Mireya D. Correa A.
Staff Scientist
e-mail: corream@si.edu
Address: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
ATT: Mireya Correa
9100 PANAMA CITY PL
Washington DC 20521-9100
Telephone: +507 212.8046
FAX: +507 212.8148
Publications
Publications by Mireya D. Correa A. in STRI Bibliography
Research Interests
Her area of expertise is systematics of vascular plants with special emphasis in the Flora of Panama.
She started, organized and directed University of Panama Herbarium and also reorganized and presently direct the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Herbarium. In collaboration with collectors from United States (Missouri Botanical Garden, New York Botanical Garden, US National Herbarium and others) and Europe (Institute of Systematic Botany at Utrecht and Real Jardín Botanico de Madrid), many additions have been made to both herbaria. In fact, during her tenure, the number of specimens in the University herbarium has increased from zero to approximately 60,000. At both herbaria, a computer data base file containing most species reported for Panama is maintained. A major change in systematics is under way in that all floras will eventually be computer-based. This will allow taxonomists to enter their latest revisions or to verify validity of species names, avoiding the need to wait years for the publication of revisions of entire groups.
An active collecting program, under her direction, is been conducted at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Intitute and at the University of Panama. About 3 major field trips are organized annually (depending on funds availability), many of which are to areas of difficult access. In addition, numerous students have been trained by her, many of whom are currently employed in Panama as botanists, working either in research or in environmental assessment.
Presently, several students and she are working in two practically unexplored sites: Coiba Island, the largest island in the Pacific of Central America, and a penitentiary since l9l9, and Cerro Hoya, located in the Azuero Peninsula containing the remains of almost unperturbed forest of that region. In general her interest is related in floristics, ethnobotany and enviromental education.
Current Research
Description of specific research topics or problems, narrative explanation of the research, figures or tables showing the results to date, photos of the study organisms, etc.
I am a part time scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. My duties are divided into research, education and the STRI's herbarium. I also teach at the University of Panama two courses systematic botany and economic botany. I am also the Director of the University's herbarium.
Panama's flora is one of the richest in America. According to species diversity, it ranks 1 9th in the world's flora and 4th in the North and Central America's flora. Though the Flora of Panama was completed in 1980 (Woodson and Schery, 1943-1980), new species are found frequently. I have worked with the flora for many years and have collected approximately 12,000 specimens, many of which have been identified as new species. My interest is to concentrate research efforts in areas that have been ignored and might be rich in species diversity. I would like to survey these areas in order to have a complete report and a better understanding of species distribution within the Republic of Panama, including characterization of the species (i.e. endemic, endangered, rare, vulnerable). I also want to train more students on Panamanian flora. One important goal is to document the plant species represented in several Panamanian national parks, since this would be an important tool for the management plans of these parks.
I am also interested on other uses of Panamanian plants. Thus, I will continue to collaborate with the Pharmacognostic Research Center for the Flora of Panama (University of Panama), which researches on medicinal plants.
I have been working in a one-hectare plot in the Campana National Park. Since 1991, 3,764 individuals have been tagged, 523 of which have been recorded dead. I have collected samples of all tagged individuals, of which 100% have been identified to family and 98% to species. Those specimens that we were unable to identify, wore sent to specialists and appropriate identifications have been received in most cases. I have also been studying, for the past six years, species phonology in this plot. The Diameter-Breast-Height (DBH), has been censused twice within a ten year period. All this information is stored in a Data Base file. A color guide was prepared with the information we had at the time of its publication. A list of 1,500 vascular plants has been elaborated with information from the plot and from major publications such as the Flora of Panama, Flora Mesoamericana and Flora Neotropica. One of my assistants visited the Field Museum Herbarium in Chicago, to verify and add information to our list. We prepared another Guide or Florula that can be used for quick identification of plant species in the Campana National Park. This publication was supported by the Environmental and Conservation Programs of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and by the Andrew Mellon Foundation. I contains 1218 species in four volumes. Tree and shrubs in two volumes, herbs in one and epiphytes and lianas in one.
The color guide, the students training, and the Florula will provide support to the development of an ecotourism program in this Park.
Education and Degrees
B.A., University of Panama, 1963.
M.A., Duke University, 1967.
Selected Bibliography
Matsuse, I.T., Lim, Y.A., Hattori, M., Correa, M. & Gupta, M. 1999. A Search for anti-viral properties en Panamanian Medicinal plants. The effects on HIV and its essential enzymes. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 64: 15-22.
Correa, A., Mireya D. 1998. Guia Preliminar de Campo. Flora del Parque National Altos de Campana. Publicación patrocinada par Environmental and Conservation Programs. The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. y The Andrew Mellon Foundation. Contiene copies de 1218 especies. Cuatro volúmenes: Árboles y Arbustos (2), Hierbas (1), Bejucos y Epifitas ( 1).
Correa, Mireya y Valdespino, I. 1998. Flora de Panamá: una de Las más rices y diversas del mundo. Revista ANCON 5( 1 ): 1 6-23
Velayos, M., Correa, M., Galdames, C., Castroviejo, S. & Araúz, B. 1997. Primera Aproximación al Catálogo de Las Plantas Vasculares de la Isla de Coiba (Panamá). In Castroviejo, S. y Velayos, M. (Editores). Flora y Fauna del Parque
National de Coita (Panamá), Inventario Preliminar. Agencia Española de Cooperación International. Madrid, España.
Mayo, Enrique y Correa A., Mireya D. Flora.1994 (1997). "Antecedentes de Datos Biológicos e Inventario Biológico de la Cuenca del Canal" presentado and la Comisión de Estudio de Las Alternativas al Canal de Panamá par el Consorcio Universidad de Panamá- Consorcio ANCON. Scientia (Número Especial 3): 1-455 pages.Published in February 1997 by the University of Panama Press.
Correa, A., Mireya D. 1998. Guia Preliminar de Campo. Flora del Parque National Altos de Campana. Publicación patrocinada par Environmental and Conservation Programs. The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. y The Andrew Mellon Foundation. Contiene copies de 1218 especies. Cuatro volúmenes: Árboles yArbustos (2), Hierbas (1), Bejucos y Epifitas (1).
Correa, Mireya y Valdespino, I. 1998. Flora de Panamá: una de Las más rices y diversas del mundo. Revista ANCON 5(1):16-23
Velayos, M., Correa, M., Galdames, C., Castroviejo, S. & Araúz, B. 1997. Primera Aproximación al Catálogo de Las Plantas Vasculares de la Isla de Coiba (Panama). In Castroviejo, S. y Velayos, M. (Editores). Flora y Fauna del Parque National de Coiba (Panamá), Inventario Preliminar. Agencia Española de Cooperación International. Madrid, España. Droseraceae for the Flora of Nicaragua" par Mireya D. Correa A. Invitación par la editora Carmen Ulloa del Missouri Botanical Garden. Manuscript sent on 16 de junio de 1996.Accepted for publication.
Correa A., Mireya D. 1996. Economic Botany 50(4):471. Book review: Plants and Animals in the Life of the Kuna by Ventocilla, J., Herrera, H.& Nuñez. 1995.
Mayo, Enrique y Correa A., Mireya D. Flora.1994 (1997). "Antecedentes de Datos Biológicos e Inventario Biológico de la Cuenca del Canal" presentado and la Comisión de Estudio de Las Alternativas al Canal de Panamá par el Consorcio Universidad de Panamá- Consorcio ANCON. Scientia (Número Especial 3): 1-455 pages.Published in February 1997 by the University of Panama Press.
Correa, A., Mireya D. & M. P. Gupta 1994. En Bernal, H. Y. & Correa, J. E. Especies promisorias de Los países del Convenio Andrés Bello. Tomo X SECAB Ciencia y Tecnologia No. 53. Noviembre, 1994.
Salazar A., N., Correa A., Mireya D. y C. G. de Peralta. 1994. Guia Floristica del Sendero de Interpretación Panamá. Parque National Altos de Campana. Guia plastificada a colores y manuscrito ampliado sobre la guía.