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post doc doing field work — Courtesy of Rodrigo Arangua/AFP

Tropical forest seeds

Smithsonian postdoctoral fellow Paul-Camilo Zalamea recovers seeds buried in the forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, to study the fungi that might have colonized them.

Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Arangua/AFP

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post-doc fellow doing fieldwork — courtesy of Rodrigo Arangua/AFP

Tropical forest seeds

Smithsonian postdoctoral fellow Paul-Camilo Zalamea recovers seeds buried in the forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, to study the fungi that might have colonized them.

Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Arangua/AFP

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composite of different seeds — Carolina Sarmiento/STRI

Tropical forest seeds

Seeds of 9 different species of pioneer seeds.

Credit: Carolina Sarmiento/Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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seed seen under magnification — Paul-Camilo Zalamea and Jorge Ceballos/STRI

Tropical forest seeds

Scanning electron micrograph of a seed of the tropical tree Cecropia insignis, after burial for one month in the forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama.

Credit: Paul-Camilo Zalamea and Jorge Ceballos/Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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tree seed under microscope — Paul-Camilo Zalamea and Jorge Ceballos/STRI

Tropical forest seeds

Hieronyma alchorneoides seed through a scanning electron microscope.

Credit: Paul-Camilo Zalamea and Jorge Ceballos/Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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tree seed under a microscope — Paul-Camilo Zalamea and Jorge Ceballos/STRI

Tropical forest seeds

Guazuma ulmifolia seed through a scanning electron microscope.

Credit: Paul-Camilo Zalamea and Jorge Ceballos/Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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Lone fisherman in small boat against dramatic sky — International League of Conservation Photographers / Luciano Candisani

Fish body size

A fisher from a Honduran small-scale fishery sets out on a fishing excursion. Small-scale fishers may target fishing grounds over 50 kilometers from their home port or community, making it difficult to keep track of where they are fishing.

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Two men in a bot seen from underwater — International League of Conservation Photographers / Luciano Candisani

Fish body size

Two small-scale fishers from Honduras on a fishing trip targeting reef fish on a nearby reef. Small-scale fishers share their fishing grounds with fishers from other communities.

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fish with line attached — International League of Conservation Photographers / Claudio Contreras-Koob

Yellowtail Snapper

A fisher from the Utila Cays small-scale fishery in Honduras hooks a yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus).

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Fish with measurement pins — Steven Canty / Smithsonian Institution

Yellowtail Snapper truss study

The newly published study compared the accuracy of three forensic tools for yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) caught from three fishing grounds in Honduras. This fish was collected from the western fishing ground in the study.

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Steven Canty

Steven Canty coordinates the Marine Conservation Program at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

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Coral reef with fishermen above — International League of Conservation Photographers / Luciano Candisani

Fish body size

Fish play an important role in maintaining coral reef health and resilience, which in turn provides a habitat for fish. Marine reserves, no-take zones and managed access of fishing grounds are becoming important tools in fisheries management.

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