Facility
Barro Colorado
The most intensively studied
tropical forest in the world
The most intensively studied
tropical forest in the world
For many tropical biologists, all roads lead to Panama’s Barro Colorado Island, the most-studied piece of tropical real estate in the world. STRI Intern Omayra Meléndez shares her story about arriving on BCI and how the island is transforming her career.
Although these seaweeds are very popular among the Guna Yala community, it is no less true that their use is unknown to the public.
How do microorganisms influence seed survival in the forest?
A five-year, $2-million grant will help test the hypothesis that rare trees are more susceptible to pathogens than common trees on Barro Colorado Island.
Visiting scientist Camille Delavaux and intern, Omayra Meléndez, celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the ForestGEO 50-hectare plot, a unique forest ecology research tool, and the people who make it possible.
From tiny banana seeds to giant coconuts, it’s tough for seeds to survive in tropical soils where they are under attack by fungi, bacteria, insects and animals. By understanding how seeds defend themselves, tropical biologists contribute to reforestation, crop management and sustainable agriculture in the tropics.
STRI from Myth to Reality: Working on Barro Colorado Island as Part of a Community.
For these four women, the Smithsonian Institute’s internship program represented an opportunity to explore their research questions in the field
STRI is hosting Dr. Anna Mežaka, originally from Latvia and currently employed at the University of Marburg (UMR), Germany, who is doing a project called “Life on a leaf: species interactions and community dynamics in epiphyll communities” funded by a Marie Skłodowska - Curie Global Fellowship from the European Union.