STRI news
Tupper 4pm seminar
Tuesday, June 1 , 4pm seminarst
speaker will be Roldán
Valverde, Southeastern
Louisiana University
Hot beaches and sex: Sea
turtles and climate change
BDG meeting
STRI’s next Behavior
Discussion Group meeting will
be held on June 1 , 2pm, at thest
Large Meeting Room, Tupper,
with Bill Wcislo and Gloria
Vargas
Miniaturization of brain size
in spiders
Bambi seminar
Thursday, June 3, Bambi
seminar speaker will be
Jonathan Shik, University of
Oklahoma
The ecological importance
of ant colony size
Arrivals
Tomas Kursar and Phyllis
Coley, University of Utah, to
continue working on the
ICBG bioprospecting and
training, on BCI.
Michael Ryan, Amanda Lea
and Sofia Rodriguez Brenes,
University of Texas, to
continue studies on the
Túngara Frog, in Gamboa.
Peter Houlihan, John Hopkins
University, to study
phenotypic plasticity among
populations of Nymphalid
butterflies in biogeographically
diverse tropical forest habitats,
in Gamboa.
Thomas Lambert, Frostburg
State University, to study the
influence of liana removal on
small mammal communities
and seed fate, on BCI.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá        www.stri.org       May 28, 2010
Correa                 García de Paredes           Lu     Chizmar   Toribio        De Sedas          Stapf        Lucila de Zárate  
           
Five new books with INBio and Norway
STRI botanists Mireya Correa
(also with the University of
Panama) and Maria Stapf and
their colleagues have published
five new of books supported
by the project “Developing
Capabilities and Sharing
Technologies for Biodiversity
Conservation” a joint venture
of the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the Costa
Rican National Institute for
Biodiversity. The University of
Panama and STRI also
supported these publications
that include a photographic
guide, a guide to the trees at
the University of Panama, a
guide to El Charco in the
Soberania National Park, a
guide to Cerro Jefe, the
folkloric use of plants, and crafts
using seeds and fruits in
Panama. A calendar was also
issued.
The first of these books was
published in 2009, Plantas
comestibles de Centroamérica
[Central American edible plants]
(see STRI news, July 24, 2009). 
The University of Panama
presented these books as a
collection “to learn more about
the flora of our country” on May
19, at the Rector´s Hall. Rector
Gustavo García de Paredes
congratulated Profesora Correa
for her excellent work directing
the University of Panama
Herbarium since its creation in
1968, as well as the rest of the
authors of this collection,
namely Maria Stapf, Allys Lu,
Alejandro De Sedas, Laurencio
Martínez, Noris Toribio,
Fermín Hernádez, Reyes
Carranza and the scientific
editor of the books, J. Francisco
Morales. He also congratulated
the government of Norway for
financing this project, and
INBio for their coordination.
The books are being distributed
among local and regional
libraries, as well as other
institutions and non-
government organizations.
More arrivals
Lawrence Richard Kirkendall,
University of Bergen, Norway,
to study biodiversity
determinants of the
community of bark beetles in
fallen leaves, on BCI.
Michaela Halsey, Frostburg
State University, to study seed
removal rates by small
mammals and seed fate in the
Neotropics, on BCI.
Sam Dupre, Frostburg State
University, to make a
comparison of behavior and
microhabitat use by two
sympatric species of echimyid
rodents, spiny rats (Proechimys
semispinosus) and armored rats
(Hoplomys gymnurus) in
Central Panama, on BCI.
Paul Schaeffer, Miami
University Ohio, to study the
seasonality and life history of
metabolic capacity in birds, on
Bocas del Toro.
Christopher Laumer, Harvard
University, to study the
recollection of the little-known
Geocentrophora tropica Hyman
1941 (Platyhelminthes:
Lecithoepitheliata) from BCI.
 
Jacob Dittel, University of
Wisconsin - Oshkosh, to Seed
removal rates by small
mammals and seed fate in the
Neotropics, on BCI.
Julian Moll-Rocek, Harvard
University, to study the
functional diversity of
secondary succession plant
communities within a tropical
agricultural landscape in the
Republic of Panama.
James Kealey, Columbia
University, to study the social
and genetic determinants of
eusocial behavior and kin
recognition in Synalpheus
snapping shrimps, in Bocas del
Toro.
Las botánicas de STRI, Mireya 
Correa (también con la
Universidad de Panamá) y
María Stapf, y sus colegas de la
rama, publicaron cinco nuevos
libros con el apoyo del
proyecto “Desarrollando
Capacidades y
Compartiendo Tecnología para
la Conservación de la
Biodiversidad” un programa
en conjunto entre el Ministerio
de Relaciones Exteriores de
Noruega y el Instituto
Nacional de Biodiversidad de
Costa Rica. La Universidad de
Panamá y STRI también
ofrecieron apoyo a estas
publicaciones, que incluyen
una guía fotográfica, una guía
para árboles y arbustos de la
Universidad de Panamá, una
guía para El Charco del Parque
Nacional Soberanía, una guía de
plantas en Cerro Jefe, y el uso
folclórico de las plantas, y
artesanías que usan semillas y
frutos en Panamá. También se
produjo un calendario.
El primero de estos libros, 
Plantas comestibles de Centroamérica,
se publicó en 2009 (STRI news
del 24 de julio de 2009).
La Universidad de Panamá
presentó estos libros como
“una colección para conocer
más la flora de nuestro país” el
19 de mayo en el Vestíbulo
de la Rectoría. El rector Gustavo
García de Paredes, felicitó a la
Profesora Correa, quien ha
hecho un excelente trabajo como
directora del Herbario de la
Universidad de Panamá desde
su creación en 1968, y al resto
de los co-autores de la
colección, María Stapf, Allys Lu,
Alejandro De Sedas, Laurencio
Martínez, Noris Toribio,
Fermín Hernández, Reyes
Carranza, y el editor científico
de los libros, J. Francisco
Morales. También felició al
Gobierno de Noruega por
suministrar los fondos para la
publicación de estos libros, y a
INBio por su coordinación.
Los libros se están
distribuyendo entre bibliotecas
locales y regionales, así como a
otras instituciones y
organizaciones no-
gubernamentales.
New publications
Caldwell, Michael S., Johnston,
Gregory R., McDaniel, J.
Gregory, and Warkentin, Karen
M. 2010. "Vibrational signaling
in the agonistic interactions of
red-eyed treefrogs." Current
Biology Online.
Ceron-Souza, Ivania,
Rivera-Ocasio, Elsie, Medina,
Ernesto, Jimenez, Jorge A.,
McMillan, W. Owen, and
Bermingham, Eldredge. 2010.
"Hybridization and
introgression in New World red
mangroves, Rhizophora
(Rhizophoraceae)." American
Journal of Botany Online:
ajb.0900172.
Chizmar, Carla, Lu, Allys, and
Correa A., Mireya D. 2009.
Plantas de uso folclórico y tradicional
en Panamá. Santo Domingo de
Heredia, Costa Rica: Instituto
Nacional de Biodiversidad,
INBio.
De Sedas M., Alejandro,
Hernandez, Fermin, Carraza,
Reyes, Correa A., Mireya D.,
and Stapf, Maria N.S. de. 2010.
Guía de árboles y arbustos del
campus Dr. Octavio Méndez Pereira,
Universidad de Panamá. Santo
Domingo de Heredia, Costa
Rica: Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad, INBio.
De Sedas M., Alejandro,
Martinez, Laurentino, and
Stapf, Maria N.S. de. 2009. Guía
fotográfica de las plantas vasculares de
Cerro Jefe, Panamá. Santo
Domingo de Heredia, Costa
Rica: Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad, INBio.
De Sedas M., Alejandro,
Martinez, Laurentino, Stapf,
Maria N.S. de, and Correa A.,
Mireya D. 2009. Un recorrido por
el sendero El Charco, Parque
Nacional Soberanía, Panamá.
Santo Domingo de Heredia,
Costa Rica: Instituto Nacional
de Biodiversidad, INBio.
More arrivas
Tiago Schaeffer, Elementary
School Student, to study the
seasonality and life history of
metabolic capacity in birds, on
Bocas del Toro.
Marion Lykins, Miami
University Ohio, to study the
seasonality and life history of
metabolic capacity in birds, on
Bocas del Toro.
Darío Zambrano, Universidad
Nacional de Colombia, to study
if plant defenses influence the
specialization of insect
herbivores of co-occurring,
closely related plants in tropical
forests, on BCI.
Jeremy Law, Columbia
University, to study social and
genetic determinants of
eusocial behavior and kin
recognition in Synalpheus
snapping shrimps, on Bocas
Christopher Laumer, Harvard,
to study the recollection of the
little-known Geocentrophora
tropica Hyman 1941
(Platyhelminthes:
"Lecithoepitheliata") from
Barro Colorado Island.
Departures
Richard Condit to Atlanta, to
help initiate the CTFS Plot at
Harvard Forest and present a
lecture at Emory University.
Haris Lessios to Santa Marta,
Colombia, to give course on
molecular evolution as part of a
Ph.D. program on the
Colombian Center of
Excellence in Marine Sciences
and to collect sea urchins.
STRI in the news
“Vibrating frogs are ready to
fight” by Adam Mann. 2010.
Science Now: May
20http://news.sciencemag.org/
sciencenow/2010/05/vibrating
-frogs-are-ready-to-fig.html
New faces 
at ELTI
STRI’s Environmental
Leadership and Training
Initiative (ELTI) announces
the incorporation of two new
staff members, Saskia
Santamaría (effective April 5
and and Yohany Candanedo
(effective May 10).
Santamaría, a biologist, was
selected for the position of
training assistant. She has
worked at STRI, the
Metropolitan Natural Park,
and has extensive experience
with environmental education
working with groups in rural
and urban areas. Sheactively
volunteers with other
environmental/climate change
initiatives in Panama.
Yohany Candanedo was
selected for the position of
administrative assistant. Before
joining ELTI, she worked at
STRI´s Office of Facilities,
Engineering and Operations
(OFEO) for 18 months, and
Panama´s private sector. At
STRI she will handle a variety
of administrative duties
including travel arrangements,
purchasing, financial
monitoring, etc. She studies
International Commerce with
an emphasis in Logistics, at
Universidad Latina.
La Iniciativa de Liderazgo y
Capacitación Ambiental de
STRI, (ELTI) anuncia la la
incorporación de dos nuevos
miembros en su personal,
Saskia Santamaría (a partir del
5 de abril y Yohany
Candanedo (a partir del 10 de
mayo).
Santamaría, bióloga, fue
seleccionada para la posición
de asistente de capacitación.
Ha trabajado los diez últimos
años en STRI, el Parque 
Santamaría
Natural y el Fondo Peregrino.
Santamaría tiene mucha
experiencia en educación
ambiental con grupos en áreas
rurales y urbanas y ha sido
una voluntaria activa en otras
iniciativas ambientales y de
cambio climático en Panamá.
Candanedo
Yohany Candanedo fue
seleccionada como asistente
administrativa. Antes de
unirse a ELTI, trabajó en la
Oficina de OFEO de STRI
durante 18 meses, así como
en el sector privado de
Panamá. En STRI llevará a
cabo una variedad de labores
de apoyo incluyendo arreglos
de viajes, compras, monitoreo
financiero, etc. Candanedo es
estudiante de Comercio
Internacional en la
Universidad Latina.
New publications
McGowan, Tom, Cunningham,
Sarah L., Guzman, Hector M.,
Mair, James M., Guevara, Jose
M., and Betts, Tanja. 2010.
"Mangrove forest composition
and structure in Las Perlas
Archipelago, Pacific Panama."
Revista de Biologia Tropical 58(3):
857-869.
Miura, Osamu, Torchin, Mark
E., and Bermingham, Eldredge.
2010. "Molecular phylogenetics
reveals differential divergence
of coastal snails separated by
the Isthmus of Panama."
Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution Online.
Park, Andrew, van Breugel,
Michiel, Ashton, Mark S.,
Wishnie, Mark, Mariscal,
Emilio, Deago, Jose, Ibarra,
Diogenes, Cedeno, Norma,
and Hall, Jefferson S. 2010.
"Local and regional
environmental variation
influences the growth of
tropical trees in selection trials
in the Republic of Panama."
Forest Ecology and Management
260(1): 12-21.
Ramirez, Santiago R., Nieh,
James C., Quental, Tiago B.,
Roubik, David W.,
Imperatriz-Fonseca, Vera L.,
and Pierce, Naomi E. 2010. "A
molecular phylogeny of the
stingless bee genus Melipona
(Hymenoptera: Apidae)."
Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution Online.
Rasher, Douglas B., and Hay,
Mark E. 2010. "Chemically rich
seaweeds poison corals when
not controlled by herbivores."
Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences 107(21):
9683-9688.
Toribio, Noris, and Correa A.,
Mireya D. 2009. Semillas y frutos
de uso artesanar en Panamá. Santo
Domingo de Hereia, Costa
Rica: Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad, INBio.
Friday´s coolest video!
Taken from Science Friday
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201005213
“They look cuddly, but don´t
be fooled: red-eyed treefrogs
(Agalychnis callidryas) have a
secret dark side. When Michael
Caldwell, of the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute,
filmed the frogs under infrared
light he saw a behavior had
hadn't seen before -- the frogs
started vigorously shaking the
branches they were sitting on.
Caldwell and colleagues,
including Karen Warkentin of
Boston University, decode the
meaning of the shakes in
Current Biology this week.” [The
week of May 21, 2010]
(Video credits: Footage and
images courtesy of Michael
Caldwell, Karen Warkentin
Venetia S. Briggs, music from
prelinger archives.)
Reviews of the findings 
reported in the article
“Vibrational signaling in the
agonistic interactions of
red-eyed treefrogs” published
by Current Biology and
distributed by Neal G. Smith´s
Science Sendings, were featured on
NPR´s, Science Friday and in the
New York Times webpages and
news services around the world.
The actual article can also be
obtained from
calderom@si.edu
“Se ven acariciables, pero no se
deje engañar: las ranas arbóreas
de ojos rojos (Agalychnis
callidryas) tienen su lado oscuro.
Cuando Michael Caldwell, del
Instituto Smithsonian de
Investigaciones Tropicales,
filmó a las ranas bajo luz
infraroja, observó una conducta
que nunca había visto antes
—las ranas empezaron a
temblar vigorosamente las
ramas donde estaban situadas.
Caldwell y colegas, incluyendo a
Karen Warkentin de la
Universidad de Boston,
decodificaron el significado de
estos temblores en la revista
Current Biology de esta semana.”
[La semana del 21 de mayo de
2010.]
(Los créditos del video: historia
e imágenes, cortesía de Michael
Caldwell, Karen Warkentin y
Venetia S. Broggs, música de
archivos prelinger).
Reseñas sobre sobre los
descubrimientos que se
informaron en el artículo
“Vibrational signaling in the
agonistic interactions of red-
eyed treefrogs” [Señalizaciones
con vibraciones en
interacciones agonísticas de las
ranas arbóreas de ojos rojos] y
publicados por la revista Current
Biology y distribuído por los
Science Sendings de Neal G.
Smith, aparecen en NPR´s,
Science Friday, New York Times,
páginas de web y servicios
informativos alrededor del
mundo.
El artículo mismo también
puede obtenerse de
calderom@si.edu