ourism, natural protected areas, conservation, land management, Costa Rica

Ever since the 1980s, conservation-related tourism has been particularly important in Costa Rica. The interest in enjoying and being part of nature brought a signifcant change to how tourism is practiced. The country hosts a great wealth of natural and cultural resources, as well as rural landscapes characterized by protected areas and surrounded by natural landscapes and local communities. This document reviews the experience of Santa Rosa National Park, located in the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG)—an area with emerging tourism development and natural attractions as its main resource. The participation and integration of local communities are part of recent concerns. Our methodology includes a review of secondary information and frst-person interviews with townspeople. Moreover, information was gathered on-site through different visits to the area of study. The ACG is one of the protected areas that hosts important resources for research; however, increasing conservation in neighboring areas and incorporating the local community still represents a challenge.

Campanian rudists (Hippuritida, Bivalvia) from Costa Rica (Central America)

The Campanian rudist fauna identified from the localities Playa Panamá, Santa Rosa National Park, Colorado de Abangares, and Bolsón in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, is composed of the antillocaprinidsAntillocaprinasp. aff.A. suboccidentalisChubb, 1967,Antillocaprinasp. and Antillocaprinidae indet.; the multiple-fold hippuritidsBarrettia moniliferaWoodward, 1862,Parastroma trechmanniChubb, 1967, and cf.Whitfieldiella gigas(Chubb, 1955); the plagioptychidsPlagioptychus trechmanniChubb, 1956,Plagioptychussp. cf.P. zansiChubb, 1956,Mitrocaprina costaricaensisnew species,Mitrocaprina multicanaliculataChubb, 1956, and Plagioptychidae indet.; and the radiolitidsRadiolitessp. aff.R. multicostata(Adkins, 1930),Alencasteritesnew genusmooretownensis(Trechmann, 1924),Bournonia?tetrahedron(Chubb, 1967),Chiapasellasp.,Guanacastea costaricaensisnew genus new species, cf.Potositessp. aff.P. tristantorresiAlencáster and Pons in Pons et al., 2010, and aff.Thyrastylonsp. Although some differences in rudist diversity and sedimentary setting were observed among localities, most species indicate the same age for all occurrences, which correspond to the Campanian, probably mid-Campanian. Radiolitid specimens appear better preserved than those of other taxa and are thus discussed more in detail. Both the number of radiolitid genera exclusively known from the New World, and reasonable doubts about the correct attribution of some New World species to Old World genera, indicate important differences between rudist faunas at both sides of the Atlantic (Mediterranean and American Tethys, respectively) during the Late Cretaceous.

First field observation of the predation by Jaguar (Panthera onca) on Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) at Nancite Beach, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

Jaguars have been recorded preying on adult female sea turtles on their nesting beaches in Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico and Suriname (Fretey 1977, Autar 1994, Cuevas et al. 2014, Guildera et al. 2015). Jaguars prey on Green (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles (see Fretey 1977, Autar 1994, Carrillo et al. 1994, Chinchilla 1997, Tröeng 2000, Heithaus et al. 2008, Veríssimo et al. 2012, Arroyo-Arce et al. 2014, Cuevas et al. 2014, Arroyo-Arce & Salom-Pérez 2015, Guildera et al. 2015). The capture effort and risk of injury associated with the predation of nesting sea turtles is expected to be lower relative to other prey species in the jaguar’s diet (Cavalcanti & Gese 2010). Additionally, they can be key resources when other pr ey availability is low (Veríssimo et al. 2012).

Abundance of jaguars (Panthera onca), other felids and their potential prey in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica.

Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste Province, protects one of the largest remnants of dry forest in Mesoamerica. It is considered an example of how to regenerate forest in an area that for many years was used for cattle. A proper management requires knowledge of trends in mammal populations. We chose species that demand high ecologic integrity. the jaguar (Panthera onca ) and other felines, and their potential prey. Using trace count we assessed abundance on seven trails systematically sampled in 2001 and later in 2011. In 2011 we found more traces of jaguars, less of cougars and the same number for ocelots. In the second sampling we found less herbivores and frugivores, and more omnivores. We believe that the trace method is reliable, rapid and cheap.

Structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests in Santa Rosa National Park, North Pacific of Costa Rica

<p>La mayoría de los manglares del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica son de los más impactados en el país. Además, la información científica sobre la fisiología, ecología, estructura y geoquímica de estos manglares es limitada. Este estudio analizó la complejidad estructural y composición de especies de dos bosques de manglar del Pacífico Norte: Potrero Grande y Santa Elena. Las visitas al campo se realizaron entre mayo y junio del 2012. Se utilizó el método deCuadrantes Centrados en un Punto (PCQM) para estudiar la estructura del bosque. Se anotó las especies de mangle, altura, diámetro a la altura del pecho (DAP) y densidad del dosel en diez puntos a lo largo de cada transecto. Así mismo, se registró la fauna asociada y cobertura de macroalgas epífitas sobre las raíces de mangle. En cada punto se determinó la salinidad de agua intersticial. Se calculó la densidad, área basal, dominancia, valor de importancia e índice de complejidad. <em>Rhizophora racemosa</em> fue la especie con mayor dominancia relativa y valor de importancia para ambos sitios. Santa Elena es el manglar con el mayor índice de complejidad (IC=26.9), lo cual podría deberse a la alta densidad encontrada. Potrero Grande es considerado como uno de los manglares más desarrollados de la costa del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica, dadas sus características estructurales (árboles con grandes alturas y DAP)y de composición de especies. La distribución conocida de <em>Pelliciera rhizophorae</em> en Costa Rica alcanzaba su límite norte en el manglar de Potrero Grande; sin embargo, este estudio extiende esta distribución más al norte, ya que se encontraron algunos individuos en Santa Elena. A diferencia de Potrero Grande, Santa Elena no cuenta con un sector marino protegido adyacente, esto ha resultado en la extracción de recursos y actividades turísticas incontroladas en la zona. Se recomienda la creación de un área de protección marina en la Bahía de Santa Elena para que sirva de zona de amortiguamiento al manglar.</p>