Seabird studies on uninhabited tropical island may lead to island’s protection
Isla Boná in the Gulf of Panama is an understudied breeding ground for thousands of tropical seabirds. Marine biologist Héctor Guzmán’s newest research program will contribute to understanding their ecology and the conservation of the island for birds and birders alike.
From cold temps to heat stress and oxygen depletion, marine larvae overcome hazards on the way to adulthood
With multiple projects in both the Pacific and the Caribbean, the Collin Lab pieces together the complex life histories of marine invertebrates.
The glue that holds the coral reef together threatened by global change
Rapid increases in ocean acidity puts crustose coralline algae in a growth predicament, research by a Smithsonian marine scientist shows.
Modern marine oxygen-deficiency research inspires search for fossil record
Smithsonian scientists who documented massive mortality of corals and reef organisms meticulously studied one of the apparent causes: oxygen deficiency. A Smithsonian paleobiologist asks if the recent fossil record shows signs of similar hypoxia events.
Big fish produce disproportionately bigger eggs and more of them
A new paper in Science shows that big female fish are disproportionately important to maintaining populations. The research suggests that protection of large, reproductive females is essential to sustaining viable fish stocks.
Marine expedition launched from new Coibita station
To mark the beginning of an era in marine research in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, Smithsonian scientists launched numerous long-term marine ecosystem studies in Panama’s Coiba National Park.
Whale Shark Logs Longest-Recorded Migration
A whale shark named Anne swam all the way across the Pacific from Coiba National Park in Panama to the Marianas Trench.
Ira Rubinoff, Emeritus Director, retires from STRI
After more than 50 years at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, director emeritus Ira Rubinoff has announced his retirement. He will travel to Vienna with his wife, Anabella, who was recently designated Panama’s ambassador to Austria.
“Tropical forests are the result of an accident of history.” - Carlos Jaramillo.
About 66 million years ago, a radical change on the Earth filled tropical forests with flowers. A new catalog of fossil pollen grains may hold an explanation.
Free Online Tree-Planting Guides
Now that the rainy season has started, it is the perfect time to plant trees in Panama. We offer smart, science-based advice for choosing the perfect trees for your site and helping them to grow.
