Scientists discovered a 5-foot-long fossil turtle with an extremely circular shell in Colombia. The shell may have discouraged predators and helped the cold-blooded turtle regulate its body temperature. This new species adds to evidence that tropical reptiles were larger than they are now after the dinosaurs' extinction.
A new study suggests that large areas of western Amazonia were sparsely inhabited before European arrival, contradicting the idea that most of Amazonia was heavily occupied. The research found few signs of charcoal from fires, indicating low-intensity human impacts on forests.
Scientists sequenced the Heliconius butterfly genome to understand wing pattern diversity, finding that different species copy each other's patterns by exchanging genes. This process allows hybrids to gain useful genes for adapting to changing conditions and survive.
Researchers discovered that spiders' legs are protected by branching hairs and a chemical coating, allowing them to move without getting stuck. By carefully maneuvering their legs, spiders minimize adhesive forces while constructing their webs.
Researchers have found evidence of ancient popcorn in Peru, dating back 6,700 to 3,000 years. The discovery provides valuable information on the evolution of corn and its adaptation to different environments.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that individual monkeys who avoid conflicts prevent large groups from achieving their competitive potential. By defecting, members of larger groups can gain an advantage when defending their territory but not when invading others.
Researchers found that as spider size decreases, brain size increases proportionally, with even the smallest spiders able to weave webs and perform complex behaviors.
Scientists have discovered that human activities are perturbing the nitrogen cycle in tropical forests, leading to an increase in nitrogen levels. This finding has significant implications for tree communities and global change models.
Scientists have discovered two new, closely related bee species on Coiba Island in Panama, which originated from a group of stingless bees that moved into Central America. The presence of one of these new species on the island raises questions about Panama's geological history and biodiversity.
A new report by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute identifies gaps in Panama's forest monitoring, making it difficult to track emission reductions from REDD+ activities. The study emphasizes the need for low-cost, verifiable forest monitoring techniques to verify the effectiveness of conservation strategies.
A recent study published in Science found that tropical forests' variability is attributed to historical and geological processes rather than current ecology. The research team collected data at sites worldwide, revealing similarities in biodiversity patterns between tropical rainforests and temperate regions.
Researchers found that a single gene, optix, underlies the diverse red wing patterns of Heliconius butterflies across the Americas. The gene's regulation leads to subtle differences in wing patterns between species.
Heavy rainfall triggered landslides that choked rivers and overwhelmed the Panama City water-treatment plant, forcing a month-long shutdown. The new digital map of landslide scars will help authorities calculate future storm risk and minimize its impact on water supply.
Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute offer new insights on reforestation in Latin America, highlighting the importance of native species, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation. The research provides a framework for land managers to weigh environmental and economic factors in their decision-making.
Scientists discovered that ancient rainforests had more veins per unit area in leaves of flowering plants, allowing for increased water availability and carbon capture. This finding suggests that improved plumbing systems in these plants contributed to the evolution of modern rainforest ecosystems.
Researchers challenge Inclusive Fitness Theory, citing flawed assumptions and misrepresentation of data. The debate highlights the importance of rigorous scholarship in scientific inquiry.
Research finds vines are outcompeting trees in tropical forests across the Americas, posing a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. This shift has significant implications for climate models, business models relying on tree growth data, and human communities dependent on these forests.
Researchers found that tropical rainforest diversity increased rapidly during a 56.3 million year-old global warming event, with new plant species emerging at an accelerated rate. Despite expected devastation, forest ecosystems fared surprisingly well under the warmer conditions.
The research team analyzed rock samples to reveal the mountain's 2,200-kilometer journey from Peru to its modern position on the Caribbean coast. The findings link the mountain's foundation to other old massifs in the Americas.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that a fungal disease has decimated amphibian abundance and species diversity in Central America's highlands. The researchers used DNA barcoding to estimate the impact of the epidemic, discovering five new species were also lost.
Researchers found that adult trees harbor pests and diseases that harm seedlings of their own species more than others, leading to stabilizing mechanisms that maintain diversity. The study suggests that plant interactions with soil biota are powerful enough to explain co-existence and abundance patterns in tropical forests.
A massive study at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that rare species of trees are more sensitive to their own species neighbors than common species. This interaction plays a crucial role in determining which organisms thrive in tropical forests.
Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have discovered two new frog species in Panama, Pristimantis educatoris and P. adnus, which were identified through genetic analysis. The discoveries bring the total number of frog species to 197, with nearly 15% described in the past seven years.
Scientists tracked 17 iridescent orchid bees using radio transmitters, finding that males spent most of their time in small core areas but could visit farther afield. These long-distance movements help explain why some orchids are rare despite being pollinated by these bees.
Researchers found fossil teeth of Carcharocles megalodon, the world's largest shark species, in an ancient nursery in Panama. The teeth suggest young sharks spent their early years near the coast among mangroves.
Scientists identified 20 sand fly species in Panama, including two carrying Leishmania naiffi, a parasite causing cutaneous leishmaniasis. The presence of Wolbachia bacteria in these flies may offer a strategy for disease control and prevention measures such as insect repellent and protective clothing.
A new fossil turtle species, Cerrejonemys wayuunaiki, was found in the Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia, dating back to 60 million years ago. The thick shell may have protected it from predators like the Titanoboa, a snake thought to be the world's biggest.
A new study reveals that birds, bats, and lizards play a crucial role in maintaining forest health by controlling insect populations. By eating herbivores and their insect predators, these animals reduce plant damage by 40%, leading to a 14% increase in plant biomass.
Researchers found that social bee queens have a more developed mushroom body, associated with learning and memory, despite not having bigger brains overall. This suggests that social interactions are cognitively challenging for these bees, as predicted by the social brain hypothesis.
Researchers discovered that leafcutter ant queens can neutralize male-male sperm competition through glandular secretions. This allows them to preserve their own sperm for millions of eggs fertilized over a single day's sexual activity.
The HSBC Climate Partnership has made significant progress in understanding the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems and carbon storage. Researchers have found rapid increases in tree growth, proposed a novel biodiversity theory, and examined the impact of changing climate on white-tailed deer and mosquitoes.
Researchers found that tall palm trees with debris should be targeted for Chagas disease surveillance and control. They suggest simple environmental management practices like removing organic debris can reduce the risk of vector-human contact.
Helene Muller-Landau's tolerance-fecundity model reveals why different species make strikingly different reproductive choices. The model suggests that varying levels of stress favor different strategies.
Research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that punishment is necessary to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between plants and wasp pollinators. In actively pollinated fig species, wasps that don't provide pollination are sanctioned, while in passively pollinated species, sanctions are absent.
A new strategy proposes a biodiversity-focused approach to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation, favoring high-biodiversity nations in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. This approach has been shown to contribute more to slowing biodiversity loss than traditional carbon-based credit scenarios.
The discovery of Titanoboa, the largest snake to have ever existed, reveals that Neotropical rainforests flourished during warm periods, with temperatures up to 3-5°C warmer than today. The fossil rainforest's plant diversity was lower than expected, suggesting it may have been recovering from mass extinctions.
A long-term study found that El Niño drives the migration of Sulfur butterflies in Panama, with peak migrations occurring after rainy season begins. The research suggests that understanding global climate cycles can improve prediction of insect movements and effects on crops.
Africanized bee invasion of Mexico's Yucatan led to a shift in pollination patterns, with native bees benefiting from increased availability of certain plant species. However, native populations in less diverse areas may be more vulnerable to invasions.
In the Caribbean Sea, environmental changes led to a shift from clonal to sexual reproduction among cupuladriid bryozoans. This shift enabled species to survive by becoming more robust against fragmentation, while those that failed to adapt went extinct.
The new management plan for Panama's Coiba National Park and World Heritage site identifies seven terrestrial zones and two marine areas. Nearly $11 million will be sought to establish public outreach and resource management programs.
A set of fossil teeth belonging to an ancient three-toed browsing horse, Anchitherium clarencei, has been discovered in the Panama Canal earthworks. The find supports earlier proposals that the habitat was a mosaic of dense forest and open woodlands, extending the southern range of this horse species.
Researchers found that young queens adopt a fungus from another nest, cultivating it in their new nest. This temporary partner switching acts as an evolutionary safety net, preventing the accumulation of deleterious mutations and maintaining stability in the ant-fungus mutualism.
Researchers have dated mountain-building events in the eastern Andes range of Colombia to 25 million years ago, contradicting previous estimates of 10-15 million years. This new finding sheds light on the geological history of the region and its importance for understanding ancient animal migration patterns and oil-gas exploration.
By modifying male and female genitalia, researchers induced changes in female reproduction, including reduced ovulation and increased mating attempts. Cryptic female choice was found to play a crucial role in shaping genital structure and evolutionary adaptations.
Researchers found that leaf-cutting ants and their fungal gardens actively combat invading fungi, ensuring mutualism health. The garden itself can also compete with incoming microbes, strengthening the ants' hygiene practices.
Oil palm expansion in the Brazilian Amazon is likely to occur at the expense of natural forest, according to William F. Laurance and Rhett A. Butler. The proposed revision to Brazil's forest code would allow up to 30% of reserved forests to consist of oil palm plantations.
Researchers discovered that African forests are increasing in tree carbon stocks by an amount equal to the weight of a small car each year. This suggests that extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be acting as fertilizer, but other factors like human occupation and past disturbance may also be at play.
The AAAS Symposium explores emerging threats to terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including habitat loss, climate change, and overfishing. Researchers will discuss research challenges and synthesis of current and emerging threats.
Researchers discovered the remains of Titanoboa cerrejonensis, a massive boa-like snake that lived in northern South America during the Paleocene epoch. The estimated size of the snake was 42 feet in length and weighed over a ton, challenging our understanding of past climates and environments.
Laurance and Lovejoy received the award for their contributions to understanding habitat fragmentation and global change impacts on tropical forests. Their work promotes conservation research in imperiled forests, inspiring decision-makers and the public to establish and conserve large, interconnected forest reserves vital to ecologica...