The Rainforest Discovery Center: Using Social Media to Promote Communication and Environmental Education
Lily Ragsdale Alexa Schubak
McGill University 2019 In Collaboration with the Avifauna Foundation And supervisor Karen Avila
Special thank you to the staff at the Rainforest Discovery Center; Carlos, Natalia and Joseli We conducted interviews with 3 staff members, Carlos, Natalia, and Joseli, these were conducted verbally, using prepared questions. Both formal and informal interviews were conducted with willing visitors, depending on what we felt the client was most comfortable with.
Our main goal was to obtain insight into people’s opinion of the center, which can be accomplished through casual discussion, or by the use of a prepared questionnaire. As to not disrupt the quiet environment that many enjoy, we also gave the option of a paper survey. All surveys were, of course, completely optional and presented as part of a student project that was being conducted by
McGill undergraduate students. We tried to make our conversations with the people we encountered as engaging as possible, and we found most people were more than happy to speak with us. We conducted our interviews in the visitor’s preferred language, and formulated written surveys in both English and Spanish.
1.1 Preguntas para los empleados
1. ¿Cuál cree que es el principal interés de los visitantes en el Rainforest Discovery Center?
a. ¿Cuál es su demografía?
2. ¿Puede identificar un obstáculo importante para las visitas al Rainforest Discovery Center?
3. ¿Qué esfuerzos ha realizado la fundación Avifauna para proteger a las especies en peligro de
extinción?
a. ¿Se hace esto a través de la protección del hábitat?
b. ¿Qué tipo de mantenimiento forestal se realiza en todo el centro?
c. ¿Tiene conocimientos de alguna investigación reciente sobre conservación en el área?
4. ¿Se han visto cambios en la diversidad desde 1985?
a. ¿Hay alguna especie que ya no este aquí?
b. ¿Hay alguna especie que haya regresado?
5. ¿Cree que los esfuerzos de conservación han tenido éxito? 1.2 Preguntas para los visitantes
The responses from the staff and the visitors served to direct our approach to public communication. The type of clientele informed the language and style used for the articles, while knowledge of their overall interests and the challenges of visitation directed the content.
POINTS OF INTEREST IDENTIFIED BY VISITORS AND STAFF
i. Demographic
Visitation in the park differs during the week and the weekend. Tourists seem to come on
any day of the week, but locals mostly visit on the weekend. The most common
nationalities for foreigners were identified as Canadian, German, French, and American.
However, we found a significant presence of visitors from other parts of Latin America
also. The staff informed us that people of Asian (mostly Chinese) nationalities also form
part of their regular clientele, though in lower numbers than other international visitors, but
we did not encounter any on the days we visited.
We encountered visitors of a wide range of ages, from small children to retirees. The main
visitor types seemed to be adult couples, families with children, school groups of variable
age (we saw high school and university level), large birding groups of variable age (mostly
retirees, but sometimes families), and finally solo birders.
Overall, the clientele appears to be more or less evenly distributed between locals and
international visitors. To engage as many people as possible, the articles had to be both in
Spanish and English. In addition, because of the wide range of ages, we made sure to avoid
the use of age-specific language styles. ii. Communication platforms
Throughout our conversations with the clients and staff, we found that the Rainforest
Discovery Center’s online presence was its most effective tool for communication with
visitors. Most international visitors had first heard of the Center through travel websites
such as TripAdvisor, then used the organization’s online platforms to gather more
information. The Rainforest Discovery Center’s social media presence through Facebook
and Instagram is also important for frequent visitors, as it is a means of keeping them
engaged. For all these reasons, we see a real need for continuing to improve the content
being produced by the company on Instagram. In the future, the Rainforest Discovery
Center could consider expanding its social media presence to Twitter, which has been
identified to us as being very popular with young birders.
iii. Reason for visit and general interests
Because pipeline road is one of the most diverse birding spots in Panama, the Center is
very popular with avian enthusiasts and they account for a large proportion of their
clientele. However, they are not the only people who visit the site. Many people come
simply to enjoy nature, go for a short hike and benefit from the peaceful environment. On
the weekends, some locals come over with food and spend part of their day at the center,
simply as a fun activity to be done with friends or family.
Some additional insight that was provided to us by the staff was that this site is frequently
used by researchers and interns, for a wide range of study purposes, not always relating to
avian diversity. Forest and plant specialists have conducted research in forest plots at the center. There is a regular presence of scientists, whose work is promoted by the
organization.
iv. Mode of transport
The main mode of transport for visitors seems to be by car or taxi. Locals and visitors with
rented vehicles benefit from relatively easy access to the site. Many groups who come with
a guide come by mini-bus, which is also a convenient means of transportation to the site.
It was pointed out to us that since the access road has been ameliorated (work done in
January), they have witnessed increases in visitation. Thus, the hardships brought on by
construction were a necessary sacrifice.
International visitors, however, who do not have the means to rent a car, prefer the use of
public transportation. We have experienced first-hand that this can be difficult in Gamboa.
The buses are infrequent, and the stop is located far away from the entrance to the site.
Furthermore, as we get closer to the wet season, the walk to the entrance is made even more
difficult by the increased heat and humidity. This is an unfortunate obstacle to international
visitors of a younger demographic (young adults and student travelers) and is a difficult
one to remedy. At some point in the future, perhaps a shuttle system could be implemented
to drive visitors to and from the bus station, provided they have contacted the center in
advance. v. Overall experience
The experience of all the visitor’s we encountered was a very positive one. The majority
of them expressed their delight at having seen animals species, mostly bird and mammal
sightings. A few also mentioned their appreciation for plants and insects (butterflies), but this was not as common. Bird enthusiasts we spoke to were particularly interested in rare
species sightings. In sum, the focus seems to generally be on birds and mammals, which
can serve to direct the content of the Instagram articles. At the same time, it is possible that
providing new and interesting information about other life forms might broaden the
interests of certain people. These are both elements to consider with public communication;
is it more important to further already-established interests, or should we try to educate
people about new things? We estimate a certain amount of both is necessary.
POINTS OF INTEREST IDENTIFIED BY STAFF ONLY
i. Conservation efforts
As described by the staff, the Rainforest Discovery Center’s role in conservation is mainly
an educational one. They receive school groups, university interns, and also scientists with
a wide range of specialties. The organization mainly works to communicate the importance
of forests and biodiversity to the public, in the hopes of having a wide-spread impact on
maintaining the integrity of the bird species of Panama in their habitat. Additionally
though, the center and its surroundings have become the site of many research projects, on
a variety of subjects (migratory birds, endangered species, forest assays, etc.). Therefore,
the organization also benefits conservation efforts, by promoting the work of scientists and
researchers.
The staff knew details of the organization’s conservation efforts, but the nature of these
efforts was not well known by the visitors of the center. In fact, when brought up, many
expressed interest in knowing more. Therefore, the content conveyed by social media could serve to provide that information, perhaps with a focus on the research that is conducted in
the area.
ii. Changes in species diversity
Members of staff that we spoke with did not notice any recent changes in bird species or
abundance. However, they have noticed a change in frog populations. In the last few years,
there has been a noticeable increase in numbers. It is unclear why this is the case, but it is
very good news for these amphibians.
Something else that is worth noting is that some of the most popular and impressive species
of the park, such as the sloth, were actually introduced. We learned that there is a wildlife
rescue center nearby that rescues and rehabilitates sloths, which has lead to their spread
throughout the area. Similarly, the puma and the hyena were also introduced, in this case
by Panama’s Ministry of Environment.
20 Publicaciones Instagram
Créditos foto y video: Alexa Schubak
Publicación 11: Los colibríes prefieren el rojo
Source: https://www.audubon.org/news/hummingbirds-see-red and https://www.livescience.com/1072-secret-hummingbirds-amazing-energy.html
Todos los días, decenas de colibríes acuden en masa al Centro de Visitantes, por la presencia de alimentadores para pájaros y flores de color rojo. Pero ¿por qué los colibríes se sienten tan atraídos por el color rojo?
En realidad, no lo están. Si bien es cierto que sus ojos son más sensibles a los colores que van del amarillo al rojo, los colibríes prefieren las flores muy ricas en polen, independientemente del color. A pesar de ser las aves más pequeñas del mundo, los colibríes consumen más energía que cualquier otro animal de sangre caliente. Casualmente, muchas flores utilizan el color rojo como indicador de un alto contenido de nutrientes, que estas aves saben son un rico combustible para su estilo de vida de alta actividad. Everyday day, dozens of hummingbirds flock to the Visitor’s Center, for its red-colored bird feeders and flowers. But why are hummingbirds so attracted to the color red?
It turns out they aren’t. While it is true that their eyes are more sensitive to colors ranging from yellow to red, hummingbirds have a preference for very pollen-rich flowers, regardless of color. Despite being the world’s smallest birds, hummingbirds consume more energy than any other warm-blooded animal. It just so happens that many flowers use the color red as an indicator for high-nutrient content, which these birds know to be rich fuel for their high-activity lifestyle.
#Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #Hummingbird #Birdfeeders #Red #Wildlifephotography #Ornithology #Birding #Birdwatching #TravelPanama #Panama
Publicación 12: Guacamayo Verde Mayor
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/group/macaws/
El Gran Guacamayo verde es un ave en peligro de extinción originaria de América Central y del Sur. Sus números han disminuido de 50% en los últimos 10 años, en gran parte debido a la destrucción de los bosques que consideran su hogar. Los guacamayos son pájaros inteligentes y juguetones, y son muy populares en la industria de mascotas exóticas, por lo que son capturados ilegalmente en la naturaleza. La población actual de la especie se estima en 1,000-2,499 individuos. El Rainforest Discovery Center continúa promoviendo la investigación de conservación realizada para ayudar a estas fascinantes aves.
The Great Green Macaw is an endangered bird native to Central and Southern America. Their numbers have declined by 50% in the past 10 years, largely because of the destruction of the forests they call home. Macaws are intelligent, playful birds and are quite popular in the exotic pet industry, for which they are illegally captured in the wild. The species’ current population is estimated at 1,000-2,499 individuals. The Rainforest Discovery Center continues to promote conservation research conducted to help these fascinating birds.
#Panama_rainforest_dc #Avifauna #GreatGreenMacaw #Macaw #Wildlifephotography #Ornithology #Birding #Birdwatching #Conservation #TravelPanama #Panama
Créditos foto: Alexa Schubak
Publicacion 13: Monos Aulladores
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/howler-monkeys/ Se puede escuchar un llamado distinctivo a todas horas en el Rainforest Discovery Center. Pertenece al mono aullador, popularmente conocido como el más ruidoso de todos los monos. Su grito cacofónico se puede escuchar a kilómetros de distancia. El ruido que hacen es territorial; avisando a otros que la copa de árbol que ocupan ya está tomada. Una vez que un grupo ha comenzado a cantar, otros grupos responderán.
A distinct thundering call can be heard at all hours around the Rainforest Discovery Center. It belongs to the Howler Monkey, popularly known to be the loudest of all monkeys. Their cacophonous cry can be heard from kilometers away. The noise they make is territorial; telling others that the treetop they occupy is already taken. Once one group has started chanting, other groups will answer.
#Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #HowlerMonkey #Monkeys #Treetops #Wildlifephotography #Panama #TravelPanama
Créditos foto: Alexa Schubak
Publicación 14: Momoto Picoancho
Source: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/rufmot1/behavior and https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=109748
El Motmot picoancho a menudo se puede ver alrededor del Centro de Visitantes, reposando sobre una de las ramas de los árboles circundantes. La dieta del motmot consiste en gran parte de insectos, que encuentran usando una técnica extraña: siguiendo a las hormigas guerreras. Enjambres de hormigas guerreras devorarán cualquier cosa en su camino; Insectos, arañas y lagartos por igual. Aquellos que intentan escapar huyendo o saltando se convierten en presa de las aves cercanas. Esta estrategia no es nueva en el mundo de las aves; ¡Los hormigueros la han usado por millones de años!
The Broad-billed Motmot can often be spotted around the Visitor’s Center, quietly perched onto one of the surrounding tree branches. The motmot diet consists in large part of insects, which they have been known to find using a strange technique: following army ants. Swarms of army ants will devour anything on their path; insects, spiders and lizards alike. Those that try to escape by jumping or flying away become prey for nearby birds. This strategy is not new; antbirds have been using it for millions of years! #Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #BroadBilledMotmot #Wildlifephotography #Ornithology #Birding #Birdwatching #ArmyAntFollowing #Predation #PanamaTravel #Panama
Créditos foto: Alexa Schubak Publicación 15: Vista Nocturna
Source: https://www.wettropics.gov.au/rainforest_explorer/Resources/Documents/TropicalTopics/Nightinthera inforest.pdf
Esta es la vista desde la torre del dosel por la noche. Una vez que se pone el sol, la selva tropical se convierte en un lugar nuevo con una biodiversidad única. Para vivir en la oscuridad, las especies nocturnas han desarrollado estrategias interesantes, como la ecolocación en los murciélagos. Sin embargo, el animal con la mejor vista nocturna es, sorprendentemente ... la rana. ¡Su visión nocturna es tan buena que incluso pueden ver colores! This is the view from the canopy tower at night. After the sun sets, the rainforest becomes a new place with its own unique biodiversity. To help navigate life in the dark, nocturnal species have developed interesting strategies, such as echolocation in bats. The animal with the best nocturnal eyesight, however, is surprisingly… the frog. Their night-vision is so good, they can even see colors! ##Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #CanopyTower #Nightphoto #Starsky #Nighvision #Frogs #Panama #PanamaTravel
Publicación 16: El Cambio Climático
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150331073936.htm
¿Cuáles son algunos de los impactos del cambio climático aquí en Panamá? La investigación ha demostrado que las plantas con flores están floreciendo antes de lo debido. Cada planta tiene una temperatura ideal en la que produce flores, que ahora se produce más temprano en el año a medida que el planeta se calienta. Esta interrupción en el ciclo natural es preocupante, especialmente para las especies migratorias, algunas de cuya supervivencia depende de la presencia de semillas y frutas en un momento dado muy específico.
What are some of the impacts of climate change here in Panama? Research has shown that flowering plants are blooming sooner than they should. Each plant has an ideal temperature at which they produce flowers, which is reached earlier in the year as the planet warms. This disruption in the natural cycle is worrisome, especially for migratory species, some of whose survival depends on the presence of seeds and fruits at a very specific time. #Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #ClimateChange #Rainforest #RainforestFacts #Panama #Conservation #FloweringTree #Migration
Publicación 17: La temporada seca en Panama
Source: Dr. Hector Barrios Durante la estación seca en Panamá, el agua se convierte en un recurso escaso para las plantas. Para evitar la pérdida de agua a través de las hojas, algunas especies dejan caer sus hojas hasta que regresan las lluvias. Pseudobombax septenatum, comúnmente conocido como el ceibo barrigón, ha perfeccionado esta técnica al desarrollar también una corteza fotosintética. Esto permite que el árbol realice fotosíntesis aun sin la presencia de hojas. Se pueden encontrar individuos de esta especie a lo largo de los senderos del Rainforest Discovery Center. ¡Estén atento a sus troncos teñidos de verde! During the dry season in Panama, water becomes a scarcer resource for plants. To avoid water loss through the leaves, some species shed them until the rains return. Pseudobombax septenatum has perfected this technique, by also developing photosynthetic bark. This allows the tree to perform photosynthesis without leaves. Individuals of this species can be found along the trails of the Rainforest Discovery Center. Lookout for their green-tinted trunks! #Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #Pseudobombaxseptenatum #Photosythesis #Naturefacts #RainforestFacts #DrySeason #Panama
Publicación 18: Manakin de cuello dorado
Source: https://www.audubon.org/news/do-little-dance-make-little-love-golden-collared-manakins- get-their-groove-woo El Manakin de cuello dorado se puede ver alrededor del Centro de Visitantes en el Rainforest Discovery Center. El macho de esta especie es un maestro bailarín. Para impresionar a la hembra, debe realizar una serie impecable de movimientos acrobáticos, los cuales requieren una intensa coordinación y una sincronización perfecta. Las hembras críticas acerbes; ¡Pueden saber si la ejecucion del macho estuvo fuera de ritmo por decenas a cientos de milisegundos! La rutina es tan exigente físicamente, que los machos perderán alrededor de 1/5 de su peso corporal durante las semanas de cortejo. The Golden-collared Manakin can be spotted around the Visitor’s center at the Rainforest Discovery Center. The male of this species is a master dancer. In order to impress the female, he must perform a flawless series of acrobatic movements, all of which require intense coordination and perfect timing. Females are harsh critics; they can tell if the performance is off by tens to hundreds of milliseconds! The routine is so physically demanding, that the males will typically lose about 1/5 of their body weight during the weeks of courtship. #Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #GoldenCollaredManakin #Matingdisplay #Wildlifephotography #Ornithology #Birding #Birdwatching #TravelPanama #Panama
Créditos foto: Alexa Schubak Publicación 19: Bejucos, lianas y plantas epífitas
Source: Dr. Hector Barrios
Si levanta su mirada hacia el dosel durante su caminata en el Rainforest Discovery Center, verá mucho más que solo árboles creciendo. Enredados en las ramas y troncos de estos gigantes se encuentran bejucos, lianas, y plantas epífitas ... todas luchando por un lugar en el sol. Los bejucos y lianas crecen desde el suelo y se adhieren a las estructuras verticales para apoyarse. Las epífitas son diferentes. Estas plantas no crecen en el suelo, sino a partir de semillas depositadas directamente sobre las copas de los árboles. ¡Pruebe y cuéntelos, puede haber muchas de estas formas de vida en un solo árbol!
If you look up towards the canopy during your walk at the Rainforest Discovery Center, you will see much more than just trees growing. Entangled between these giants are vines, lianas, epiphytes… all fighting for a place up in the Sun. Vines and lianas grow from the ground-up, attaching themselves onto vertical structures for support. Epiphytes are different. These plants do not grow on the ground, but rather from seeds deposited directly onto treetops. Try and count them, there may be many on just one tree! #Panama_Rainforest_dc #Avifauna #Epiphyte #VinesandLianas #Treetops #Rainforest #RainforestFacts #Panama #TravelPanama
Creditos foto: Thierry Grandmont, Creditos video: Alexa Schubak
+ Video
Publicación 20: Pájaro Carpintero
Source: http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-woodpeckers/
El sonido de un carpintero con cresta carmesí tamborilear sobre el tronco de un árbol se puede escuchar a lo largo del día en los alrededores del Rainforest Discovery Center. Los carpinteros tienen picos fuertes y largas lenguas pegajosas, que les permiten extraer insectos y savia del interior del árbol para comer. Los pájaros carpinteros son aves diurnas, lo que significa que solo están activos durante el día. Por la noche, descansan en los agujeros que se encuentran dentro de los troncos. Si observa de cerca los senderos, ¡puede ver a uno entrando y saliendo de su hogar!
The sound of a Crimson-crested Woodpecker drumming on a tree trunk can be heard all day long around the Rainforest Discovery Center. Woodpeckers have strong bills and long sticky tongues, which allow them to extract insects and sap from inside the tree to eat. Woodpeckers are diurnal birds, which means they are only active during the day. At night, they rest in holes found inside trunks. If you look closely around the trails, you may see one going in and out of its home!
#PanamaRainforestDiscoveryCenter #Avifauna #Birding #CrimsonCrestedWoodpecker #Woodpecker #Rainforest #TravelPanama
Post 11: Great Tinamou Conservation Source: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/gretin1/conservation
Foto tomada por Thierry Grandmont. Un gran Tinamou busca comida cerca del centro de visitantes en el centro de descubrimiento de la selva tropical de Panamá.
¿Sabías? El Gran Tinamou (Tinamus major) está clasificado como casi amenazado en la Lista Roja de la UICN. Durante el siglo pasado, las grandes poblaciones de Tinamou han ido disminuyendo, solo en México se estima que el 50% de la población ha desaparecido en los últimos 100 años. La caza furtiva, así como la destrucción y fragmentación del hábitat, se acreditan con la mayor parte de la reciente disminución de la población. A medida que más y más bosques antiguos se registran para dar paso a la agricultura y el desarrollo urbano, las áreas protegidas como el Centro de Descubrimiento de la Selva Tropical de Panamá se convierten en refugios esenciales para el Gran Tinamou.
Photo Taken by Thierry Grandmont. A Great Tinamou forages near the visitors center at the Panama Rainforest Discovery center. Did you know? The Great Tinamou (Tinamus major) is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. Over the past century Great Tinamou populations have been on the decline, in Mexico alone it’s estimated that 50% of the population has disappeared over the last 100 years. Poaching as well as habitat destruction and fragmentation are credited with most of the recent population decline. As more and more old-growth forests are logged to make way for agriculture and urban development protected areas like the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center become essential refuges for the Great Tinamou.
#GreatTinamou #PanamaRainforestDiscoveryCenter #Avifauna #Gamboa #RedList #Conservation #TravelPanama
Post 12: Northern Tamandua Source: Web of Science
Foto de Alexa Schubak. Un Tamandua del Norte se aferra a un árbol cerca de la entrada al Rainforest Discovery Center, Gamboa. La Tamandua del Norte (Tamandua mexicana) es una especie de oso hormiguero distribuida en todo el sur de México y América Central. Con un peso de solo 3 a 5 kilogramos, una Tamandua del Norte adulta puede consumir unos 9000 insectos al día. El Tamandua tiene una lengua larga y pegajosa especializada, que es perfecta para extraer los bocadillos favoritos de Tamandua: hormigas y termitas. Pase a la derecha para ver un Tamandua en el Rainforest Discovery Center y abrir un nido de termitas en busca de comida.
Photo by Alexa Schubak. A Northern Tamandua clings to a tree near the entrance to the Rainforest Discovery Center, Gamboa.
The Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) is a species of anteater distributed throughout southern Mexico and Central America. Weighing only 3 to 5 kilograms, an adult Northern Tamandua can consume an impressive 9000 insects daily. The Tamandua has a specialized long, sticky tongue, which is perfect for extracting the Tamanduas favorite snacks: ants and termites. Swipe right to see a Tamandua at the Rainforest Discovery Center tear open a termites nest in search of food.
#NorthernTamandua #Anteater #PanamaRainforestDiscoveryCenter #Avifauna #TravelPanama
Post 13: Neque
Source: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasyprocta_punctata/
Foto tomada por Thierry Grandmont. Un agutí mordisquea una semilla cerca de la Torre de Canopy en el Panamá Rainforest Discovery Center, Gamboa.
¿Sabías que el Agouti centroamericano (Dasyprocta punctata) se aparea de forma monógama de por vida? Agoutis proporciona una serie de importantes servicios ecosistémicos en el Centro de Descubrimiento de Selvas Tropicales de Panamá, son animales de presa importantes para muchos de los centros depredadores carismáticos, incluidas las águilas y los pumas. Agoutis también ayuda a los árboles, como el Merado de la Montagna, a dispersar sus semillas enterrando las semillas en varios lugares.
Photo by Thierry Grandmont. An Agouti nibbles on a seed near the Canopy Tower at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, Gamboa.
Did you know that Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) mate monogamously for life? Agoutis provide a number of important ecosystem services at Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, they are important prey animals for many of the centers charismatic predators, including eagles and pumas. Agoutis also help trees, like the Merado de la Montagna, disperse their seeds by burying the seeds in various locations.
Post 14: Blue Cotinga
Sources:https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/blucot1/overview
Un Cotinga azul masculino (Cotinga nattererii) muestra su vibrante plumaje cerca del centro de visitantes en el Panamá Rainforest Discovery Center. Las cotingas azules son una especie sexualmente dimórfica, solo los machos exhiben el característico plumaje verde-azul, mientras que las hembras son de color marrón rojizo. Esta hermosa especie tiene una distribución muy limitada, la cotinga azul se encuentra solo en la parte oriental de Panamá, Colombia, Venezuela y Ecuador.
A male Blue Cotinga (Cotinga nattererii) shows of his vibrant plumage near the visitors center at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. Blue Cotingas are a sexually dimorphic species, only the males display the characteristic green-blue plumage, while females are a ruddy brown. This beautiful species has a very limited distribution, the Blue Cotinga is found only in the eastern part of Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
Post 15: Leaf-cutter ants
Source: https://www.britannica.com/animal/leafcutter-ant
Una columna de hormigas cortadoras de hojas marchan de regreso a su nido, llevando consigo trozos de hojas y otra materia vegetal orgánica. ¿Sabías que las hormigas cortadoras de hojas no se comen las hojas que llevan a su nido? En su lugar, las hojas se mastican y se usan para cultivar un hongo que alimenta a toda la colonia. Así es, estas pequeñas hormigas son agricultores! Las hormigas cortadoras de hojas han desarrollado una relación mutualista con el hongo. El hongo se beneficia de las hojas cosechadas por las hormigas; ya cambio, el hongo proporciona alimento a la colonia de hormigas.
A column of leaf-cutter ants march determindley back to their nest, carrying with them pieces of leaves and other organic plant matter. Did you know that leaf-cutter ants don’t actually eat the leaves they bring back to their nest? Instead, the leaves are chewed up, and used to grow a fungus which feeds the entire colony. That’s right, these little ants are farmers! Leaf-cutter ants have evolved a mutualistic relationship with the fungus. The fungus benefits from the leaves harvested by the ants; and in return, the fungus provides the ant colony with food.
Post 16: Southern mealy Parrots
¿Sabías que los loros harineros del sur (A. farinosa) se aparean de forma monógama? Estas grandes amazonas son aves altamente sociables que habitan en las regiones tropicales de América Central y del Sur. Desafortunadamente, sus poblaciones están en declive, actualmente están clasificadas como Casi Amenazadas en la Lista Roja de la UICN. Aunque ilegal en la mayoría de los países, las amazonas del sur de Mealy son traficadas a América del Norte para ser vendidas como mascotas. La deforestación y la degradación del hábitat de los bosques húmedos que dependen de los loros harineros del sur también contribuyen a la disminución de la especie. A medida que más bosques tropicales se pierden debido a la deforestación, las áreas protegidas como el Rainforest Discovery Center se vuelven esenciales para la conservación de especies como el Southern Mealy Amazon.
Did you know that Southern Mealy Parrots (A. farinosa) mate monogamously? These large Amazons are highly sociable birds that inhabit tropical Central and South America. Unfortunately, their populations are on the decline, they are currently ranked Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Although illegal in most countries, Southern Mealy Amazons are often trafficked to North America to be sold as pets. Deforestation and degradation of the humid forest habitat Southern Mealy Parrots rely on is also contributing to the species decline. As more tropical forests are lost to deforestation, protected areas like the Rainforest Discovery Center become essential for the conservation of species like the Southern Mealy Amazon.
Post 17: Great Potoo
Source: Web of Science
El Gran Potoo (N. grandis) es una especie de Nightjar nativo de América tropical. Este cazador nocturno es un depredador voraz durante la noche. El Gran Potoo usa una técnica de caza llamada “sallying”, donde se lanza desde una percha para capturar a su presa en el aire, y luego regresa al mismo puesto. La dieta del Gran Potoos consiste principalmente en insectos grandes, pero se sabe que el depredador aviar ocasionalmente come bocadillos más grandes, como los murciélagos. Durante el día, el Gran Potoo se posa en un tocón y utiliza su color para disfrazarse como una rama de árbol.
The Great Potoo (N. grandis) is a species of Nightjar native to tropical america. This nocturnal hunter is a voracious predator during the night. The Great Potoo uses a hunting technique called sallying, where it swoops down from a perch above to capture its prey mid-air, often returning to the same post afterwards. The Great Potoos diet consists mainly of large insects, but the avian predator is known to occasionally snack on larger prey such as bats! During the day, the Great Potoo perches on a stump, and uses its coloring to disguise itself as a tree branch.
Post 18: Buttressed Roots
Source: Web of Science
En los bosques tropicales húmedos del Rainforest Discovery Center, los árboles pueden crecer a alturas asombrosas. Apoyar un árbol de 50 m, con una corona en expansión es una hazaña inmensa, y muchas especies de árboles tropicales emergentes han desarrollado sistemas radiculares especializados para anclarlos al suelo. Las raíces de contrafuerte de Merado de la Montagna (D. panamensis) ayudan a estabilizar el árbol y le permiten crecer más alto que las especies circundantes para competir por la luz solar. Las raíces reforzadas en los trópicos también cumplen una segunda función. La mayoría de los nutrientes en los trópicos se almacenan en las propias plantas, dejando que los suelos adelgacen un nutriente pobre. A diferencia de las especies de árboles del norte, que excavan sus raíces profundamente en el suelo para alcanzar nutrientes, los árboles tropicales extienden sus raíces lateralmente para maximizar el contacto con la capa delgada del suelo.
In the humid tropical forests of the Rainforest Discovery Center trees can grow to staggering heights. Supporting a 50m tree, with a sprawling crown is an immense feat, and many emergent tropical tree species have evolved specialized root systems to anchor them to the ground. The buttress roots of Merado de la Montagna (D. panamensis) help stabilize the tree, and allow it to grow taller than surrounding species to compete for sunlight. Buttressed roots in the tropics also serve a second function. Most of the nutrients in the tropics are stored in plants themselves, leaving the soils thin an nutrient poor. Unlike northern tree species, which burrow their roots deep into the soil to reach nutrients, tropical trees spread their roots out laterally to maximize contact with the thin soil layer. #Buttressedroots #Neotropics # MeradodelaMontagna #PanamaRainforest Discovery Center #Adaptation #EmergentTrees #CanopyTrees
Post 19: Ecosystem role of bats
Source: Web of Science
Los quiroptera son uno de los mamíferos más diversos. La dieta varía ampliamente entre las especies de murciélagos; algunas especies insectívoras especializadas usan la ecolocalización para cazar insectos en la noche, otras especies carnívoras como el murciélago de labio franco (T. cirrhosus) cazan ranas, y usan la rata de apareamiento para localizar a sus presas. Los murciélagos también cumplen una serie de funciones esenciales del ecosistema en los bosques tropicales del Centro de Descubrimiento de la Selva Tropical de Panamá. Las especies que comen frutas como el gran murciélago que come frutas (A. lituratus) son dispersores de semillas esenciales para varias especies de plantas. ¡Algunos murciélagos son incluso polinizadores! Las flores blancas y almizcladas del árbol de Pseudobombax están especialmente diseñadas para atraer a los polinizadores de murciélagos como el murciélago de lengua larga (G. soricina).
Chiroptera are one of the most diverse mammals. Diet varies widely between bat species; some specialized insectivorous species use echolocation to hunt insects at night, other carnivorous species like the fringe-lipped bat (T. cirrhosus) hunt frogs, using the frogs mating call to locate their prey. Bats also serve a number of essential ecosystem functions in the tropical forests of the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. Fruit-eating species like the great fruit-eating bat (A. lituratus) are essential seed dispersers for a number of plant species. Some bats are even pollinators! The white, musky smelling flowers of the Pseudobombax tree are specially designed to attract bat pollinators like the long-tongued bat (G. soricina).
#Bats #Murcielago
Post 20: Hummingbird Territoriality
Source:https://slate.com/technology/2015/08/hummingbird-aggression-fierce-deadly-fights- for-territory-nectar-feeders-flowers.html
¿Sabías que estas pequeñas aves son en realidad extremadamente territoriales? ¡Los colibríes son pequeñas bolas de energía que baten sus alas más de 50 veces por segundo! Necesitan mucha comida para potenciar toda esa acción, un solo colibrí puede comer hasta 3 veces su propio peso corporal en néctar en un solo día. Debido a su alto metabolismo y la constante necesidad de néctar, los colibríes tienen que competir constantemente por los alimentos. Los machos incluso establecen territorios sobre los recursos y los protegen ferozmente.
Did you know that these little birds are actually extremely territorial? Hummingbirds are little balls of energy, beating their wings over 50 times per second! They need a lot of food to power all that action, a single hummingbird can eat of to 3 times its own body weight in nectar in a single day. Because of their high metabolism, and constant need for nectar, hummingbirds have to constantly be competing for food. Males even establish territories over resources and protect them fiercely.