A Fearless jewel
NOT a Bird Dropping
January 24, 2020
The discerning eye of staff scientist, Annette Aiello, observed the fearless behavior of an iridescent insect resembling a bird dropping containing embedded, blue seeds.
The discerning eye of staff scientist, Annette Aiello, observed the fearless behavior of an iridescent insect resembling a bird dropping containing embedded, blue seeds.
How do social interactions change in the face of illness? As humans face potential global pandemics we look to nature for examples. Close observation of another highly social animal, the vampire bat, sheds light on how interactions change—or do not change—as individuals become sick.
Different socio-economic conditions and lack of clean water may change the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Find out more about why bats carry viruses and how both bats and humans benefit from bat conservation.
Researchers learned from some unusual sweat bee species on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, how the sophisticated division of labor in highly complex insect societies can arise from humble beginnings.
STRI staff scientist and evolutionary biologist Bill Wcislo discusses the foibles of social bees and farming ants and the evolution of their behavior in changing environments. In a time of crisis, what can we learn from these insects about their highly efficient public health care systems?
Lizards transplanted from the mainland to small islands in Lake Gatun, Panama, took their parasitic mites with them. What happened next provides great experimental evidence for the enemy release hypothesis.
Dr. Gina Della Togna has gone a long way in pursuing her love for animals, including amphibians, insects, and reptiles. Last year she received the L'Oreal-Unesco Prize for Women in Science, for her research in assisted reproductive techniques for endangered species, such as the golden frog. This year she was named by Forbes magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in Central America and the Dominican Republic. Listen to the story of how she became a renowned scientist.
Returning endangered frogs back to nature is not an easy task, particularly when their main threats are not under control. In this talk (Spanish), former STRI fellow and current director of the Summit Municipal Park, Dr. Angie Estrada, explains what is causing so many amphibian species around the world to be at risk for extinction and discusses the different approaches that scientists are exploring to reintroduce these animals back into nature safely.
STRI will miss Kirk and his family when they move back to the U.S., but look forward to continued collaboration.