Extinction Debate“Debating the TropicalExtinction” will be held bySTRI at the Tupper Centerfrom Thursday, August 21through Saturday, August 23.The first day will be open tothe public from 8:30am -6pmand coffee will served foreveryone.

Colon monthly talkThursday, August 21, Colontalk speaker will be ArgelisCampos, at Hotel Meliá,Panama CanalEl cultivo de las algas en elCaribe panameño.

Bambi seminarNo Bambi seminar isscheduled for Thursday,August 21 due to the TropicalExtinction Debate.

Bocas’ TalkFriday, August 22, Bocas’ Talkspeakers will be MollyCummings, Sara Holloway,Ashley Lamb, Ricardo Cossio,and Laura Cruthers,University of Texas at Austin.English and EspañolPoison or passion. Warningand atraction in a colorpolymorphic frogSala de Conferencias delCefati (IPAT), 7pm

ArrivalsZeehan Jaafar and Tse-LynnLoo, University of NorthCarolina Wilmington, to studythe sponge associations andinteractions at Bocas del Toro,Panama.

Johanna Tomorsky, Universityof Wisconsin - Milwaukee, toconduct the project "Do lianascause chronic disturbance andalter successional trajectoriesin tropical forests? on BCI.

STRI newsSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá www.stri.org August 15, 2008

Condit Jackson Hubbell

Academy colloquium— In the light ofevolution II: Biodiversity and Extinction“In 1973, TheodosiusDobzhansky penned a shortcommentary titled ‘‘Nothing inbiology makes sense except inthe light of evolution’’. Mostscientists agree that evolutionprovides the unifyingframework for interpretingbiological phenomena thatotherwise can often seemunrelated and perhapsunintelligible.”

John C. Avise, from theUniversity of California, Irvine,STRI's Steve Hubbell andFrancisco J. Ayala from UCLApublished “In the light ofevolution II: Biodiversity andextinction” in the August 12issue of the Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences as

an introduction to the Arthur MSackler Colloquium of theNational Academy of Scienceheld from December 6-8 2007,at the Arnold and MabelBeckman Center of the NationalAcademies of Sciences andEngineering in Irvine,California. It can be seen athttp://www.pnas.org/

Hubbell, in collaboration withFangliang He from theUniversity of Alberta, RickCondit, STRI, Luis Borda-da-Agua from UCLA, JamesKellner from the University ofGeorgia and Hans ter Steegefrom Utrecht University alsocontributed the article “Howmany tree species are there inthe Amazon and how many of

them will go extinct?” in thecolloquium. Also published byPNAS in the same issue of Aug12 (vol. 105, supplement 1.

Jeremy B.C. Jackson, fromSTRI and Center for MarineBiodiversity and Conservation,Scripps Institution ofOceanography, University ofCalifornia at San Diego, alsocontributed to the colloquiumwith “Ecological extinction andevolution in the brave newocean”.

All articles were distributed byNeal G. Smith. They can also bedownloaded from any STRIcomputer. They are receivingspecial attention from themedia. Google them!

More arrivalsKatja Simone Karg,Julius-Maximilians-UniversitätWürzburg, to study theecholocation and foragingbehavior of neotropical bats,on BCI

Eric Lewallen and DevinBloom, University ofToronto, to study thephylogenetics and evolution ofanchovies, at Galeta, Naosand Bocas del Toro.

New publicationsAvise, John C., Hubbell,Stephen P., & Ayala,Francisco. 2008. "In the lightof evolution II: Biodiversityand extinction." Proceedings ofthe National Academy of SciencesOnline.

Cohen, Alan A., McGraw,Kevin J., Wiersma, Popko,Williams, Joseph B.,Robinson, W. Douglas,Robinson, Tara R., Brawn,Jeffrey D., & Ricklefs, RobertE. 2008. "Interspecificassociations betweencirculating antioxidant levelsand life-history variation inbirds." The American Naturalist172(2): 178-193.

Franklin, Samuel P., Kays,Roland W., Moreno, Ricardo,TerWee, Julie A., Troyer,Jennifer L., & VandeWoude,Sue. 2008. "Ocelots on BarroColorado Island are infectedwith feline immunodeficiencyvirus but not other commonfeline and canine viruses."Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(3):760-765.

Grimm, R., Behrens, T.,Marker, M., & Elsenbeer, H.2008. "Soil organic carbonconcentrations and stocks onBarro Colorado Island—Digital soil mapping usingrandom forests analysis."Geoderma 146(1-2): 102-113.

Paperless Field Biology Course 2008A Field Biology Course wasorganized and carried out bySTRI, SENACYT, UniversidadSimón Bolívar, Venezuela(USB) and the University ofPanama for biology studentswas held from Sunday, July 27through Monday, August 11 inGamboa, Soberania NationalPark and BCI. The 16participants included studentsfrom Colombia, Costa Rica, ElSalvador, Guatemala anddifferent provinces in Panana.

The course, designed byRoberto Cipriani, NélidaGómez and Angie Estrada waspaperless using the technologyavailable, used books, andarticles and reports inelectronic formats to avoidwaste and pollution.

The sessions includedexperimental design, basicstatistics, soil ecology, aquaticenvironments, plants, birds,amphibians and mammals.

Forty-two instructors fromANAM, STRI, UNACHI, UPand USB participated in thecourse, namely (in alphabeticalorder): Karin Akre, ChelinaBatista, Ryan Bixenmann,Venetia Briggs, AidaBustamante, Roberto Cipriani,José Deago, Samuel Díaz,

Angie Estrada, Nelly Florez,Carol Garzón, Nélida Gómez,Jorge Herrera, Myra Hughey,Laura Jara, Yulang Kam, BethKing, Amanda Lea, Iván Luna,Carmen Medina, EduardoMedina, Basilio Mela, RicardoMoreno, Delia Negru, AngieNicolás, Daniel Obando, IsisOchoa, Elizabeth Osorio, IngridParker, Meike Piepenbring,Andrés Ramos, Christy Riehl,Carmen Schloeder, LauraSchreeg, Annie Smith, AdamSmith, Milton Solano, EvaToth, Justin Touchon, MaríaFernanda Vinasco, RubyZambrano and Lucia Ziegler.

Un curso de Biología de Campofue organizado y llevado a caboSTRI, SENACYT, laUniversidad Simón Bolívar deVenezuela (USB) y laUniversidad de Panamá, deldomingo 27 de julio al lunes 11de agosto en Gamboa, el ParqueNacional Soberanía y BCI. Los16 participantes incluyeronestudiantes de Colombia, CostaRica, El Salvador, Guatemala ydiferentes provincias dePanamá.

El curso, diseñado por RobertoCipriani, Nélida Gómez y AngieEstrada no usó papel, utilizandola tecnología a mano, librosusados y artículos e informes en

formatos electrónicos paraevitar producir desechosinnecesarios y contaminación.

Las sesiones incluyeron diseñoexperimental, ecología de suelos,ambientes acuáticos, plantas,aves, anfibios y mamíferos.

Cuarenta y dos instructores deANAM, STRI, UNACHI, UP yUSB participaron en el curso(en orden alfababético): KarinAkre, Chelina Batista, RyanBixenmann, Venetia Briggs,Aida Bustamante, RobertoCipriani, José Deago, SamuelDíaz, Angie Estrada, NellyFlorez, Carol Garzón, NélidaGómez, Jorge Herrera, MyraHughey, Laura Jara, YulangKam, Beth King, Amanda Lea,Iván Luna, Carmen Medina,Eduardo Medina, Basilio Mela,Ricardo Moreno, Delia Negru,Angie Nicolás, Daniel Obando,Isis Ochoa, Elizabeth Osorio,Ingrid Parker, MeikePiepenbring, Andrés Ramos,Christy Riehl, CarmenSchloeder, Laura Schreeg, AnnieSmith, Adam Smith, MiltonSolano, Eva Toth, JustinTouchon, María FernandaVinasco, Ruby Zambrano yLucia Ziegler.

Foto: Nélida Gómez

New publicationsHubbell, Stephen P. , He,Fangliang , Condit, Richard,Borda-de-Agua, Luis, Kellner,James, & ter Steege, Hans.2008. "How many tree speciesare there in the Amazon andhow many of them will goextinct?" Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences:105(Supplement 1): 11498-11504.

Jackson, Jeremy B.C. 2008."Ecological extinction andevolution in the brave newocean." Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences 105(Supplement 1): 11458-11465.

Savage, Jay M., Lips, Karen R.,& Ibanez D., Roberto. 2008."A new species of Celestus fromwest-central Panama, withconsideration of the status ofthe genera of the Anguidae:Diploglossinae (Squamata)."Revista de Biologia Tropical 56(2):845-859.

STRI in the news“Parasitic flies force bees intodrudgery” by Matt Walker.2008. New Scientist (2668):August 10.

Newsmakers: “Smart andLean: After 34 years, theSmithsonian Tropical ResearchInstitute (STRI) in Panama isgetting a new director.” 2008.Science 321(5890): 753.

“Las semillas de una pasión:Mireya Correa. The seeds of apassion” by Sofia Kalomakisde Kosmas. 2008. Panorama,Copa Airlines OfficialMagazine. August: 172-180.

“The real cost of gold” byWilliam F. Laurance. 2008.New Scientist (August 13): issue2669.

Panama goesfor the gold!

Short article, huge implications:great media attention

Changing drivers of deforestation: small-scale cultivators vs industrial road construction in Gabon, central Africa (photosby WFL). Cambian las causas de la deforestación: agricultores a pequeña escala vs. Construcciones de carreterasindustriales en Gabón, Africa central (fotos de W.F.L.)

Does clearing forests lead toconservation opportunities?That’s the argument made in anarticle authored by Rhett Butlerof Mongabay.com, and STRI’sWilliam F. Laurance entitled"New strategies for conservingtropical forests" that will befeatured in September by Trendsin Ecology & Evolution. The four-page article has received wideinternational coverage from themedia.

The authors argue that thesharp increase in deforestationby big corporations providesenvironmental lobby groupswith clear, identifiable targetsthat can be pressured to bemore responsive toenvironmental concerns. Thisin comparison to previousdeforestation that waspoverty-driven.

The United Nations estimatesthat some 13 million hectares oftropical forest are destroyedeach year; but these numbersmask a transition from mostlysubsistence-driven to mostlycorporate-driven forestdestruction, say Butler andLaurance.

¿Lleva el deforestar bosques aoportunidades de conservación?Este es el argumento queaparece en un artículo cuyosautores son Rhett Butler deMongabay.com y William F.Laurance, de STRI tituladoNuevas estrategias paraconservar bosques tropicales apublicarse en septiembre enTrends in Ecology & Evolution. Elartículo, de cuatro páginas harecibido una amplia coberturainternacional de parte de losmedios de comunicación.

Los autores aseguran que elgran aumento en ladeforestación causada porgrandes corporaciones ofrece alos grupos de conservaciónambiental identificar claramentea los responsables que puedenser presionados para quepresten atención a laspreocupaciones ambientales.Esto, en comparación con ladeforestación previa que eracausada por la pobreza.

Las Naciones Unidas estima quecerca de 13 millones dehectáreas de bosques tropicalesse destruyen cada año; peroestos números enmascaran unatransición de deforestaciónmayormente causada por lasubsistencia a aquellamayormente causado por ladestrucción de bosques porparte de las corporaciones.

Howler monkey says life lookedbetter on the other side of thelake...

Mono aullador dice que la vida seve mejor del otro lado del Lago...

These photos of a howlermonkey swimming towards BCIfrom the direction of thewestern mainland bank of thecanal at one of the widest pointsbetween the mainland and thenorthern part of the island weretaken by Ana Cristina Rubinoffon Wed Aug 12 at 10:30am. Themonkey was spotted by BCIwarden Ricardo Racines. IraRubinoff also witnessed theevent. The monkey wasswimming strongly and was

likely to complete the swim ofover a kilometer, according toRubinoff.

Estas fotos de un monoaullador nadando hacia BCIdesde el banco de tierra firmeoccidental del Canal en uno delos puntos más anchos entretierra firme y el área norte de laIsla fueron tomadas por AnaCristina Rubinoff el 12 deagosto a las 10:30am. El monofue localizado por el RicardoRacines. Ira Rubinoff tambiénfue testigo del evento. El mononadaba con fuerza y parecía quecompletaría su trayecto de cercade un kilómetro, de acuerdo aRubinoff.

Bocas’ paradise poses more than onechallenge for scientists and engineers

Story:

Sebastien Tilmans

Edited by M Alvarado

& ML Calderon

Photo: MA Guerra

The communities and

ecosystems of the

islands of Bocas del

Toro Archipelago

depend on each other

and the water around

them. Recent

development is an

economic boon, but

the region’s isolation

and lack of freshwater

threatens public health

and the environment.

The lack of sewage and

power infrastructure

make it difficult for

traditional wastewater

treatment.

Sebastien Tilmans (at

right), engineer from

the Cooper Union

funded by a Fulbright

Scholarship, works in

harnessing waste as a

resource to achieve

multiple

environmental,

economic, and social

benefits. He has

engineered a low-cost,

low-energy

anaerobic-aerobic

wastewater treatment

built and maintained

with local resources.

Anaerobic digestion

(decomposition of

organic matter in the

absence of oxygen)

doesn't require

energy-consuming

aerators like many

aerobic systems. It

generates energy in the

form of biogas that can

be used for cooking

replacing fossil-fuel.

Combined with a

gravity-fed aerobic

post-treatment system,

anaerobic digestion is

well suited for the

climate in Bocas.

In collaboration with

the community of

Bastimentos and

environmental

engineer Eric Nyman,

Tilmans built

prototypes at four

houses around a

stream. To supplement

this "hard"

infrastructure, they

stabilized and restored

the stream with

tropical plants to

reduce erosion,

remove remaining

nutrients from the

water, and restore

biodiversity.

Next step of the project

is to monitor for long-

term efficiency and

expand the concept to

other communities.

Las comunidades y los

ecosistemas de las

islas del Archipiélago

de Bocas del Toro

dependen de ellas

mismas y el agua que

las rodea. El reciente

desarrollo es un es una

bendición económica,

pero el aislamiento de

la región y la falta de

agua dulce amenaza la

salud pública y el

ambiente. La falta de

alcantarillado e

infraestructuras de

energía hacen difíciles

los tratamientos

tradicionales de aguas

servidas.

Sebastien Tielmans (a

la derecha) ingeniero

de la Universidad de

Cooper Union con

fondos de una Beca

Fulbright, trabaja para

convertir los

deshechos en un

recurso para lograr

beneficios múltiples:

social, ambiental y

económico. Ha

diseñado un

tratamiento para aguas

servidas

anaeróbico-aeróbico

de bajo costo, bajo en

energía construido y

mantenido con

recursos locales.

La digestión

anaeróbica

(descomposición de

material orgánico en la

ausencia de oxígeno)

no requiere aereadores

que consumen energía

como muchos de los

sistemas aeróbicos.

Genera energía en

forma de biogas que se

puede usar para

cocinar, reemplazando

al combustible fósil.

Combinado con un

sistema de

post-tratamiento

aeróbico alimentado

por gravedad, la

digestión anaeróbica

es adecuada para el

clima en Bocas.

En colaboración de la

comunidad de

Bastimentos y el

ingeniero ambiental

Eric Nyman, Tilmans

construyó prototipos

en cuatro casas

alrededor de un

riachuelo. Para

suplementar esta

infraestructura "dura",

estabilizaron y

restauraron el

riachuelo con plantas

tropicales para reducir

la erosión, remover los

nutrientes remanentes

del agua y restaurar la

biodiversidad.

El próxima paso en

este proyecto es

monitorear para medir

su eficiencia a largo

plazo y expandir el

concepto a otras

comunidades.