Martina and the Bridge of Time
A young comic book heroine travels through Panama’s deep history
March 31, 2021
The new graphic novel tells the story of the Isthmus’ formation and evolution through the adventures of a young Panamanian girl.
The new graphic novel tells the story of the Isthmus’ formation and evolution through the adventures of a young Panamanian girl.
About 66 million years ago, a huge asteroid crashed into what is now the Yucatan, plunging the Earth into darkness. The impact transformed tropical rainforests, giving rise to the reign of flowers.
The Agua Salud project’s new videos, narrated in Spanish and English by Panamanian actress Hilary Hughes, share the results of tropical reforestation and landscape restoration research pioneered in Panama.
How can science help to restore deforested land, reduce the risk of flooding and combat climate change? Find out in a virtual chat with Jefferson Hall, director of STRI’s Agua Salud Project, Katherine Sinacore, post-doctoral fellow and Edwin Garcia, master’s degree student, moderated by STRI Interim Director, Oris Sanjur and Associate Director for Communications Linette Dutari.
The Fortuna Forest Reserve in western Panama hosts some of the most diverse montane forests in Central America. Jim Dalling, STRI Research Associate, will discuss the results of 25 years of research on Fortuna's climate, geology, soils and major plant groups, including more than 800 species of trees, 300 species of ferns and 200 species of orchids.
With this science-based initiative, 30% of the panamanian marine surface will be under some degree of protection
Large marine animals generally have unique functions for the ecosystem. They are also more susceptible to extinction when their habitats are altered. Around 3 million years ago, at least one third of the marine megafauna became extinct, possibly due to sea level fluctuations and the contraction of coastal habitats. This also led to a loss of some of their ecological functions. In the current era, many large marine animals are deemed at risk of extinction. What will be the consequences of this potential loss?
Sharks’ bodies are covered with tiny, tooth-like scales called denticles. Shed denticles settle to the ocean floor, where they remain in sediments for years and can be used to understand which sharks lived on a reef in the past.
Bees and their pollen reveal the environment of the first Cathedral on the American mainland, as do photos by preeminent landscape photographer, Eadweard Muybridge.
The Fortuna Hydrological Reserve hosts one third of Panama’s tree species, a variety of fungi waiting to be discovered and a great potential to offset global warming