Report on the Canal Zone Biological Area 



Sm : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the Canal Zone Biological Area for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1964: 



The Canal Zone Biological Area is responsible for maintaining 

 Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake, Canal Zone, as a biological 

 preserve. The area of the island is approximately 3,600 acres. It 

 is almost completely covered by "tropical monsoon forest" (see tables 

 1 and 2 for the annual rainfall) and contains a rich fauna. It is 

 one of the few places in the American tropics close to large centers 

 of human population yet largely unaffected by recent human activi- 

 ties. Thus, it is particularly suitable and convenient for research 

 on many aspects of tropical biology and the tropical environment. 



Table 1. — Annual rainfall, Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, 1925-63 



231 



