Ecosystemas

Ecosystemas se consolida como el repositorio temático nacional diseñado para reunir, preservar y visibilizar la producción científica de Panamá sobre las dinámicas del agua, la tierra y el aire. Inspirada en el concepto de diversidad gamma (γ) de Whittaker (1960), esta plataforma interpreta el territorio panameño como un sistema de ecosistemas interactuantes con una historia biogeográfica y evolutiva común (Forman y Godron, 1986). Bajo este enfoque de mesoescala, la salud se posiciona como el eje transversal que articula la homeostasis natural y el bienestar humano, ofreciendo una visión integradora frente a los desafíos críticos de la fragmentación ambiental.

A través de la integración de publicaciones, datos y recursos de investigación, este repositorio temático nacional garantiza la interoperabilidad y reutilización de la información ecosistémica producida en el país. Su objetivo es servir como una herramienta estratégica para investigadores, tomadores de decisiones y la ciudadanía, aportando evidencia científica robusta que sustente políticas públicas, la conservación de recursos naturales y la adaptación al cambio climático.

Como pilar de la infraestructura científica del país, Ecosystemas promueve la colaboración interinstitucional y el intercambio de conocimientos entre universidades, centros de investigación y organismos nacionales e internacionales. De esta forma, fortalece el ecosistema nacional de ciencia abierta, impulsando una gestión del conocimiento más inclusiva, transparente y orientada al desarrollo sostenible de Panamá.

Bajo una visión de integración regional, Ecosystema incorpora la comunidad del Instituto Interamericano para la Investigación del Cambio Global (IAI), cuyas colecciones, alineadas a sus ocho objetivos estratégicos, nutren el flujo de conocimiento desde el nodo nacional de Panamá (PRICILA) hacia el nodo regional (LA Referencia), fortaleciendo así la respuesta científica global ante los retos del cambio climático.

Photo by Marco F. Chen | FotoCiencia (SENACYT)

Communities in DSpace

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Comunidad orientada al estudio integral de la atmósfera y su rol crítico en la estabilidad climática y la salud ambiental. Este espacio compendia investigaciones sobre la composición y dinámica de las masas de aire, el monitoreo de contaminantes y las interacciones atmosféricas que condicionan el equilibrio de los ecosistemas globales y locales.
  • Comunidad especializada en el conocimiento científico del ciclo del agua y la biodiversidad de los entornos acuáticos. Reúne productos de investigación enfocados en la dinámica de las cuencas, la evaluación de la calidad del agua y la gestión sostenible de los recursos hídricos y bióticos marinos y continentales para asegurar su conservación.
  • Comunidad dedicada a la investigación de la litósfera y la superficie terrestre como soporte fundamental de la vida y la producción. Este espacio agrupa estudios sobre la estructura, composición química y salud del suelo, así como investigaciones sobre el ordenamiento territorial, la degradación de ecosistemas y el uso sostenible de los recursos edáficos.

Recent Submissions

  • Item type: Item ,
    Temporal variability of the meridional overturning circulation at 34.5°s: results from two pilot boundary arrays in the south atlantic
    (2013) Meinen, C.S., Speich, S., Perez, R.C., Dong, S., Piola, A.R., Garzoli, S.L., Baringer, M.O., Gladyshev, S. and Campos, E.J.D.
    Data from two boundary arrays deployed along 34.5°S are combined to produce the first continuous in situ time series observations of the basin‐wide meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the South Atlantic. Daily estimates of the MOC between March 2009 and December 2010 range between 3 Sv and 39 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s&minus1) after a 10 day low‐pass filter is applied. Much of the variability in this &sim20 month record occurs at periods shorter than 100 days. Approximately two‐thirds of the MOC variability is due to changes in the geostrophic (baroclinic plus barotropic) volume transport, with the remainder associated with the direct wind‐forced Ekman transport. When low‐pass filtered to match previously published analyses in the North Atlantic, the observed temporal standard deviation at 34.5°S matches or somewhat exceeds that observed by time series observations at 16°N, 26.5°N, and 41°N. For periods shorter than 20 days the basin‐wide MOC variations are most strongly influenced by Ekman flows, while at periods between 20 and 90 days the geostrophic flows tend to exert slightly more control over the total transport variability of the MOC. The geostrophic shear variations are roughly equally controlled by density variations on the western and eastern boundaries at all time scales captured in the record. The observed time‐mean MOC vertical structure and temporal variability agree well with the limited independent observations available for confirmation.
  • Item type: Item ,
    Deltas: landforms, ecosystems and human activities (book)
    (2013) Young, G.J. and Perillo, G.M.E.
  • Item type: Item ,
    Multiple jets in the malvinas current
    (2013) Piola, A.R., Franco, B.C., Palma, E.D. and Saraceno, M.
    The velocity structure of the Malvinas Current is described based on the analysis of high‐resolution hydrographic data and direct current observations. The data show that though the current width exceeds 150 km, the flow is concentrated in two relatively narrow (~10&ndash20 km) jets. Within these cores, the direct observations indicate surface velocities exceeding 0.5 m.s&minus1. Surface drifter, satellite‐derived mean dynamic topography, and sea surface temperature data suggest that the high‐velocity jets are also ubiquitous features of the time mean circulation. Both jets appear to be continuous features extending more than 900 km along the western slope of the Argentine Basin. These jets closely follow the 200 and 1400 m isobaths. Additional high‐velocity cores are apparent in direct current measurements and hydrographic observations, but these features are weaker and not continuous along the slope. Though the Malvinas Current transport is mostly barotropic, baroclinic jets are also identified in relative geostrophic velocity sections. The baroclinic jets are colocated with the barotropic jets. Our results suggest that the main Malvinas Current core is located over a relatively flat portion of the bottom, referred to as the Perito Moreno terrace. This observation is in agreement with recent seismic and geological evidence suggesting that in geological time scales the Malvinas Current played a key role in the configuration of the bottom sediments over the western slope of the Argentine Basin.
  • Item type: Item ,
    Basin-wide variations in amazon forest nitrogen-cycling characteristics as inferred from plant and soil 15n:14n measurements
    (2014) Nardoto, G.B., Quesada, C.A., Pati no, S., Saiz, G., Baker, T.R., Schwarz, M., Schrodt, F., Feldpausch, T.R., Domingues, T.F., Marimon, B.S., Marimon Junior, B.H., Vieira, I.C.G., Silveira, M., Bird, M.I., Phillips, O.L., Lloyd, J. and Martinelli, L.A.
    Background Patterns in tropical forest nitrogen cycling are poorly understood. In particular, the extent to which leguminous trees in these forests fix nitrogen is unclear. Aims We aimed to determine factors that explain variation in foliar &delta15N (&delta15NF) for Amazon forest trees, and to evaluate the extent to which putatively N2-fixing Fabaceae acquire nitrogen from the atmosphere. Methods Upper-canopy &delta15NF values were determined for 1255 trees sampled across 65 Amazon forest plots. Along with plot inventory data, differences in &delta15NF between nodule-forming Fabaceae and other trees were used to estimate the extent of N2 fixation. Results &delta15NF ranged from &minus12.1&permil to +9.3&permil. Most of this variation was attributable to site-specific conditions, with extractable soil phosphorus and dry-season precipitation having strong influences, suggesting a restricted availability of nitrogen on both young and old soils and/or at low precipitation. Fabaceae constituted fewer than 10% of the sampled trees, and only 36% were expressed fixers. We estimated an average Amazon forest symbiotic fixation rate of 3 kg N ha&minus1 year&minus1. Conclusion Plant &delta15N indicate that low levels of nitrogen availability are only likely to influence Amazon forest function on immature or old weathered soils and/or where dry-season precipitation is low. Most Fabaceae species that are capable of nodulating do not fix nitrogen in Amazonia.
  • Item type: Item ,
    Spatial patterns of macrofaunal community structure in coastal lagoons of uruguay
    (2013) Meerhoff, E., Rodríguez-Gallego, L., Giménez, L., Muniz, P. and Conde, D.
    The spatio-temporal variability of macro benthic communities was investigated in the 5 main coastal lagoons of Uruguay, and faunal responses to environmental variables were evaluated. This is the first study that addresses spatial and temporal variability simultaneously for benthic subtidal communities of the coastal lagoons in Uruguay. Sampling was conducted in February, May, August, and November 2005, covering 3 spatial scales: lagoons, sites, and replicates. The lagoons were compared through environmental variables, using permutational multivariate analysis of variance and principal coordinates analysis. In addition, distance-based linear model analysis was performed to analyze which environmental variables best determined the macrobenthic community. The benthic community was characterized by a low number of species and high dominance. The most important difference in community structure occurred between Diario, a closed, eutrophic lagoon, and the other lagoons, which are intermittently connected with the ocean. Ocean&minusland gradients in community structure were observed within all lagoons. Greatest variability in community structure was observed at the largest spatial scale (among lagoons) and at the smallest scale (among replicates). Therefore, both large- and small-scale processes may shape the spatial patterns of these macrobenthic communities. The environmental variables that best explained the macrobenthic community structure were total suspended solids, conductivity, sediment organic matter, phytobenthic chlorophyll a, and macrophyte total biomass. Short-term temporal variability explained a small fraction of the total variation in comparison with spatial variation between lagoons.