STRI newsSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá www.stri.org June 11, 2004

Getting it right: STRI’s ICBG program ismodel to biopropects in developing countries

In a news feature of Nature (June 10), Nature's US West Coastcorrespondent Rex Dalton draws the present situation ofbioprospecting efforts carried out in Costa Rica, Panama andthe Philippines. The article "Bioprospects less than golden"describes the circumstances for which the search for potentiallyvaluable natural products has become difficult in some develop-ing countries, and why pharmaceutical companies are reluctantto continue financing large bioprospecting projects. In 1992 theConvention on Biological Diversity was agreed at Rio de Ja-neiro as a framework to help the world's biological resources beused in a controlled and prudent way. Scientists, governmentsand commercial companies would work together in harmony...But bioprospecting still rises suspicion in officials of developingcountries. On the other hand, the STRI's International Cooper-ative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG) experience in Panama is asuccess story. The project has evolved into a network of sixlaboratories employing ten senior scientists, nearly 60 techni-cians and training dozens of local students. Even though greatdrug discoveries and great royalties are still underway, theproject —meticulous in transparency— have trained people,created jobs, and developed local awareness of biodiversity.

And while in the Philippines bioprospecting is difficult even to taxonomists, in Panama the ICBGproject is identifying compounds to treat tropical diseases and building up capacity on the ground.The photo shows ICBG’s Rafael Aizprúa and Nayda Flores, examining a fruit, on BCI

En un artículo de noticias de Nature (10 de junio), el corresponsal de Nature de la costa oeste de EU,Rex Dalton pinta la situación actual de los esfuerzos de biopropección en Costa Rica, Panamá y lasFilipinas. El artículo “Bioprospects less than golden” [Proyectos de biopropección lejos de brillar]describe las circunstancias por las cuales la búsqueda de productos naturales potencialmentevaliosos se ha tornado difícil en algunos países en desarrollo, y por qué las compañías farmaceúticasdudan en mantener financiamientos a proyectos a largo plazo. En 1992 la Convención deDiversidad Biológica se firmó en Rio de Janeiro como marco para ayudar a que los recursosbiológicos del mundo se usaran de forma controlada y prudente. Científicos, gobiernos y compañíascomerciales trabajarían juntos en armonía... Pero la bioprospección sigue levantando sospechas enlos países en desarrollo. Por otro lado, la experiencia de los Grupos de Colaboración Internacionalpara la Biodiversidad (ICBG) de STRI es una historia exitosa. El proyecto ha evolucionado en unared de seis laboratorios que emplea a diez científicos “senior” y cerca de 60 técnicos, y que entrena adocenas de estudiantes locales. Aunque los grandes descubrimientos de medicamentos y las grandesganancias aun están en proceso, el proyecto—meticulosamente transparente—ha entrenadopersonal, ha creado trabajos y ha desarrollado conciencia local sobre la biodiversidad. Y mientras labioprospección en Filipinas es difícil aún para los taxónomos, en Panamá, el proyecto ICBGidentifica compuestos para tratar enfermedades tropicales y construye una sólida plataforma detrabajo. La foto muestra a Rafael Aizprúa y Nayda Flores, examinando una fruta, en BCI.

Tupper seminarTue, Jun 15, noon seminarspeaker will be GregoryRetallack, University ofOregonThe Proserpina principle: Arole for life in paleoclimaticfluctuations of the past andfuture

Bambi seminarThu, Jun 17, Bambi seminarspeaker will be GregoryRetallack, University ofOregonTitle to be announced

ArrivalsMichael Wasserman,University of Florida, Jun 13-29, to work with KatharineMilton, on BCI.

Phillip Hoos, University ofCalifornia in Santa Cruz, Jun14 - Jul 7, to conduct aninvestigation of invasion ofAtlantic tarpon on the Pacificside of Panama, at Naos.

Lizzy Coley, University ofUtah, Jun 14 - Jul 4, tocontinue with long termstudies of herbivory andpathogen damage to tropicaltrees, on BCI.

David Kikuchi, University ofIllinois at Urbana-ChampaignJun 14 - Jul 30, to work withJim Dalling, on BCI.

Jeanne Robertson, CornellUniversity, Jun 15 - Aug 10, towork on two projects: Whyare some species narrowlydistributed, to a specifichabitat type, while othersrange broadly, restrictedoccupying a variety of habitattypes?; and The distributionpatterns of phenotypic andgenetic diversity for a wide-ranging neotropical frog, inGamboa, El Copé andFortuna.

More arrivalsRobert Thacker, University ofAlabama at Birmingham, Jun15-30, to study molecularsystematics and biogeographyof keratose sponges, at Bocas.

Gregory Gilbert, University ofCalifornia in Santa Cruz, Jun15 - Aug 1, to study thephylogenetic structure of plantpathogen host ranges, inGamboa.

Heather Briggs, intern fromNevada, Jun 15 - Sep 15, towork with David Roubik, atTupper.

Sharon Gill and ElizabethAlfson, Princeton University,Jun 15 - Jul 12, to work withSharon Gill, in Gamboa.

Elizabeth Whiteman,University of East Anglia, Jun15 - Jul 3, to study sex andspeciation in marine fishes, atBocas del Toro.

Kerry McPhail, University ofMiami, Jun 15, to work withAnthony Coates, at Bocas.

Ingrid Parket, University ofCalifornia in Santa Cruz, Jun15 - Aug 1, to study thegeographic origin andrecruitment patterns inChrysophylum, on BCI andGamboa.

Katherine Milton, Universityof California at Berkeley, Jun16 - Jul 10, to continue withhowler monkey researchprojects, on BCI.

Elizabeth Whiteman,University of East Anglia,England, Jun 16 - Jul 3, tostudy the sex and speciation inmarine fishes, at Bocas.

Kim Hoke, University ofTexas at Austin, Jun 17 - Jul17, to study the mechanismsof mate recognition in frogs,in Gamboa.

More arrivalsKathleen Lynch, University ofTexas at Austin, Jun 17 - Jul20, to study the role of steroidhormones in modulatingcentral auditory areas of theTúngara frog, in Gamboa.

New publicationsDalton, Rex. “Biopropectsless than golden.” 2004. Nature429 (June 10): 598-600.

Degen, Bernd, and Roubik,David W. 2004. "Effects ofanimal pollination on pollendispersal, selfing, and effectivepopulation size of tropicaltrees: A simulation study."Biotropica 136(2): 165–179.

Eberhard, Jessica R., andBermingham, Eldredge. 2004."Phylogeny and biogeographyof the Amazona ochrocephala(Aves: Psittacidae) complex."The Auk 121(2): 318-332.

Emlen, Stephen T., andWrege, Peter H. 2004. "Sizedimorphism, intrasexual com-petition, and sexual selectionin wattled jacana (Jacanajacana), a sex-role-reversedshorebird in Panama." TheAuk 121(2): 391–403.

Fedy, Bradley C., andStutchbury, Bridget J. M.2004. "Territory switching andfloating in white-belliedantbird (Myrmeciza longipes): aresident tropical passerine inPanama." The Auk 121(2):486-496.

Kweskin, M.P. 2004. "Jiggingin the fungus-growing antCyphomyrmex costatus: aresponse to collembolan gar-den invaders?" Insectes Sociaux51(2): 158–162.

Official group photo of the participants of the Soils andHydrology Workshop, held at STRI from May 30 - Jun 8 onBCI. Toma oficial de los participantes del Taller sobre Suelos eHidrología que se llevó a cabo en STRI del 30 de mayo al 8 dejunio en BCI.

Congratulations!To Bill Wcislo and Donna Conlon

for thebirth oftheirtwinboys Alex (right) and Lucas (left),on Saturday, June 5. They weighedabout bout 4 and 4 ½ pounds each.All mother and children are fine.

For rentFurnished house in Santa Cruz, Gamboa. Two bedrooms, office,bathroom, lounge with dining area, kitchen (with utensils andcrockery), and utility room with washing machine. Hot water.$375 per month or $100 per week. Includes electricity, water,telephone, weekly cleaning, gardening and maintenance.Interested call Emma Sayer at 660-0590 or sayere@bci.stri.edu

Photo of a coral snake (Micrurus nigrocinctus)recently taken by Tania Brenes near the CTFSplot on BCI. Do not disturb!