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Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute STRINews

Sea urchins are stuck belly up in low-oxygen hot water

December 11, 2020

As oceans warm and become more acidic and oxygen-poor, Smithsonian researchers asked how marine life on a Caribbean coral reef copes with changing conditions.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Smithsonian scientist clears up Panamanian urban legend

November 30, 2020

How did canal grass arrive in Panama? STRI staff scientist Kristin Saltonstall compared the DNA of sugar cane relatives from around the world to find out.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

In the footsteps of crocs

November 27, 2020

Crocodiles fulfill important functions in the ecosystems where they live, and they play a prominent role in the myths and legends of cultures around the world. Miryam Venegas-Anaya will share stories about years of field work in Panama with these fascinating reptiles to increase our understanding and appreciation of their diversity and behavior.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

First Sightings of Lek and courtship behavior in wrinkle-faced bats

November 18, 2020

Male Wrinkle-faced bats lower a flap of skin resembling a face mask when they are ready to mate according to a rare sighting of a lek of bats in Costa Rica.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Diving into the deep past

November 12, 2020

Coming from a humble family, Félix Rodríguez decided from a young age that he would focus on his education in order to secure a better future for himself and his family. At different points in his life he said yes to the opportunities that were presented to him, with a curious heart. This led him to learn from world-class experts, get training abroad and become a paleontologist at the...

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Modern computational tools may open a new era for fossil pollen research

November 12, 2020

By integrating machine-learning technology with high-resolution imaging, scientists are improving the taxonomic resolution of fossil pollen identifications and greatly enhancing the use of pollen data in ecological and evolutionary research.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Amy Koehler transforms bat science into bat art

October 30, 2020

Reshaping her interest in science into a career in art, Amy Koehler does what she loves best in the Bat Lab

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

You are what you eat: Evolutionary lessons from agricultural ants in Panama

October 28, 2020

Just as contemporary human societies depend on large-scale agriculture, leaf-cutter ants depend on a long, co-evolved relationship with a fungus. As humans, we may share some of the same rules that govern their relationship.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

DNA in fringe-lipped bat poop reveals unexpected eating habits

October 26, 2020

The poop of Trachops cirrhosus revealed surprising results about its foraging abilities and prey preferences.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

The ritual significance of a classic Maya sweat bath in Guatemala

October 23, 2020

An unusual offering in an abandoned and unique-looking structure revealed new evidence of the role it played in the community

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