Panama's ecosystem is very diverse, and a large number of plant, animal and bird species can be found. In fact, Panama is home to over 900 species of birds, making it a bird watcher's paradise, and there are numerous mammals, amphibians, reptiles and marine life to be found, not to mention its rainforests, that will be the delight for all nature lovers. See similar questions...

ecosystem is a community of plants and animals living and interacting with one another sharing their available resources. An ecosystem encompasses all aspects and elements of this environment. It includes what we normally think of as the living, such as plants and animals, as well as more subtle components, such as air, water, and the sun's energy. Ponds are ecosystems because they host birds, fish, frogs, plants, and microscopic organisms. See similar questions...

Be sure to bring comfortable walking or hiking shoes, a pair of sandals, maybe some reef booties, a hat, sunglasses, waterproof sunscreen, camera, lots of film, a pair or two of surf trunks, warm water surf wax (tropical), surfboard or body board, comfortable shorts, short sleeve t-shirts, two towels, a compact rolled up blanket, and a small backpack or fanny pack. If your girlfriend wants to go snorkeling, make sure she brings her own mask, snorkel and fins. See similar questions...

Yes. Please contact us with a question about the specific records or information you are looking for. See similar questions...

When restoring an ecosystem, we help the land to regain the balance of native plants that were originally found on the site prior to European settlement. With restoration, we are not expecting everything to be exactly as it was 150 years ago since we don't have all of the pieces. By removing exotic plants that have moved in and sometimes taken over an area, we allow for the conditions that let the variety of native plants, and the birds and animals which depend on them, flourish in balance. See similar questions...

A species is a group or population of similar organisms that reproduce among themselves but do not naturally reproduce with any other kinds of organisms. Examples of species include this splashback poison dart frog (right), monarch butterflies, red oak trees, and humans. According to the scientists of the Ecological Society of America, an ecosystem is any geographic area, including the living organisms that live there and the nonliving parts of the physical environment. See similar questions...

Panama's population is approximately 3 million with about half of that population living in and around Panama City. See similar questions...

The effects of fire can retard or accelerate the natural development of plant communities, alter species diversity, change nutrient flows, and interact with other physical, chemical, and biological systems. Thus, for most North American ecosystems, fire sustains functional ecosystems. For other fire related questions see the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) FAQ Web site at http://www.nifc.gov/faq.html. See similar questions...

To see how different elements of the project (fish, plants, snail, etc) interact with each other like in nature. Plants give off oxygen for the fish and feed the fish somewhat, fish respire carbon dioxide and produce waste for the plants, and the snail and the algae also interact in that cycle. See similar questions...

Mangroves in Florida spread approximately over 500,000 acres of land and contribute largely to the overall health of the state's coastal zone in the south. They trap organic materials, chemical elements and other important nutrients in their roots and bring the into cycle. They also provide nurseries for various species of fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. They also are a big part of the aquatic food-chain as they provide food to species like snook, snapper, tarpon, red-drum and shrimp. See similar questions...

Human activities are the cause of many of the threats to the ecosystem of the NWHI. These include, among others, vessel groundings, pollution from ships and other vessels, derelict fishing gear, derelict military and commercial infrastructure, land development, the introduction of alien species, and research and ecotourism impacts. See similar questions...

ecosystem comprises living and non-living components that interact with each other, such as plants and animals with nutrients, water, air and sunlight. Ecosystems range in size from a few square meters to millions of square kilometers. There are no set ecosystem boundaries, rather they are defined by the particular component(s) that biologists are interested in. See similar questions...

Perhaps first and foremost, ecosystems do not always respond immediately after a specific hydrologic change is implemented. Just as it took the ecosystem many years to respond to the negative changes made 50 years ago, ecological responses to our improvements will also take time. Second, time is needed to plan and design the specific features in more detail before they can be built. See similar questions...

Ecosystem restoration was designated as a primary mission area for the Corps in 1986, but the Corps has been involved in improving the environment since the passing of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969. Corps ecosystem restoration projects have taken the form of dam removals and modifications, fish-ladder installation, wetlands creation, and improvements along riparian corridors. See similar questions...

Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is a method of resource-use planning that puts the stability and long term sustainability of ecosystems at the core of decision-making. The central idea behind EBM is that each element of an ecosystem is vital, as is the relationship between these elements. Ecosystem-based Management may allow higher risk activities in a specific cutblock only if low risk management is applied to the Great Bear Rainforest overall. See similar questions...