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struction period. These scientists would like to relate the findings to the paleon- 

 tological history of outlying marine areas. 



B. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 



Situated in the Canal Zone, the Tropical Research Institute has laboratory 

 space on both coasts of Panama. The marine research at the Institute is directly 

 relevant to the studies proposed. A seawater system and large holding. tanks have 

 been renovated and are being operated near the Pacific end of the present 

 Canal, and a capability of similar nature will soon exist on the Atlantic. Ad- 

 ditionally, the Institute has access to several large buildings which are surplus 

 to the needs of the Canal Zone authorities and which would make good ware- 

 houses for logistic support and preliminary processing of collections. 



Examples of scientists and scientific programs in the Institute include: (1) 

 Dr. Ira Rubinoff, who is analyzing the extent to which populations of shore 

 fishes have evolved isolating mechanisms since the rise of the Isthmus Barrier 

 about 7% million years ago. Dr. Rubinoff is culturing several species of fishes 

 from each side of the Isthmus. (2) Dr. Neal Smith conducts investigations of 

 the reproductive biology of various marine birds. (3) Dr. Martin Moynihan has 

 studied the behavior of marine bird species. (4) Dr. Peter Glynn, who joined the 

 staff of the Institute in August 1967, will make quantitative studies of the 

 ecology of benthic marine invertebrates in the Isthmian region and will com- 

 pare them to his previous studies of the Puerto Rican region. (5) Mr. Robert Topp 

 will be studying the ecology and behavior of Panamanian species of pomocentrid 

 fishes. 



0. Smithsonian Ocea/nograpMc Sorting Center 



The Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center (SOSC) was established to 

 assist in the international oceanographic effort by processing biological and 

 geological collections for scientists throughout the world. Since 1963 the Center 

 has received and sorted collections from nearly 50 separate programs, including 

 large portions of the material from the International Indian Ocean Expedition, 

 the United States Antarctic Research Program, and the Guinean Trawling 

 Survey. The success and enthusiasm with which scientists and institutions have 

 greeted the service provided by SOSC are evidenced by the regularly increasing 

 quantity of material received since its inception, and by the corresponding in- 

 crease in the volume of requests for specimens being sorted from this material. 



During the proposed study the Sorting Center would function as the receiving 

 point for collections, their recording, sorting into discrete groups, and distribution 

 to specialists for study and permanent storage. The wide variety and large 

 volume of material which will be collected during the proposed study makes 

 this service essential to the eflBlciency and success of the work. 



As a first step in the present proposal, the Smithsonian will develop a detailed 

 operational plan in consultation with appropriate experts from other agencies, 

 and establish a steering committee patterned after the Committee on Environ- 

 mental Studies for Project Chariot to assist in guiding the long-range program. 



As part of the initial studies, the following tasks must be accomplished : 



1. The geographic limits of the survey must be drawn. The migratory nature 

 of many species requires that a much larger area be considered than just the 

 immediate vicinity of the Isthmus. A suggestion of the possible problems involved 

 may be seen in the recovery in Venezuela of Western Atlantic cow-nose rays 

 which had been tagged in Chesapeake Bay. 



2. The needed oceanographic data — biological, physical, chemical, and geologi- 

 cal — necessary to establish base lines must be carefully detailed for the area. 

 It is certain that the most intensive studies will be concentrated immediately 

 in the Isthmian area ; however, the diminution of sampling intensity with 

 distance from the Isthmus will vary within each discipline. 



3. A program of experimental studies must be developed to permit an evalua- 

 tion of potential problems arising from the movement of interoceanic migration 

 and hybridization and other effects of the ecosystem. 



4. The harvestable resources of the area, both present and potential, will 

 be determined, and necessary programs will be recommended to permit evaluation 

 of the effect of the sea level canal on these stocks. 



5. Current and past programs in the area will be evaluated and related to 

 data requirements for the proposed study. Liaison with pertinent agencies will 

 be established and, when practical, they will be asked to expand existing pro- 

 grams to provide needed data. 



