A Century of Plant and Ecosystem Research at Barro Colorado

To introduce 100 years of plant and ecosystem research in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM), we briefly review the history of the BCNM, including early botanical research and the most relevant colonial and recent political events. We then discuss the foundational advantages that have made the BCNM successful, including ease of access, relative safety, and on-site facilities and services, all of which have been sustained by financial support from the United States and Panamanian governments and private donors. These foundational advantages have in turn enabled the formation of a strong scientific community and the accumulation of knowledge, which have become major advantages and contributed to a positive feedback loop. We close by briefly introducing the chapters in this centennial volume, which review the contributions of research conducted in the BCNM to plant and ecosystem science.