Habitat use, richness, and abundance of native mice in the highlands of the Talamanca mountain range, Costa Rica

Ramírez-Fernández, José D.; Barrantes, Gilbert; Sánchez-Quirós, Catalina; Rodríguez‐Herrera, Bernal

doi:10.12933/therya-23-2227

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 24 publications

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“…Costa Rica occupies 0.03 % of the world's continental area (51 100 km²), but is home to 256 species of mammals, accounting for approximately four percent of the world's mammalian biodiversity (Ramírez-Fernández et al, 2023). This country serves as a corridor for North and South American species, therefore, maintaining habitat connectivity in this region is essential for the long-term survival of Neotropical mammals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medium and large-sized mammals in a premontane moist forest fragment, Atenas, Costa Rica

Cambronero

Sánchez-Calderón

Lobo³

2023

Rev. Biol. Trop.

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Introduction: Medium and large-sized mammals are threatened globally due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In Costa Rica, forest fragments that remain outside protected areas may serve as a refuge or corridor for these animals. Mammal presence in fragmented landscapes may be influenced by resource availability, which varies greatly in seasonal regions. Objective: To determine the species richness of medium and large-sized mammals in a forest fragment, and to examine if species diversity and detectability varied between the wet and dry season. Methods: We established 26 camera trap stations throughout the Municipal Forest of Atenas (Alajuela, Costa Rica), a 26.4 ha forest fragment that provides water to about 1 800 people. From August 2021 to April 2022, one camera trap was active at each station for 12-21 days throughout each season (dry and wet), for a total of 810 camera trap days. We applied rarefaction and extrapolation curves to characterize mammal’s species diversity and compare it between seasons. Results: We detected 19 species of mammals. The most frequently detected species were the White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica; 0.254 detections/camera trap day), and the Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata; 0.163 detections/camera trap day). We also registered four species considered as endangered in Costa Rica, three felines: Puma concolor, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and the Neotropical River Otter, Lontra longicaudis. Seasonality did not affect species diversity, but it influenced dominant species and detectability, which was greater during the wet season. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how protecting small forest fragments, can help conserve endangered medium and large-sized mammals in human-dominated landscapes. Objective: We aimed to determine the species richness of medium and large-sized mammals in a forest fragment protected for water production, and to examine if species diversity and detectability varied between the wet and dry season. Methods: We established 26 camera trap stations throughout the Municipal Forest of Atenas (MFA), a 26-ha forest fragment that provides drinking water to about 1 800 people. From August 2021 to April 2022, one camera trap was active at each station for 12-21 days throughout each season (dry and wet), for a total of 810 camera trap days. We applied rarefaction and extrapolation curves to characterize mammal’s species diversity and compare it between seasons. Results: We detected 19 species of medium and large-sized mammals. The species with the highest frequency of detections were the White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica; 0.504 detections/camera trap day), and the Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata; 0.377 detections/camera trap day). We also detected four species considered as endangered in Costa Rica, three felines: Puma concolor, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and the Neotropical River Otter, Lontra longicaudis. Seasonality did not affect species diversity but influenced the detectability of dominant species. Discussion: The relatively high richness of mammals observed in the MFA is likely related to the surrounding land use, which is dominated by agroforestry systems (e. g., coffee plantations) and forest patches, that may contribute to animal mobility and serve as refuge in fragmented landscapes. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how protecting ecosystem services, such as water, may also help conserving endangered medium and large-sized mammals in fragmented landscapes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medium and large-sized mammals in a premontane moist forest fragment, Atenas, Costa Rica

Cambronero

Sánchez-Calderón

Lobo³

2023

Rev. Biol. Trop.

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Distribution and habitat use patterns of the endangered Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) in Costa Rica

Ramírez-Fernández,

Fox-Rosales,

Mooring

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Montane cloud forests are highly threatened ecosystems that are vulnerable to climate change. These complex habitats harbor many species that suffer the negative consequences of this global phenomenon, such as shifts in their distribution and habitat use. The Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) is the smallest and most endangered wild cat in Mesoamerica and is primarily reported in cloud forests throughout its distribution. The species is poorly understood, with no studies conducted in Central America assessing its habitat preferences. To bridge this knowledge gap, we sampled two mountain ranges in Costa Rica with camera traps and conducted an occupancy analysis to understand the anthropogenic and environmental features that influence oncilla habitat use within them. Additionally, we conducted spatial predictions of habitat use across its northern and southern range in Costa Rica to identify priority conservation areas for the species. We found that Central American clouded oncilla habitat use is driven primarily by environmental factors. Our results showed that oncillas select habitats with denser tree cover at high elevations, closer to permanent water sources, which may provide them with high prey density and a favorable habitat structure for their survival. Spatial predictions identified two main regions as conservation priority areas where threat mitigation efforts and monitoring should be implemented: the Caribbean slope of the Talamanca mountains, and the Arenal-Monteverde forest complex. The occupancy modeling approach turned out to be very useful to assess the spatial associations of the species with the environment and mapping the conservation priority areas. Future research and mitigation actions should focus on potential threats that could negatively impact Central American clouded oncilla populations and habitat use, including the role of mesopredators and feral species.

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A Taxonomic Odyssey: An annotated checklist of Peromyscus (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Honduras

López,

Turcios-Casco,

van den Berghe

et al. 2024

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Deer mice, Peromyscus, thrive in diverse environments and altitudes across North and Central America. The number of extant species continues to be debated with species counts ranging from 53 to 83. This study represents the first comprehensive historical and taxonomic account of the genus Peromyscus for Honduras. We systematically compiled records from all available sources, incorporating verified genetic and morphological evidence. We confirm the presence of P. beatae, P. cordillerae, P. nicaraguae, P. salvadorensis and P. stirtoni for Honduras. The distribution maps provided here include confirmed records and approximate localities in a few cases and offer insights into the geographical distribution of these species in Honduras. Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the taxonomic status of Peromyscus in Honduras is imperative to achieve accurate conservation assessments within the larger Mesoamerican landscape. The present review establishes the baseline for future research on deer mice in Honduras, aiding in the validation of distributions and ecological data for the poorly understood genus Peromyscus in the country.

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Habitat use, richness, and abundance of native mice in the highlands of the Talamanca mountain range, Costa Rica

Cited by 3 publications

References 24 publications

Medium and large-sized mammals in a premontane moist forest fragment, Atenas, Costa Rica

Medium and large-sized mammals in a premontane moist forest fragment, Atenas, Costa Rica

Distribution and habitat use patterns of the endangered Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) in Costa Rica

A Taxonomic Odyssey: An annotated checklist of Peromyscus (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Honduras

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