Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Barro Colorado, Republic of Panama - Essay Example

21 April Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Barro Colorado, Republic of Panama The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) has a 90-year history, dating back to the construction of the Panama Canal (The Smithsonian Institution). It went on to become one of the first biological reserves and is now the oldest tropical research station and concerns not just the Panama but also the tropics (National Research Council; The Smithsonian Institution). This paper discusses the history of STRI in Barro Colorado, tracing it from its very beginning to its current status. The goals, achievements and some of the exotic flora and fauna of the institute have also been described. History and Current Status of STRI, Barro Colorado The history of STRI begins with the construction of the Panama Canal during which the Barro Colorado Island was formed (National Research Council). The damming of the Chagres River for the construction of the Panama Canal led to a rise in its water levels, causing the formation of the Gantun Lake. Following this, a small mountain about 476 feet high was isolated from the mainland, thus forming an island that was named the Barro Colorado Island (The Smithsonian Institution). James Zetek is one among the many scientists who foresaw the importance of setting this island aside for scientific research. In 1923, the Governor of Canal Zone designated the island as a biological reserve, and a research laboratory was set up collectively by the Smithsonian Institution, universities and private organizations for the purpose of investigating tropical flora and fauna (The Smithsonian Institution). Smithsonian’s fourth Secretary, Charles Doolittle Walcott, initiated a massive survey of the Panama Canal Zone (National Research Council). By 1946, the Barro Colorado Island became an integral part of the Smithsonian Institution. In 1949, the facility established on this Island was named the Canal Zone Biological Area and was placed under the regulation of the National Academy of Sciences that comprised a board of leading scientists and executives, following the passing of the Congress’ Government Reorganization Act on July 2 of the same year (The Smithsonian Institution). In 1966, its name was changed to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Its scope was expanded to other parts of the tropics and marine science centers were also established on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Panama (The Smithsonian Institution). Barro Colorado, in 1979, was declared a Nature Monument in compliance with the terms of the Convention for Nature Protection in the Western Hemisphere, 1940, and under the Torrijos-Carter Treaty (The Smithsonian Institution). Panama took STRI’s facilities under its custodianship and granted it the status of an International Mission. The Panama Canal Treaties were signed between Panama and STRI’s host nation. STRI signed an agreement with the Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI), formalizing its custodianship of the Barro Colorado Natural Monument before the expiration of the Panama Canal Treaties. In 1997, the institute came into an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Panama for continuing its research activities. Up to the present day, STRI has been host to scientists from all over the world. Barro Colorado is now one of the most studied tropical areas and boasts of about 102 mammal species, 381 bird species, and 1,316 plant species ranging over an area of 1,500 hectares and containing a vast network of trails (The Smithsonian Institution). Long-term studies on biology and natural history are being conducted on both terrestrial and marine field stations that are equipped with high-end laboratories along with dormitories. STRI has expanded its scope to other tropical areas and research is now conducted throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. Every year, about 250 to 300 scientists visit STRI at Barro Colorado from all over the world (The Smithsonian Institution). Goals and Achievements of the Institute The main goals of the institute at Barro Colorado are the promotion and facilitation of research and investigations on tropical lowland rainforests (The Smithsonian Institution). The institute also serves as a facility for the training of scientists and researchers in environmental sciences related to the tropics. It also aims to preserve a part of the lowland rain forest as a representative sample of the tropical rainforests. The protection of Barro Colorado’s natural resources is also a primary goal of the institute. It has also initiated a visitor’s program for promoting environmental education. The institute aims at helping field researchers in carrying out undisturbed research on its natural resources and also to serve as a repository of scientific information which is “unequaled by any other single biological research site on earth” (The Smithsonian Institution). STRI’s mission as described by the National Research Council is to: … further our understanding of tropical nature and its significance to the world at large, to train students in tropical research, and to promote conservation by making the public aware of the beauty, importance and fragility of the ecosystems of the tropics (National Research Council). Research in all areas of environmental sciences, including evolution, ecology, etc is carried out at the institute. The institute is dedicated to studying the nature of the tropics (The Smithsonian Institution). It aims at offering support and services to visiting scientists as well as tourists and in entertaining their curiosity about nature at the tropics. Exotic species of animals, birds and plants are well preserved and protected. The institute at Barro Colorado has been successful in providing legal protection to almost one-fourth of the tropical rainforest in the Panama Canal Watershed and, along with the Soberanía National Park, offers refuge to almost half of all of Panama’s mammal and bird species (The Smithsonian Institution). Barro Colorado Nature Monument also consists of the “50-hectare Plot”, which is a part of the Earth Observatory of the Center of Tropical Forest Science that aims to precisely measure fluctuations in tree populations in tropical forests. It has emerged as a “prototype for measuring diversity of plant and animal life around the world” (The Smithsonian Institution). Other achievements of STRI among many others, include the study of seed production and flowering in about 625 tree, shrub and lianas species, quantification of the settlement of larvae on coral reefs, monitoring of sea urchin populations, long-term studies on tropical insects, lizards, and other vertebrates, construction of a repository of more than 300,000 specimens of molluscs from Central America, and the documentation of 50,000 marine fossils (National Research Council). Flora & Fauna STRI, Barro Colorado, now harbors approximately 115 mammal species, which include all five species of monkeys native to Panama, namely Howler Monkey, White-faced Monkey, Night Monkey, Geoffreys Tamarin, and Spider Monkey (The Smithsonian Institution). Other species of mammals found here include about 72 bat species, apart from peccaries, agoutis, coatimundis, tapirs, and sloths (The Smithsonian Institution). It also hosts about 225 ant species apart from more than 1200 species of plants, many of which were never documented before (The Smithsonian Institution). Barro Colorado is the “best example of undisturbed tropical moist forest” in the Panama (Condit, Pérez and Daguerre 16). Species of trees from the Pacific slope, such as Cavanillesia platanifolia, and other species such as Virola surinamensis, that are common to wet forests are abundant here (Condit, Pérez and Daguerre 16). Barro Colorado Island is home to the biggest tree species in Panama, which include Hura crepitans and Ceiba pentandra (Condit, Pérez and Daguerre 16). Other species include Acalypha diversifolia and Alseis blackiana among many others (The Smithsonian Institution).The first census of the area done in 1982 revealed a total of 303 tree and shrub species that were at breast height. Censuses done later on at five year intervals showed instability and intensive dynamism in the tree populations. The turnover was found to be high. Studies on canopy cover indicate that the forests of Panama have been hugely affected due to decline in rainfall, thus indicating that global climate change is causing more damage to the tropical forests than was previously supposed (The Smithsonian Institution). Some Species found at Barro Colorodo The Central American agouti is one of the mammal species found at Barro Colorado. This caviomorph rodent has a weight of about 2-4 kg (The Agouti Enterprise). It is mostly found in many Neotropical forests. Agoutis play an important role as prey, apart from being seed predators and dispersers (The Agouti Enterprise). They are known to hoard the seeds of many plant species, especially those of Astrocaryumi (The Agouti Enterprise). The Nine banded armadillo is another mammalian species found at Barro Colorado. These are insectivores and feed by foraging the ground for termites, worms, ants etc. They are nocturnal and spend most of their time on the ground (Smithsonian Wild). The ocelot is another important species on Barro Colorodao. Ocelots weigh around 9-14 kg and have unique spots patterns, which helps in their recognition (The Agouti Enterprise). At Barro Colorado Island, ocelot is the most abundant cat (The Agouti Enterprise). They feed on rodents, amphibians, birds, reptiles and sometimes fish. They mostly hunt at night (The Agouti Enterprise). STRI, Barro Colorado, has emerged as the most sought after destination for biologists and researchers from across the world as it provides a tropical forest in an undisturbed state. It has successfully preserved a large number of species and has helped in the identification and study of many species of trees, animals and birds that were not even known before. Works Cited Condit, Richard, Rolando Pérez, and Nefertaris Daguerre. Trees of Panama and Costa Rica. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2010. Print. National Research Council. Funding Smithsonian Scientific Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2003. Print. Smithsonian Wild. Smithsonian. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. The Agouti Enterprise. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. The Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. Read More