Palo Seco Research Articles

‘A paradise among leprosariums’: Hansen’s disease and affective containment in the Panama Canal Zone

ABSTRACT The Panama Canal Zone’s American administration established Palo Seco Leper Colony in 1907 in order to contain individuals with Hansen’s disease. Yet containment was never a simple strategy. This article argues that American observers used rhetoric to transmute their fear of Hansen’s disease into pity, imagining isolation as a form of care and buttressing the United States’ claim that the curative violence of incarceration was part of a beneficent global project of humanitarianism, civilization, and modernity. At the same time, residents at Palo Seco often reworked or simply rejected these affective claims, and close attention to the archival record finds examples of their anger, love, and hope, as well as pain, stigma, and loneliness. Residents were labelled and consigned, ostensibly made static and ordered through diagnosis, but the site hosted a dynamism and disorder—in both senses of the word—that American imperialism professed to control, but never could. Palo Seco was a kind of emotional contact zone where managers, commentators, and residents negotiated the affective scripts and sentiments of their imperial encounter. Attention to these subjectivities testifies to the humanness, the ragged edges, and the profound affect of the imperial enterprise and its ableist institutions.

The Trichoptera of Panama XX. Six new microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) and two new country records

Six new species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) are herein described and illustrated: Cerasmatrichia armitagei sp. n., Metrichia hocica sp. n., Neotrichia majagua sp. n., N. solapa sp. n., Ochrotrichia latigiza sp. n., and O. ngabebuglea sp. n. These species were collected in western Panama from the Río Majagua watershed descending from Volcán Barú and Quebrada Martínez, a first-order stream in the Río Guabo watershed of the Bosque Protector Palo Seco. Metrichia quadrata (Flint, 1972) and Ochrotrichia filiforma Flint, 1972 are recorded for the first time from Panama. Two recently described species, Metrichia trebeki Harris and Armitage, 2019 and Ochrotrichia alma Thomson and Armitage, 2021 are reported for the second time from the country. The Republic of Panama now has 487 species of caddisflies distributed among 15 families and 56 genera. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C98A88C2-2626-41E5-B294-0DBA6135AF67

A new Sobralia (Orchidaceae: Sobralieae) from Panama

In Panama, the Orchidaceae comprise 187 genera, of which one of the most conspicuous is Sobralia. The flowers of Sobralia are mostly ephemeral but colorful, often fragrant, and of variable sizes. Despite being a prominent group, its taxonomy is still underdeveloped in most neotropical countries. To continue with taxonomic studies in the Orchidaceae of Panama, we investigated a species of Sobralia, which differs from any recorded species of the genus. We documented the species with digital images and compared it with morphologically similar taxa. This paper describes and illustrates a new Sobralia from the Bosque Protector Palo Seco in the Fortuna area, Panama. Sobralia rinconiana differs from all other species recorded in Panama by the combination of a large plant size that reaches up to 120 cm high and the larger and broader, elliptical-lanceolate leaves (30–35 × 14–16 cm). Sobralia rinconiana is most similar to S. carazoi but differs in the spreading flowers with reflexed petals and the infundibuliform, cream-yellow lip, the wider, longer sepals and petals, and the longer, suberect column. The accurate estimate of the number of Sobralia species in Panama is still uncertain. Its diversity may increase as new areas are explored or species complexes are resolved.

Fortuna Forest Reserve, Panama

The Fortuna Forest Reserve and adjacent upland areas of the Palo Seco Reserve in western Panama support some of the most extensively studied lower and premontane tropical forests in the world. The forests of Fortuna are among the most diverse in Central America and are therefore of exceptional significance for the preservation of regional biodiversity. This volume brings together more than 50 years of research on the climate, geology, soils, and major plant groups of Fortuna. Spanning the Continental Divide at around 1,000 m above sea level, some parts of the reserve receive more than 6,000 mm of annual rainfall, although there is considerable variation in cloud cover and seasonality. Soil fertility also varies markedly, reflecting the complex regional volcanic geology. The resulting gradients of climate and fertility across the reserve shape the composition, structure, and diversity of plant communities. A network of 12 one-hectare plots at Fortuna contains more than 400 species of trees greater than 5 cm diameter at breast height and reveals extensive compositional turnover across the reserve. One tree species, Oreomunnea mexicana, forms monodominant stands in otherwise species-rich forests, while forests on extremely infertile soils are dominated by the canopy palm Colpothrinax aphanopetala and include the tropical conifer Podocarpus oleifolius. There are also almost 400 species of bryophytes, almost 300 species of ferns and lycophytes, 31 species of palms, 80 species of bromeliads, and more than 200 species of orchids. Many species of ectomycorrhizal fungi identified from fruiting bodies are new to science. Overall, results from Fortuna highlight the remarkable diversity of plants that occur in montane forests and the extent to which their communities are structured by gradients of climate and soil fertility. The chapters in this volume provide a foundation for further research and exploration in this fascinating region.

Functional developmental states of the Greater Caribbean coral reefs

Trophic networks are the way by which energy is distributed through the ecosystem and out of it. Each ecosystem at a particular functional developmental state (FDS) has attributes that can be measured and understood through the food web. Trophic interactions can further our understanding of the FDS of coral reefs that can be associated with their geomorphological structure; however, the number of the states is presently unknown. Thus, we investigated the geomorphology of a set of the Greater Caribbean coral reefs, describing gradients of coral reef FDS. Eleven coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and 17 reefs in the Caribbean Sea were examined, including fringing reefs and platform reefs (submerged and emergent with and without sandy-island cay). For each coral reef, nine ecosystem developmental attributes and five topological indices were estimated from trophic models. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarities, we found a gradient of maturity consisting of eight FDS. Early states correspond to fringing reefs (Punta Nizuc, Mahahual) in the Mexican Caribbean, and later states correspond to emerging platform reefs without (Palo Seco, Blanquilla) and with sandy-island cay (Cayo Cochinos, Media Luna). Using topological indices as variables and the eight FDS as nominal variables in a partial redundancy analysis, we confirmed that energy flow control increases with maturity and degree of geomorphological and physical structural complexity. On the contrary, betweenness centrality, the number of connections, and the number of predator–prey interactions decrease with functional maturity.

Systematic position of Thraulodes Ulmer 1920 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) and descriptions of new and little-known species.

The general characteristics of Thraulodes given by Traver and Edmunds (1967), is supplemented by the following: Larval labrum not always lacks median emargination, but in certain species the emargination is exposed ventrally and invisible from dorsal view; 5 denticles separated by 6 sensilla on its distal margin are initial for Ephemeroptera and present in all examined species of Thraulodes. Horseshoe row of hairs on dorsal side of glossa is characteristic for Thraulodes. Setal rows on larval femora and tibiae of fore, middle and hind legs are constant and peculiar for Thraulodes, while size and shape of the setae forming these rows is species-specific. The pair of «spears» on apices of penes represent rolls, whose canal serves as continuation of seminal duct; in course of genital development in last-instar larva, these spear-like rolls appear in the same way as tubular telopenes of Hermanellonota, that testifies about their homology. Based on this synapomorphy, Hermanellonota and Thraulodes are united into the new taxon Hermanellandria taxon n. New terms for describing coloration of subimaginal mesonotum are suggested. The following species and stages of development are described: (1) larva, subimago and ♂ imago of Th. ludmilae sp. n. from Panama; (2) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. sinuosus Mariano Flowers 2011 from Panama; (3) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. telegraphicus Needham Murphy 1924 from Peru; (4) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. panamensis sp. n. from Panama; (5) subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and assumed larva of Th. viviparus sp. n. from Panama; (6) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. schlingeri Traver Edmunds 1967 from Peru; (7) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. marreroi Chacon et al. 1999 from Panama; (8) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. quevedoensis Flowers 2009 from Peru; (9) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. fascipennis sp. n. from Panama; (10) larva, subimago, ♀ imago and egg of Th. zonalis Traver Edmunds 1967 from Panama; (11) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. flavus sp. n. from Panama; (12) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. spangleri Traver Edmunds 1967 from Panama; (13) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. niger sp. n. from Peru; (14) subimago, ♂ imago and assumed larva of Th. nigrabdominalis sp. n. from Peru; (15) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. nigripes sp. n. from Peru; (16) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. nigrotibialis sp. n. from Peru; (17) larva, subimago, ♂ ♀ imago and egg of Th. alboniger sp. n. from Peru; (18) larva and subimago of Th. lepidus (Eaton 1884) from Panama. Unassociated larvae under arbitrary names Thraulodes sp. «Palo Seco» and Thraulodes sp. «Itaya» are described from Panama and Peru correspondingly. Additional descriptions of larva and subimago presumably determined as Th. consortis Domínguez 1987 are given. These species are arranged into several species groups, some of which are arbitrary, and some natural, e.g., the natural group sinuosus comprising Th. sinuosus and Th. ludmilae and the natural group schlingeri comprising Th. schlingeri and Th. marreroi. Th. cryptodrylus Nieto Dominguez 2001 is a valid species name, not a synonym of Th. lepidus. Probable ovoviviparity is reported for Th. viviparus sp. n.

La comunidad de peces del arrecife Palo Seco, Veracruz, golfo de México y su relación con los grupos morfofuncionales

Los bancos arrecifales sumergidos funcionan como áreas de reserva de germoplasma, debido a su riqueza y abundancia de especies, lo que favorece el desarrollo de biomasa en arrecifes emergentes vecinos. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue establecer la comunidad de peces del arrecife Palo SecoVeracrz, México, y su relación con los grupos morfofuncionales que caracterizan al sustrato. Se efectuaron 117 censos visuales con equipo de buceo SCUBA (63 censos aleatorios y 54 transectos en banda) durante los veranos de 2013 y 2016, para determinar la estructura de la comunidad de peces (composición, riqueza, abundancia, biomasa y gremios tróficos) y caracterizar el sustrato, usando los grupos morfofuncionales (GMF) a partir de fototransectos. Las relaciones entre los peces y el sustrato se determinaron mediante un análisis de correspondencia canónica (ACC). La ictiofauna de Palo Seco estuvo compuesta por 109 especies, incluyendo 2 invasoras (Pterois volitans y Neopomacentrus cyanomos), y 3 endémicas de Veracruz (Elacatinus jarocho, Hypoplectrus atlahua e Hypoplectrus castroaguirrei). Halichoeres burekae, Coryphopterus hyalinus y los juveniles de Haemulon aurolineatum fueron las especies más abundantes, mientras que, Sphyraena barracuda, Anisotremus virginicus y Megalops atlanticus dominaron en biomasa. El gremio de los zooplanctívoros fue el más abundante (83.35 %) contrastando con la proporción de herbívoros (1.24 %). Los piscívoros presentaron la mayor biomasa (28.89 %), seguidos de los carnívoros generalistas (28.22 %). El sustrato del arrecife se caracterizó por nueve grupos morfofuncionales. En el ACC se observó un gradiente de los GMF y de la profundidad que se relacionaron con algunas especies de peces y con algunos gremios tróficos. La comunidad ictiológica del arrecife Palo Seco en general, se parece a las comunidades de peces de otros arrecifes veracruzanos, pero su riqueza y abundancia responde a las condiciones locales. El parecido sugiere una posible conectividad regional y resalta su importancia para la conservación.

Vegetation structure and composition of mangrove Palo Seco Quepos, Costa Rica

The Palo Seco mangrove in the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is in a tropical wet forest-perhumid forest transition. The nearby human population and tourism are threatening its borders. We studied mangrove’s structure, composition and regeneration as a base for future comparisons. We sampled eight 10m x 10m plots. Within them, 1m2 and 16 m2 plots were established to measure seedlings and saplings. We measured 153 trees in an 800 m2 area, with an average density of 0,19 ± 0,12 Ind/m2. Avicennia germinans was the dominant species, and Avicennia bicolor the less abundant. While seed- ling’s basal area and density were high, we found a low sapling density. We found a strong positive correlation between seedling density and trees richness and density, whereas that a strong significant negative correlation between the seedling regeneration index and tree stem height, diameter and basal area. We found a positive correlation be- tween the seedling regeneration index and mangrove tree’s richness and density. We conclude that several variables have an influence in the seedling’s establishment, survival and growth, intervening in the mangrove’s maintenance and regeneration. Strong competition with other vegetation can be a major factor in sapling growth. Palo Seco mangrove has a great potential for regeneration, and stem height and diameter evidence of an old-growth ecosystem.

Comments on Amerindian Hunting Practices in Trinidad (West Indies): Tetrapods From the Manzanilla Site (Late Ceramic Age 300–900 AD)

ABSTRACTLocated on the eastern shore of Trinidad island, the Manzanilla (SAN-1) deposit is a lengthy pre-Columbian occupation sequence consisting of an extensive Palo Seco (Saladoid) layer (300–600 AD) and a Bontour layer (600–1400 AD). According to initial reports on faunal remains, the former inhabitants of this site seem to have developed acquisition strategies relying on a wide range of ecological niches, including marine and terrestrial resources. A wide faunal spectrum is present in the Manzanilla assemblage, illustrating an opportunistic exploitation of the local surroundings. Marine resources, such as mollusks and fish, have indeed played a continuous major role in pre-Columbian diet, but the significant amount of tetrapod remains show that terrestrial game was also significant. Published zooarchaeological material is relatively scarce in this region, particularly in Trinidad. Therefore, through the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the faunal remains (skeletal parts distribution, ungulates osteometry) this study aims to shed some light on the hunting practice patterns and food harvesting strategies of the former inhabitants.

Riqueza y distribución de equinodermos en los arrecifes del norte y sur de Veracruz, México

Echinoderms are a key element in the structure and function of their ecosystems. To study composition and distribution of echinoderms from northern (Blanquilla, Medio, Lobos and Blake) and southern (La Perla, Zapotitlan, Palo Seco and Tripie) reefs of Veracruz, Mexico, 539 visual censuses and 770 collects distributed in different habitats of each reef were done from March to December 2013 using free and SCUBA diving. To evaluate spatial differences at different scales (type reef, reef and habitat), a similarity analysis was done using Jaccard index and NMDS. 45 species of 34 genera and 26 families were recorded, including five new records for Veracruz. Ophiuroidea (15 species) and Echinoidea (13 species) showed more species. Northern reefs presented more species (40 species) than southern reefs (27 species). By locality, Lobos reef presented the greatest richness (31 species) and Tripie (7 species) the poorest. NMDS at type reef separated the three type reefs, at reef scale fringing reefs were divided from platform and submerged reefs. At habitat scale, shallow zones were separated from deep areas, Thalassia beds and reef flat from slopes and there were not differences between habitats in fringing reefs except in the sunken ship. The fauna of echinoderms associated to reefs of State of Veracruz is composed by 54 species. The type of reef and the characteristics of substrate and depth are very important to define the richness and spatial distribution of echinoderms.

Traditional shifting agriculture: tracking forest carbon stock and biodiversity through time in western Panama

AbstractReducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) requires developing countries to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests in a manner that is robust, transparent, and as accurate as possible. Although shifting cultivation is a dominant practice in several developing countries, there is still very limited information available on how to monitor this land‐use practice for REDD+ as little is known about the areas of shifting cultivation or the net carbon balance. In this study, we propose and test a methodology to monitor the effect of the shifting cultivation on above‐ground carbon stocks. We combine multiyear remote sensing information, taken from a 12‐year period, with an in‐depth community forest carbon stock inventory in Palo Seco Forest Reserve, western Panama. Using remote sensing, we were able to separate four forest classes expressing different forest‐use intensity and time‐since‐intervention, which demonstrate expected trends in above‐ground carbon stocks. The addition of different interventions observed over time is shown to be a good predictor, with remote sensing variables explaining 64.2% of the variation in forest carbon stocks in cultivated landscapes. Multitemporal and multispectral medium‐resolution satellite imagery is shown to be adequate for tracking land‐use dynamics of the agriculture‐fallow cycle. The results also indicate that, over time, shifting cultivation has a transitory effect on forest carbon stocks in the study area. This is due to the rapid recovery of forest carbon stocks, which results in limited net emissions. Finally, community participation yielded important additional benefits to measuring carbon stocks, including transparency and the valorization of local knowledge for biodiversity monitoring. Our study provides important inputs regarding shifting cultivation, which should be taken into consideration when national forest monitoring systems are created, given the context of REDD+ safeguards.

Soil‐based habitat partitioning in understorey palms in lower montane tropical forests

AbstractAim Dispersal assembly and niche assembly are two competing theories proposed to explain the maintenance of species diversity in tropical forests. Dispersal theory emphasizes the role of chance colonization events and distance‐limited seed dispersal in explaining species abundance and distribution, whereas niche theory emphasizes differences among species in requirements for potentially limiting resources. Species distribution patterns in tropical forests often correlate with geology and topography, but tests of the relative importance of dispersal and niche partitioning have been hampered by an inadequate characterization of resource availability. The aim of this study was to explore how soil chemical and physical properties, climate, and geographic distance affect understorey palm communities in lower montane forests.Location Fortuna Forest Reserve, Chiriqui Province, and Palo Seco Forest Reserve, Bocas del Toro Province, in western Panama.Methods Understorey palms and soil nutrient concentrations were surveyed within 10 sites on different soil types across a 13‐km transect. Variation in palm community composition was examined in relation to spatial and environmental variables.Results The 25 understorey palm species recorded in the study were non‐randomly distributed among forests differing in soil nutrient availability. In support of dispersal theory, floristic similarity decreased predictably with increasing geographic distance. However, environmental and soil variables were also correlated with geographic distance. Floristic similarity was also highly associated with a subset of environmental variables. Variation in palm community similarity was most strongly correlated with inorganic nitrogen availability and cation concentration. A subset of soil variables had a stronger relationship with floristic similarity when geographic distance was controlled for than did geographic distance when differences in soils were controlled for.Main conclusions Both dispersal and niche processes affect palm species distribution patterns. Although spatially limited dispersal may influence species distribution patterns, soil‐based habitat associations, particularly with respect to soil nitrogen, cation availability and aluminium concentrations, remain important factors influencing palm community composition at the mesoscale level in this tropical montane forest.

Deforestation in a Complex Landscape

Deforestation is often the primary threat to conservation goals in tropical countries. However, accessing the remote locations in which most remaining forests of conservation value occur makes it difficult to quantify deforestation trends and to galvanize preventive action. Using remotely sensed images we were able to quantify rates of forest loss in La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, Panama. Annual deforestation rates were low between 1987 and 1998 at 0.05% but increased nearly 12-fold between 1998 and 2001 to 0.6%. Net forest loss was 0.56% between 1987 and 1998 and 2.34% between 1998 and 2001. Deforestation rates differed significantly between protected areas. Protected areas on the Caribbean side of the Biosphere Reserve experienced greater levels of deforestation than those on the Pacific, even though both absolute and percent forest cover are higher on the Caribbean. Most forest conversion was for cattle pasture and an area of industrial cattle ranching was identified within the Palo Seco and PILA protected areas as a priority for enforcement activities. Forest conversion to pasture was highly correlated with proximity to roads, rivers, and villages (p < 0.001). The spatial scale of correlation varied between feature types, suggesting a greater area of impact from roads and towns versus rivers. The acceleration of forest conversion from 1998 to 2001 confirms the negative ecological impact of the recent increase in population and development pressure in this previously isolated region.

Herpetofaunal Diversity and Abundance in Tropical Upland Forests of Cameroon and Panama1

Abstract Two tropical upland forests, Mount Kupe in Cameroon and Bosque Protector Palo Seco in Panama, were compared in terms of herpetofaunal species richness and density of individuals. Based on rarefaction, whereby samples are standardized for abundance, Palo Seco had significantly more species of frogs and lizards. Extrapolations to total local species richness, by fitting the Michaelis–Menten equation to the species accumulation curves and by using Chao's estimator, yielded divergent results: more lizard species on Mount Kupe, and an equal number of frogs at both sites. These disparities can be accounted for by differences in evenness, which was higher in Palo Seco. Frog density was significantly higher on Mount Kupe, snake density significantly higher in Palo Seco, and lizards exhibited no density difference. Overall, the results revealed a less consistent pattern and more moderate differences than what is known from southeast Asian–Central American comparisons. This outcome is discussed in the ligh...

Increasing Oil Production Through Leasing of Idle Wells

The national oil company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin) has more than 5,000 idle wells. The company initiated a procedure for leasing these idle wells to small independent operators in July 1989 through a program known as the lease operatorship program. This paper reviews the status of lease operatorship activities, examines the benefits and the strategies adopted by the operators as well as some of the important issues involved, describes the requirements for external operatorship, and outlines planes for the future of the program.

Mud Volcano Clay, Trinidad, West Indies

Laboratory studies of clay-mineral samples have been made from two mud volcanoes on the island of Trinidad--Moruga Bouffe and Palo Seco. The mineral content and physical properties have been compared with clay samples from the lower Cruse and Nariva Formations, through which the throats of the mud volcanoes are believed to have penetrated. The clay minerals are mixed-layer illite-montmorillonite and kaolinite. In the formational samples, illite forms the larger part of the mixed-layer clay. Montmorillonite is preponderant in the clay from the mud volcanoes. The kaolinite in the formational clay is more ordered in crystal structure than that of the mud volcanoes. These slight differences produce interesting variations in the behavior of these clays. The formation samples contain 55-69 percent Higgins and Saunders suggested that the mud-volcanoes have formed either as a result of tectonic movement, accumulated gas pressure, or a combination of the two mechanisms. It is suggested herein that the thixotropic character of the clay may have greatly accelerated either mechanism. Thixotropic clay saturated with water becomes a highly mobile fluid with great transporting power. Where such a mobile mass accumulates along a partly broken anticlinal structure, any release of pressure will occur upward. A gas pocket, tectonic squeeze, or both will provide pressure to maintain upward motion. In this way the clay would be extruded to form a mud volcano. Although moving vertically and supported by gas and tectonic pressure, the clay flowage has characteristics comparable to horizontal cl y movement in landslides where motion is maintained by gravity.

: On the Excavation of a Shell Mound at Palo Seco, Trinidad, B.W.I. . J. A. Bullbrook.

: On the Excavation of a Shell Mound at Palo Seco, Trinidad, B.W.I. . J. A. Bullbrook.

On the Excavation of a Shell Mound at Palo Seco, Trinidad, B.W.I. J. A. Bullbrook. Appendix by Irving Rouse. Yale University Publications in Anthropology, No. 50, New Haven, 1953. 114 pp., 13 figs. $3.00 (bound with No. 49).

On the Excavation of a Shell Mound at Palo Seco, Trinidad, B.W.I. J. A. Bullbrook. Appendix by Irving Rouse. Yale University Publications in Anthropology, No. 50, New Haven, 1953. 114 pp., 13 figs. $3.00 (bound with No. 49). - Volume 20 Issue 4Part1

On the Excavation of a Shell Mound at Palo Seco, Trinidad, B. W. I. By J. A. Bullbrook.

<i>On the Excavation of a Shell Mound at Palo Seco, Trinidad, B. W. I.</i> By J. A. Bullbrook.

Reviews - ON THE EXCAVATION OF A SHELL MOUND AT PALO SECO, TRINIDAD, B.W.I.By J. A. Bullbrook. Yale University Publications in Anthropology, Nos. 49 and 50, 1953. Yale University Press and Oxford University Press. Bound and sold together. Price, $3.00.

Reviews - ON THE EXCAVATION OF A SHELL MOUND AT PALO SECO, TRINIDAD, B.W.I.By J. A. Bullbrook. Yale University Publications in Anthropology, Nos. 49 and 50, 1953. Yale University Press and Oxford University Press. Bound and sold together. Price, $3.00. - Volume 29 Issue 113