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Funding Smithsonian Scientific Research (2003)

Chapter: Appendix D: Examples of Long-Term Projects and Data Sets at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Examples of Long-Term Projects and Data Sets at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute." National Research Council. 2003. Funding Smithsonian Scientific Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10540.
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Appendix D
Examples of Long-Term Projects and Datasets at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

RESEARCH AND MONITORING

Marine Biology

  • Monitoring population of sea urchins – 15 years

  • Quantifying larval settlement by coral-reef fishes at monthly intervals – 20 years

Terrestrial Plant Biology

  • Quantifying flower and seed production of 625 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas at weekly intervals – 16 years

  • Monitoring 62,000 trees near Manaus, Brazil, to study the dynamics of forest fragments – 23 years

  • Conducting fully factorial, experimental augmentation of soil fertility (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) - since 1997

  • Conducting integrated series of experimental manipulations of atmospheric CO2 concentration - since 1990

Terrestrial Invertebrate Biology

  • Monitoring population fluctuations of euglossine bee population – 23 years

  • Monitoring population fluctuations of over 700 species of true bugs, native bees, and the invasive African bee – 18 years

  • Studying life-histories of over 1170 insect species – 26 years

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Examples of Long-Term Projects and Data Sets at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute." National Research Council. 2003. Funding Smithsonian Scientific Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10540.
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Terrestrial Vertebrate Biology

  • Monitoring population dynamics of 133 avian species – 23 years

  • Monitoring lizard population dynamics – 31 years

  • Monitoring population fluctuations of mammal species with transect counts – 21 years

  • Monitoring 3000 rice-paddy fields in Senegal – 38 years

COLLECTIONS AND RECORDS

  • Over 50,000 marine fossils

  • Over 300,000 recent mollusks from both coasts of Central America, with precise geographic, sediment, taxonomic, and biologic information

  • Extensive data on carbon isotope ratios in tropical forest plants, particularly bromeliads and other epiphytes

  • Record of rainfall and temperature on Barro Colorado Island – 80 years

  • Record from a class A weather station, soil moisture content, and stream flow from Barro Colorado Island – 31 years

  • Record from a class A weather station, salinity, and sea level from Galeta Point

  • Record of water quality in Bay of Panama – 20 years

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Examples of Long-Term Projects and Data Sets at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute." National Research Council. 2003. Funding Smithsonian Scientific Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10540.
×
Page 83
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Examples of Long-Term Projects and Data Sets at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute." National Research Council. 2003. Funding Smithsonian Scientific Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10540.
×
Page 84
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This report assesses whether the Smithsonian Institution should continue to receive direct federal appropriations for its scientific research programs or if this funding should be transferred to a peer-reviewed program open to all researchers in another agency. The report concludes that the National Museum of Natural History, the National Zoological Park, and the Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education in Suitland should remain exempt from having to compete for federal research dollars because they make unique contributions to the scientific and museum communities. Three other Smithsonian research programs should continue to receive federal funding since they are performing science of the highest quality and already compete for much of their government research money.

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