Bocas del Toro Research Station

18/11/2025

This open access publication about the beaches in Bocas, highlights a way to use cell phones to collect data that can be used to model the physics of waves.

Coastal erosion poses a significant threat to small tropical island regions, where coastal tourism and infrastructure play vital economic roles. However, the processes affecting tropical beaches, particularly in Central America, remain underexplored due to a lack of data on waves and atmospheric con...

19/09/2025

De 2021 a 2023, recibimos financiación de la SENACYT de Panamá para estudiar la biodiversidad del plancton en el Canal de Panamá. Este año, se publicaron las dos primeras publicaciones de este trabajo. En una, a cargo de la estudiante de maestría Jacqueline Delgado, demostramos cómo un nuevo método de muestreo pasivo de agua permite documentar más tipos de microbios que los métodos de muestreo estándar. Esto incluyó muestras tanto del Canal de Panamá como de Bocas del Toro. En el segundo artículo, publicamos una extensa base de datos de referencia de códigos de barras de ADN para animales que viven en el canal y sus alrededores. Esta es la base de datos utilizada para identificar secuencias de ADN y también una herramienta importante para detectar especies invasoras. Queremos felicitar a todo el equipo por este excelente producto y agradecer a la SENACYT por su apoyo. Ambos artículos están disponibles para el público si desea obtener más información.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/freshwater-science/articles/10.3389/ffwsc.2024.1460713/full

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5729/10/7/108

DNA metabarcoding is a powerful biodiversity monitoring tool, enabling simultaneous assessments of diverse biological communities. However, its accuracy depends on the reliability of reference databases that assign taxonomic identities to obtained sequences. Here we provide a DNA barcode dataset for...

08/01/2025

Dr. Noelle Lucey just published a paper showing that at least some coral species in Bahia Almirante can resist and adjust to the low oxygen conditions in the back of the bay.

One approach to improve long-term coral restoration success utilizes naturally stress-tolerant corals from the wild. While the focus has primarily been on thermal stress, low oxygen is a growing threat to coral reefs and restoration efforts should also consider hypoxia tolerance. Here we determine i...

19/11/2024

26/10/2024

https://stri.si.edu/es/noticia/asfixiando-la-biodiversidad

¿Noticias esperanzadoras para los arrecifes del Caribe? La falta de oxígeno puede ser más mortal para los corales cuerno de ciervo que las altas temperaturas

11/05/2024

Congratulations to the students from our jellyfish course. They have just published this nice paper about fluoresce in the hydrozoan medusae in Bocas del Toro. There are English and Spanish versions.

04/03/2024

One of the old station boats is up for auction on the GSA site, were they sell old government equipment. The boat is currently at the Station on Isla Colon.

Venta de Bote en Bocas del Toro Isla Colon / Boat sale in Bocas del Toro Isla Colon

GSA https://www.gsaauctions.gov/ Importante en el "Search" poner la palabra Panama - It is important use Panama word in “Search” option.

ICN #3-1-QSC-I-24-306-001

Para mas informacion contactar al Sr Raul Espinoza al Tel 212-8578 email: [email protected] - Antonio Reina Tel 212-8306 email: [email protected]

19/12/2023

We are offering 3 exciting taxonomy training courses next summer. Now accepting applications with deadlines in the new year!

07/12/2023

We are ending the year strong. Check out our newly posted series of "how-to" videos on how to study bivalves (clams, oysters, scallops, etc.)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQw2VnOistAwuGxZB2fBFe5rxEKfEzUbD&si=_2T-7r4Mgd7Fr7iS

16/10/2023

Droughts and extreme rainfall events are wreaking havoc on lives and economies.

As snow and ice melt, we see more dangers like floods, and many people's future water supply is at risk.

World Meterological Organisation's State of Global Water Resources report shows that a better understanding of water cycles and resources is needed better water management and calls for a fundamental policy shift.

Consistently observing water conditions, exchanging data, collaborating internationally, and meticulously examining water resources—alongside increasing financial commitments to these activities—is crucial in managing water abundance or scarcity scenarios.

Full report: https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/water/state-of-global-water-resources-2022

22/09/2023

Mangroves—woody trees that grow in coastal waters—have a superpower. They're great at storing carbon, offering an intriguing solution to mitigate climate change. Our research in Belize and Panama will help make the most of these habitats.

Studying mangroves is just one way we're working towards increasing the resilience of ecosystems and exploring solutions to climate change. Explore new tools for resilience: https://bit.ly/3PHPAoH