Research

Research at Las Perlas Archipelago is based on the following list of topics.

• Socio-ecological survey.
• Survey and habitat mapping.
• Production of educational material.
• Reef fish survey.
• Species exploitation and disappearance.
• Metal tracing.
• Snapper stock assessment.
• Networking.
• Humpback Whale survey and protection.
• Survey of the conservation status, diversity and distribution of coral reefs and coral communities.
• Habitat mapping using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System Technologies.
• Biological oceanography (primary productivity, zooplankton, icthyoplankton, El Nino, etc.)
• Reef fishes and mangrove connectivity.
• Migratory Route for Sea Turtles Nesting in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama.
• Dynamic of mangrove forests.
• Terrestrial species surveys (Birds and Reptiles).
• Climate monitoring (real-time meteorological station).

Research Manuscripts (Thesis and Peer-Review Journals)

The files are in PDF Format

2009

• Barrios, L.M., S.J. Chambers, N. Ismail, H.M. Guzman & J.M. Mair. 2009. Distribution of Idanthyrsus cretus (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) in the Tropical Eastern Pacific and application of PCR-RAPD for population analysis. Zoosymposia 2: 487-503.
• Mair, J.M, S.L. Cunningham, J.A. Sibaja-Codero, H.M. Guzman, M.F. Arroyo, D. Merino and R. Vargas. 2009. Mapping benthic faunal communities in the shallow and deep sediments of Las Perlas Archipelago, Pacific Panama. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 58: 375-383.
• Rubio, M. 2009. Nesting beach characteristics of endangered sea turtles in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 82pp.
• Coudert, J. 2009. An assessment of sea turtle nesting sites in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 71pp.

2008

• Oviedo, L., H.M. Guzman, L. Florez-Gonzalez, J. Capella Alzueta & J.M. Mair. 2008. The Song of the Southeast Pacific Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama: Preliminary Characterization. Aquatic Mammals. 34: 458-463.
• Benfield, S., L. Baxter, H.M.Guzman & J.M. Mair. 2008. A comparison of coral reef and coral community fish assemblages in Pacific Panama and environmental factors governing their structure. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK. 88:1331-1341.
• Cipriani, R., H.M. Guzman & M. Lopez. 2008. Harvest history and current densities of the pearl oyster Pinctada mazatlanica (Bivalvia: Pteriidae) in Las Perlas and Coiba Archipelagos, Panama. J. Shellfish Res. 27: 691-700.
• Guzman, H.M., R. Cipriani, A.J. Vega, M. Lopez & J.M. Mair. 2008. Population assessment of the Pacific green spiny lobster Panulirus gracilis in Pacific Panama. J. Shellfish Res. 27: 907-915.
• Cipriani, R., H.M. Guzman, A.J. Vega & M. Lopez. 2008. Population assessment of the conch Strombus galeatus (Gastropoda, Strombidae) in Pacific Panama. J. Shellfish Res. 27: 889-896.
• Guzman, H.M., S. Benfield, O. Breedy & J.M. Mair. 2008. Broadening reef conservation across the Tropical Eastern Pacific Seascape: Distribution and diversity of reefs in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Environm. Conserv. 35: 46-54.

2007

• Breedy, O. & H.M. Guzman. 2007. A revision of the genus Leptogorgia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 (Coelenterata: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the eastern Pacific. Zootaxa 1419: 1-90.
• Kennedy, E. 2007. Singing reefs: an investigation into the acoustic environment of the Las Perlas archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 70pp.
• Guilbert, A. 2007. State of the Anadara tuberculosa (Bivalvia: Archidae) fishery in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 73pp.
• Nisbet, C. 2007. Zooplankton composition in the mangroves and reefs of the Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 31pp.
• Ntinda, M. 2007. a review of a DNA dataset of mangrove populations from Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 50pp.
• King, M. 2007. A study of self recruitment amongst populations of Stegastes flavilatus in the Las Perlas Archipelago. Thesis (MSc), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 55pp.
• Gear, A. 2007. A rapid assessment of the avifauna of Isla Del Rey, Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc) University College London, United Kingdom. 86pp.
• Neal, S. 2007. An assessment of the Herpetofaunal biological diversity of the Hydrological Reserve on Isla Del Rey, Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc), University College London, United Kingdom. 122pp.
• Barrios, L.M. 2007. Taxonomy and general ecology of marine invertebrates from Las Perlas Archipelago, Panamanian tropical eastern Pacific. Thesis (PhD) Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 236 pp.
• Medina, B., Guzman, H.M. & Mair, J.M. 2007. Failed recovery of a collapsed scallop (Argopecten ventricosus) fishery in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. J. Shellfish Res. 26:9-15
• Benfield, S.L., H.M. Guzman, J.M. Mair & J.A.T. Young. 2007. Mapping the distribution of coral reefs and associated sublittoral habitats in Pacific Panama: a comparison of optical satellite sensors and classification methodologies. International Journal of Remote Sensing 28: 5047-5070.

2006

• Betts, T. 2006. An assessment of Mangrove Cover and forest structure in Las Perlas, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 58pp
• Goarin, M. 2006. Monitoring and Management of beaches in the Archipelago Las Perlas, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 114pp
• McGowan, T. 2006. An assessment of mangrove forest structure in the Las Perlas Islands, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 147pp
• Usan, D. 2006. Study of a Caranx caballus fishery in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 67pp
• Bush, L. 2006. Identification and Distribution of the polychaete Family Cirratulidae from the Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 118pp

2005

Benfield, S. 2005. Mapping coral reefs and associated sublittoral habitats: A comparison of optical remote sensors and image classifiers and a study of the community structure of reef-associated fish. Thesis (PhD). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 260pp

Campbell, I. 2005. The Role of local communities in the designation of a Marine Protected Area in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 98pp

Guevara, J.M. 2005. Changes in Land Use and cover in Archipelago Las Perlas: A proprosal for a Protected Area. Thesis (MSc) Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 88pp

Greaney, K. 2005. An assessment of heavy metal contamination in the marine sediments of Las Perlas Archipelago, Gulf of Panama. Thesis (MSc) Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 114pp

Anderson, O. 2005. A qualitative and quantitative assessment of the small-scale Snapper fisheries of the Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc) Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 122pp

2004

Berman, J. 2004. Sponge diversity in coral frameworks and coral communities within the Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 83pp

Baxter, L. 2004. A study of the reef fish communities of Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 114pp

Gardelis, P. 2004. Educational material for Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 59pp

Medina, B. 2004. Assessment of Argopecten ventricosus population recovery after a collapse almost two decades ago. Thesis (MSc) Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 38pp.

2003

McNiven, G. 2003. An assessment of the Pearl Islands Archipelago, Pacific. Thesis (MSc). Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 125pp