Abstract:Dung beetles are frequently used to assess tropical biodiversity patterns and recovery in human‐modified forests. We conducted a comprehensive dung beetle survey (coprophagous and necrophagous communities) within five habitat types, across a land‐use gradient, in the ecologically biodiverse Osa Peninsula, located in Costa Rica's south Pacific.
In addition to assessing species richness, abundance, and biomass, we also assessed community level traits and species‐specific responses using a generalised joint attri… Show more
“…Although our baseline assessment of bat communities in restoration sites uncovered surprising diversity, the surrounding forest at our study site is largely intact and contains a significant proportion of old growth forest, making this system a best-case scenario with a healthy source population (Whitworth et al, 2016(Whitworth et al, , 2021. Had our restoration site been in an isolated abandoned pasture, a long distance from any old-growth forest, we might expect to see far more impoverished levels of bat diversity; however, some 85% of secondary forests have been shown to occur within 1 km of old growth forest (Sloan et al, 2016), thus our study location seems typical for where many restoration or regeneration efforts are occurring.…”
Introduction: Background and Research Aims: Assessing biodiversity recovery is key to determine whether the objectives of habitat restoration for conservation are met. Many restoration initiatives use cross-sectional comparisons of wildlife communities to infer restoration impact instead of longitudinal assessments from a baseline state. Using an indicator of biodiversity in the neotropics— bats— we demonstrate how assessing community diversity and composition in an area targeted for restoration prior to implementation, and when compared to surrounding intact forest, provides the groundwork to track changes in the community post-restoration. Methods We assessed bat communities by 1) using mist-net surveys to identify species in the family Phyllostomidae (leaf-nosed bats), and 2) conducting acoustic surveys to identify non-phyllostomid species (aerial insectivores). Results For both groups, we found that areas targeted for restoration had similar diversity as the surrounding forest, but the two habitat types differed in community composition. Phyllostomids were captured at higher rates in forest, but aerial insectivores were detected at higher rates in restoration habitat. Conclusion Our baseline assessment revealed unexpected diversity in areas targeted for restoration. The presence of all trophic groups in restoration habitat suggests that bats provide key ecosystem services in the restoration process, such as through seed dispersal, pollination and insect pest control. Implications for Conservation: Conducting a baseline survey of bats in areas targeted for restoration demonstrated that the community was not species poor at the baseline and was different from the surrounding forest, allowing us to better track restoration success and the effects of different restoration treatments.
“…Although our baseline assessment of bat communities in restoration sites uncovered surprising diversity, the surrounding forest at our study site is largely intact and contains a significant proportion of old growth forest, making this system a best-case scenario with a healthy source population (Whitworth et al, 2016(Whitworth et al, , 2021. Had our restoration site been in an isolated abandoned pasture, a long distance from any old-growth forest, we might expect to see far more impoverished levels of bat diversity; however, some 85% of secondary forests have been shown to occur within 1 km of old growth forest (Sloan et al, 2016), thus our study location seems typical for where many restoration or regeneration efforts are occurring.…”
Introduction: Background and Research Aims: Assessing biodiversity recovery is key to determine whether the objectives of habitat restoration for conservation are met. Many restoration initiatives use cross-sectional comparisons of wildlife communities to infer restoration impact instead of longitudinal assessments from a baseline state. Using an indicator of biodiversity in the neotropics— bats— we demonstrate how assessing community diversity and composition in an area targeted for restoration prior to implementation, and when compared to surrounding intact forest, provides the groundwork to track changes in the community post-restoration. Methods We assessed bat communities by 1) using mist-net surveys to identify species in the family Phyllostomidae (leaf-nosed bats), and 2) conducting acoustic surveys to identify non-phyllostomid species (aerial insectivores). Results For both groups, we found that areas targeted for restoration had similar diversity as the surrounding forest, but the two habitat types differed in community composition. Phyllostomids were captured at higher rates in forest, but aerial insectivores were detected at higher rates in restoration habitat. Conclusion Our baseline assessment revealed unexpected diversity in areas targeted for restoration. The presence of all trophic groups in restoration habitat suggests that bats provide key ecosystem services in the restoration process, such as through seed dispersal, pollination and insect pest control. Implications for Conservation: Conducting a baseline survey of bats in areas targeted for restoration demonstrated that the community was not species poor at the baseline and was different from the surrounding forest, allowing us to better track restoration success and the effects of different restoration treatments.
“…The three individuals discovered are located close together (within 50m) and growing along a stream in a sloping old-growth riparian forest. At one time, this riparian patch was surrounded cattle pasture in the 1960s but is in the process of recovery and now covered by secondary forest (see Whitworth et al, 2018, 2021 for greater detail).Figure 2.Tree, trunk, flowers, and fruits of Pleodendron costaricense . (a) Tree, 15–35 m tall; (b) external bark gray and white, weakly fissured and scaly.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The three individuals discovered are located close together (within 50m) and growing along a stream in a sloping oldgrowth riparian forest. At one time, this riparian patch was surrounded cattle pasture in the 1960s but is in the process of recovery and now covered by secondary forest (see Whitworth et al, 2018Whitworth et al, , 2021 for greater detail).…”
Background and Research aims The extinction of relict and rare tree species is accelerated by habitat loss and climate change. Pleodendron costaricense is a critically endangered tree, with only four mature individuals known in Southern Pacific Costa Rica. With the discovery of three additional trees, we set out to learn more about P. costaricense’s natural history and attempt the first successful germination. Methods We collected fruits from two trees and carried out preliminary germination trials in a nursery at the study site. We also used camera traps in one of the fruiting mother-trees to understand natural dispersal mechanisms of the species. Results Although plagued by excessive levels of invertebrate predation, we were able to germinate and produce 59 saplings ready for restoration planting. Five mammal species were detected on the camera traps feeding on the fruits, along with one primate potentially using the fruits as a topical medicine. Conclusion P. costaricense can be propagated ex-situ, potentially with greater success using stimulating hormones. To improve production rates, future efforts should focus on the protection of germinating seeds and saplings from seed predators. We also identified numerous potential natural mammalian seed dispersers, mostly in the family Procyonidae. Implications for Conservation Given the propagation knowledge we have developed, the active restoration efforts of the saplings by Osa Conservation to help increase population numbers, and the strict protection of the two fruiting mother trees, there is now the possibility to attain a positive conservation outcome for this critically endangered species.
“…Lead author PBN noted the forest type of every encounter of a Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager individual at the Osa Conservation Campus (formerly known as Piro Biological Station; 8.40388 N, 83.336618 W), managed by the nonprofit organization Osa Conservation (see Whitworth et al 2021 for a detailed description of the site), while walking the entire trail system, on the trails, with Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 binoculars and listening for vocalizations. Forest was classified as secondary or mature based on examination of the surrounding vegetation and confirmed with Osa Conservation's forest map (Villalobos and Ramírez, date unknown); when the observer was not certain, generally because the sighting was on or close to the border, the forest type was classified as "border."…”
As biodiversity declines and climate change causes shifts in species distribution, the knowledge of species' ecological needs is vital to conserve biodiversity. On Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula and its adjacent forests, a rich mosaic of ecosystems hosting numerous threatened and endemic species, conservationists lack clarity on the basic habitat requirements of the endemic Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager (Habia atrimaxillaris). Numerous attempts have been made to understand its habitat requirements, resulting in contradictory conclusions. This study integrates new field data, thousands of community science observations, and comments in historical literature ranging over 50 years to complement the more localized studies. We explore the species' habitat requirements, diet, and distribution in protected areas and biological corridors to better understand the species' conservation needs and, in doing so, suggest a strategy to protect the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager in a changing climate. We illustrate that Black-cheeked Ant-Tanagers occur in secondary forests, which they also use for foraging and nesting, suggesting that the conservation and restoration of secondary forests may help protect this range-restricted forest bird, especially through a targeted conservation strategy within biological corridors to build connectivity with higher elevations.RESUMEN. A medida que la biodiversidad disminuye y el cambio del clima causa cambios en las distribuciones de las especies, el conocimiento de las necesidades ecológicas de las especies es vital para la conservación de la biodiversidad. En la península de Osa en Costa Rica y sus bosques adyacentes, un mosaico diverso de ecosistemas en el cual habitan un alto número de especies amenazadas y endémicas, los conservacionistas no tienen claridad de los requerimientos básicos de hábitat de la especie endémica Estrategias de conservación resilientes al clima para un ave de bosque endémica, Habia atrimaxillaris. Ha habido muchos intentos para entender sus requerimientos de hábitat, con resultados contradictorios. Este estudio integra nueva información de campo, miles de observaciones de ciencia comunitaria y comentarios en la literatura histórica con un rango de más de 50 años para complementar los estudios más localizados. Exploramos los requerimientos de hábitat de la especie, su dieta y la distribución en áreas protegidas y corredores biológicos con el fin de comprender mejor las necesidades de conservación de la especie y sugerir una estrategia para proteger a Habia atrimaxillaris en un clima cambiante. Mostramos que Habia atrimaxillaris ocurre en bosques secundarios, los cuales también usan para forrajear y anidar, sugiriendo que la conservación y la restauración de bosques secundarios puede ayudar a proteger esta especie de ave de bosque con un rango restringido, especialmente a través de estrategias de conservación focalizadas dentro de corredores biológicos para construir conectividad con elevaciones mayores.
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