Thursday, August 9, 2012

Smithsonian Weekly seminar information for August 14th


Announcing the STRI Tuesday afternoon seminar for August 14, 2012 at 4:00 pm in the Earl S. Tupper auditorium:  
Speaker: Helmut Elsenbeer, University of Potsdam
Title:  The Soils of Central Panama and the Sponge Effect:  What to Expect from Reforestation

Abstract:  At first sight, the soils between Ciri Grande in the west and Agua Salud in the east are as diverse as the rocks from which they formed. Common to all, however, is their low permeability for water. Land cover and geology merely determine at which these soils become more or less impermeable, but the fact itself derives from geology alone. To the extent that the sponge effect of forests describes the improved permeability and porosity of soils relative to other land covers, the soils’ geological ‘genes’ limit the magnitude of this effect in this part of the canal zone.

Upcoming seminars:  

August 21:  Hans-Ulrich Schnitzler, University of Tubingen
The impact of Elisabeth Kalko on field research in bat echolocation

August 28:  Speaker and title to be announced

September 4:  Michael Caldwell, STRI
Title to be announced

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