Mangrove structural science in Panama

***The following is a blog post from our newest volunteer, Virginia Schutte. Over the next several months, while she is working on her post-doctoral research in the mangrove forests of Panama, Virginia will be shooting for a series of short videos about the importance of mangrove conservation. Virginia was one of the first researchers to examine the role that mangrove forests play in underwater ecosystems, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on the team!***

I’m Virginia Schutte and I am a scientist. I still can’t believe that it’s my job to ask how the world works and then answer that question by working outside. I love the work that I’m doing!

Biologist Virginia Schutte conducting surveys in a mangrove forest in Panama.

I just graduated with my Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia. I’ve been hired as a postdoctoral scholar for just a few months to help get a collaboration started between scientists at the University of Georgia and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. We’re exploring how tropical mangrove trees that live at the edge of the ocean influence disease and predation patterns in mangrove forests. This in turn should give us the tools to develop a quick way to assess the health of these threatened ecosystems. We will also describe how losing mangrove forests influences wildlife disease dynamics, which may influence human seafood consumption.

I’ve just moved to Panama City, Panama, and will be here for almost 3 months. I am extremely excited to share what it’s like to live and work in the tropics- stay tuned!