Panama Canal & Barro Colorado Island, Panama
About eight miles south of the Gatun Locks, Barro Colorado Island (BCI) - the largest of the lake islands - is a very important living laboratory for the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research. Previously, research scientists were the only people allowed on the island, but now tour groups are permitted. Our small vessel, though, is the only ship that can actually stop in the middle of Gatun Lake and disembark its guests onto the research station’s trails. That is a great deal for all of us!!!
This island is one of the three most important Neotropical research sites, where many scientists have described, for the first time, some biological facts. Monkeys, trees, ants, birds, rainfall, soils, and almost any organism or abiotic factor on the island has had some sort of study related to it. As the island has been a scientific spotlight since 1923, this means that if one wanted to do research in phenology (plant reproductive behavior) for instance, there would be 85 years of data.
We are very lucky to be allowed to walk the trails that researchers like Carpenter, Milton, Snyder-Molino, Chapman, Zitek, etc. have also trekked. Many rewards were waiting for us today including Geoffrey’s tamarins, howler monkeys, white hawks, and American crocodiles, welcoming us into their realm.
The second half of the Panama Canal transit started this afternoon, taking us directly to the Caribbean Sea and the end of our trip, but the beginning of lifelong friendships and memories.
About eight miles south of the Gatun Locks, Barro Colorado Island (BCI) - the largest of the lake islands - is a very important living laboratory for the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research. Previously, research scientists were the only people allowed on the island, but now tour groups are permitted. Our small vessel, though, is the only ship that can actually stop in the middle of Gatun Lake and disembark its guests onto the research station’s trails. That is a great deal for all of us!!!
This island is one of the three most important Neotropical research sites, where many scientists have described, for the first time, some biological facts. Monkeys, trees, ants, birds, rainfall, soils, and almost any organism or abiotic factor on the island has had some sort of study related to it. As the island has been a scientific spotlight since 1923, this means that if one wanted to do research in phenology (plant reproductive behavior) for instance, there would be 85 years of data.
We are very lucky to be allowed to walk the trails that researchers like Carpenter, Milton, Snyder-Molino, Chapman, Zitek, etc. have also trekked. Many rewards were waiting for us today including Geoffrey’s tamarins, howler monkeys, white hawks, and American crocodiles, welcoming us into their realm.
The second half of the Panama Canal transit started this afternoon, taking us directly to the Caribbean Sea and the end of our trip, but the beginning of lifelong friendships and memories.
