scholarly journals New records on the distribution and habitat of the northern naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous centralis (Mammalia, Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae) in Costa Rica

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-460
Author(s):  
Pablo Marín ◽  
José Manuel Mora ◽  
Lucia I. López ◽  
José Alberto Pérez Arrieta ◽  
Miguel A. Rodríguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Global Biodiversity Information Facility ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Elusive Species

The northern naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous centralis, is a rare and elusive species. It ranges from southern Mexico to northern South America. It has been detected in several types of habitats, but appears to prefer Tropical and Subtropical broadleaf forests. In Costa Rica, this species is difficult to observe and there are only eight records reported in the scientific literature. To search records of this armadillo, we used camera traps in north-western Costa Rica and visited several additional localities in the centre and the Caribbean lowlands of the country. We also examined and assessed records of this species from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database. We added four new locality records for C. centralis in Costa Rica, based on photos from camera traps and field observations. We found only three localities (five records) in GBIF additional to the eight reported in literature. Habitat in these new Costa Rican localities reported here varied from mature dense forest (one site) to semi-urban areas (two sites). Additionally, two individuals were detected in secondary forest patches, one of them adjacent to mature riparian forest. Given the species’ scarcity, much additional information still is required to ground protection actions in a scientific framework.

Seed predation in a human-modified tropical landscape

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Zambrano ◽  
Rosamond Coates ◽  
Henry F. Howe
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Los Tuxtlas ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Fruit Removal ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Fragmented Forests

Abstract:Contemporary defaunation of fragmented forests potentially alters patterns of seed predation and dispersal. Alternatively, the remaining fauna may compensate for missing animals, resulting in equivalent rates of seed dispersal and predation. In the Los Tuxtlas region of southern Mexico, populations of large terrestrial fruit-eating mammals are diminished or absent from many forest remnants. This study reports fruit removal and seed predation patterns of Poulsenia armata (Moraceae), in forest fragments and a continuous forest (LTBS). Contrary to expectation, we found no differences in seed predation (mean ± SD) between LTBS (7.2 ± 1.8 seeds per station) and forest fragments (5.6 ± 1.1). However more fruits were removed in the LTBS (11.4 ± 0.9 fruits per station) than in forest fragments (8.1 ± 0.8). Animal activity, recorded by camera traps, differed between animal guild with fewer seed dispersers in forest fragments (mean = 0.43 ± 0.02 photos wk−1) than in the LTBS (mean = 0.68 ± 0.05). Fruits and seeds attracted many species of mammal (n = 12) in both habitats, indicating substantial redundancy. Remnant forest patches in the Los Tuxtlas landscape retain great ecological value, both as refuges for mammals and habitats for trees, such as P. armata.

Descriptions of new Amphiacustae (Orthoptera, Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae). I. Genera Nemoricantor, Arachnopsita, Mayagryllus and Prolonguripes

1997 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Desutter-Grandcolas
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Additional Information

AbstractNew species of Amphiacustae (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae) are described in the genera Nemoricantor Desutter-Grandcolas & Hubbell, 1993 (N. dirussoi sp. n., N. lanquinensis sp. n. ), Arachnopsita Desutter-Grandcolas & Hubbell, 1993 (A. florensis sp. n., A. uncinata sp. n.), Prolonguripes Desutter-Grandcolas, 1993 (P. giganteus sp. n., P. izabalae sp. n., P. microxipha sp. n.) and Mayagryllus Desutter-Grandcolas & Hubbell, 1993 (M. petenensis sp. n.). The following species are redefined and illustrated: N. maya (Hubbell, 1938) (Amphiacusta), N. spectrum (Walker, 1869) (Phalangopsis) and P. phalangium (Saussure, 1874) (Amphiacusta). Additional information is thus provided on the taxa distributions: Nemoricantor is known from Southern Mexico to Costa Rica, Arachnopsita from Guatemala, Prolonguripes from Guatemala and Honduras, and Mayagryllus from Southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. For each genus a key is proposed for species identification.

scholarly journals A checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Río Macho Biological Station, Provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica

Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1784
Author(s):  
Víctor J. Acosta-Chaves ◽  
Gerardo Chaves ◽  
Juan G. Abarca ◽  
Adrián García-Rodríguez ◽  
Federico Bolaños
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Biological Station ◽  
Mature Forest ◽  
Riparian Species ◽  
Acoustic Surveys

We provide a checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Río Macho Biological Station (RMBS), Costa Rica. During a period of a year (2012–2013) we conducted visual and acoustic surveys in a natural mature forest plot (>50 years old) (MF), secondary forest plot (~17 years old) (SF), in open areas and riparian forest at RMBS. We found a total of 11 species of amphibians and 15 species of reptiles belonging to 11 taxonomic families. We also compared the diversity of the MF against the SF. The MF contained 10 species (five amphibians and five reptiles) and the SF seven (three amphibians and four reptiles), with similar dominance between sites. Unfortunately, some forest and riparian species have vanished at this elevation after an enigmatic decline; according to historical literature pristine areas should contain higher species richness. Perhaps, the secondary forest will provide an available habitat for an important percentage of the remaining forest species.

scholarly journals Long-term monitoring reveals an avian species credit in secondary forest patches of Costa Rica

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Latta ◽  
Nathan L. Brouwer ◽  
Alison Olivieri ◽  
Julie Girard-Woolley ◽  
Judy F. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Permanent Resident ◽  
Over Time

Degraded and secondary forests comprise approximately 50% of remaining tropical forest. Bird community characteristics and population trends in secondary forests are infrequently studied, but secondary forest may serve as a “safety net” for tropical biodiversity. Less understood is the occurrence of time-delayed, community-level dynamics such as an extinction debt of specialist species or a species credit resulting from the recolonization of forest patches by extirpated species. We sought to elucidate patterns and magnitudes of temporal change in avian communities in secondary forest patches in Southern Costa Rica biannually over a 10 year period during the late breeding season and mid-winter. We classified birds caught in mist nets or recorded in point counts by residency status, and further grouped them based on preferred habitat, sensitivity to disturbance, conservation priority, foraging guild, and foraging strata. Using hierarchical, mixed-effects models we tested for trends among species that share traits. We found that permanent-resident species increased over time relative to migrants. In both seasons, primary forest species generally increased while species typical of secondary forest, scrub, or edge declined. Species relatively sensitive to habitat disturbance increased significantly over time, whereas birds less sensitive to disturbance decreased. Similarly, generalists with higher habitat breadth scores declined. Because, we found very few changes in vegetation characteristics in secondary forest patches, shifts in the avian community toward primary forest species represent a species credit and are likely related to vegetation changes in the broader landscape. We suggest that natural regeneration and maturation of secondary forests should be recognized as a positive conservation development of potential benefit even to species typical of primary forest.

scholarly journals Biomass and Soil Carbon Stocks in Wet Montane Forest, Monteverde Region, Costa Rica: Assessments and Challenges for Quantifying Accumulation Rates

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence H. Tanner ◽  
Megan T. Wilckens ◽  
Morgan A. Nivison ◽  
Katherine M. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Mature Forest ◽  
Large Trees

We measured carbon stocks at two forest reserves in the cloud forest region of Monteverde, comparing cleared land, experimental secondary forest plots, and mature forest at each location to assess the effectiveness of reforestation in sequestering biomass and soil carbon. The biomass carbon stock measured in the mature forest at the Monteverde Institute is similar to other measurements of mature tropical montane forest biomass carbon in Costa Rica. Local historical records and the distribution of large trees suggest a mature forest age of greater than 80 years. The forest at La Calandria lacks historical documentation, and dendrochronological dating is not applicable. However, based on the differences in tree size, above-ground biomass carbon, and soil carbon between the Monteverde Institute and La Calandria sites, we estimate an age difference of at least 30 years of the mature forests. Experimental secondary forest plots at both sites have accumulated biomass at lower than expected rates, suggesting local limiting factors, such as nutrient limitation. We find that soil carbon content is primarily a function of time and that altitudinal differences between the study sites do not play a role.

Design and Full-Scale Testing of M50/P1 Bolt-Down Removeable Bollard System

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (41) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
William F. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Shallow Foundations ◽  
Test Installation ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Performance Requirements ◽  
Crash Testing ◽  
Design And Testing ◽  
Base Plates ◽  
Full Scale Testing

The purpose of this project was to design and test a new bolt-down bollard system that meets the requirements of American Standards for Testing Materials (ASTM) Designation F2656-15 M50/P1 impact conditions. The test installation consisted of three vertical 10-in. diameter (nominal) bollards with welded base plates bolted to a shallow reinforced concrete foundation. The foundation for this system was sized to reduce the foundation embedment. Shallow foundations are often necessary for use in cities and urban areas where utilities can conflict with deeper foundations. Standard common members and materials were used in the installation to accommodate fabrication and installation in locations all over the world. The bollards can be removed to provide access if necessary. Full-scale testing was performed on the bolt-down bollard system. The bollard system design for this project successfully met the requirements of M50/P1 with a total payload penetration of less than 1 m. The new bollard design successfully met all the performance requirements for ASTM F2656-15 M50/P1. Details of the design and testing of the bolt-down bollard system are provided in this paper. Crash-testing videos and additional information on the design and full-scale testing will be provided in the presentation.

scholarly journals Mammals in tropical dry forest on the central coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

Check List ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Briones-Salas ◽  
Natalia Martín-Regalado ◽  
Mario C. Lavariega
Keyword(s):  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Mammal Diversity

The tropical dry forests of Mexico are one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. To contribute to the knowledge of mammal diversity and conservation of the central coast of Oaxaca State, southern Mexico, we conducted field surveys in the area. Additional information was obtained from literature and museum databases. In order to compare the taxonomic similitude between areas along the Planicie Costera del Pacífico province we performed a taxonomic similarity analysis using data from the literature and the present study. A total of 49 species of mammals belonging to 19 families and eight orders were recorded. The maximum number of species was recorded in deciduous forest (n = 46), followed by semideciduous forest (n = 11). The similarity index was low (<50%) between areas along the Planicie costera del Pacífico, indicating higher species turnover. The high mammal diversity, the presence of endemic (8%), threatened species (16%), and voluntary conservation areas highlight the importance of this region.

The fractal shape of riparian forest patches

1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Rex ◽  
George P. Malanson
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Forest Patches

scholarly journals Forest and forest succession in Hong Kong, China

1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 857-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Ying Zhuang ◽  
Richard T. Gorlett
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Feng Shui ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Current Species

ABSTRACTHong Kong is on the northern margin of the Asian tropics. The original forest cover was cleared centuries ago but secondary forest has developed since 1945 at many sites protected from fire and cutting. There are also older forest patches maintained behind villages for reasons of ‘feng shui’, the Chinese system of geomancy. All plants >2 cm dbh were identified and measured in forty-four 400-m2 plots. Detrended correspondence analysis showed a floristic continuum, with the montane sites (>500 m) most distinct and some overlap between lowland post-1945 secondary forest and the feng shui woods. The 30–40 year-old secondary forest is dominated by Persea spp. Montane forest is similar but lacks several common lowland taxa of tropical genera and includes more subtropical taxa. The feng shui woods have the most complex structure and contain some tree species not found in other forest types. Their origin and history is obscure but we suggest that both planting and selective harvesting have had a role in their current species composition

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