the story of a change agent whose life spanned an important period in South American history in his book, Slavery and Utopia, now available in English and Spanish.