Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alan M. Friedlander, Enric Ballesteros, Odalisca Breedy, Beatriz Naranjo-Elizondo, Noelia Hernandez, Pelayo Salinas-de-Leon, Enric Sala, Jorge Cortes
Summary: The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica boasts a significant terrestrial biodiversity, but little is known about its marine ecosystems. Coral reefs, coastal rocky reefs, and submerged pinnacles are key habitats in the region, each with distinct characteristics in terms of coral cover and fish assemblages. The submerged pinnacles stand out as important habitats for fish species, including large predators.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mason Perry, Cyril Muller, Marino Protti, Lujia Feng, Emma M. Hill
Summary: Using continuous geodetic time series, five shallow slow slip events (SSEs) were identified offshore and beneath the Osa peninsula in southern Costa Rica. These events occur approximately every 4-5 years and may potentially limit the magnitude and spatial distribution of future large ruptures.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
D. A. N. I. E. L. SANTAMARIA-AGUILAR, R. E. I. N. A. L. D. O. A. G. U. I. L. A. R. FERNANDEZ, H. E. N. K. van der Werff
Summary: The newly described species of Beilschmiedia from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica has small flowers that are turbinate to campanulate, with six fertile stamens and a pubescent ovary. It can be distinguished by its alternate leaves along the twigs, with the lower leaf surface glabrous and not glaucous. Superficially similar to B. hexanthera from French Guiana, it differs in having a pubescent ovary and larger, more branched inflorescences.
Article
Zoology
Marco A. Zumbado Echavarria, Edwin A. Barrantes Barrantes, Charles R. Bartlett, Ericka E. Helmick, Brian W. Bahder
Summary: Recent survey work in Costa Rica has led to the discovery of new planthopper species, primarily in Cixiidae and Derbidae. The study used light trapping in addition to direct sampling of palms, resulting in the collection of a previously unidentified species in the genus Oecleus. The newly described taxon, Oecleus urru sp. n., is supported by molecular data.
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Santamaria-Aguilar, Reinaldo Aguilar Fernandez, Laura P. Lagomarsino
Summary: A new species of Theobroma called Theobroma flaviflorum is described and illustrated in this article. This species is found exclusively on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, specifically on the banks of streams. The unique characteristics of this new species include yellow flowers, round fruits without ribs that are slightly sunken at the top, and are carried on leafy branches at the end. The article also compares this new species with similar species of Theobroma and provides a key for identifying Mesoamerican species of the genus.
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Santamaria-Aguilar, Reinaldo Aguilar Fernandez, Eugenia M. Flores-Vindas
Summary: This article describes a newly discovered species of Prioria, a genus of legumes found in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. The species is distinct from others in its characteristics and was previously mistaken for a different species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elene Haave-Audet, Doris Audet, Michelle Monge-Velazquez, Eleanor Flatt, Andrew Whitworth
Summary: The study demonstrates the importance of assessing community diversity and composition prior to restoration in order to track post-restoration changes effectively. Baseline surveys revealed unexpected diversity in restoration areas, indicating the key ecosystem services provided by bats during restoration.
TROPICAL CONSERVATION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Eleanor Flatt, Arianna Basto, Carolina Pinto, Johan Ortiz, Kassandra Navarro, Neil Reed, Hilary Brumberg, Marco Hidalgo Chaverri, Andrew Whitworth
Summary: Linear infrastructures, such as roads, have negative impacts on natural habitats, especially for arboreal species. Arboreal wildlife bridges enhance connectivity between fragmented forests by providing a safe passage for wildlife. This study installed and monitored 12 arboreal wildlife bridges in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, and observed wildlife activity and species diversity using camera traps.
FOLIA PRIMATOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Scott K. Brown, Stefano S. K. Kaburu, Lynn Besenyei
Summary: The distribution of bat tents is influenced by proximity to freshwater, with 48.8% of tents located within 100m of freshwater resources, and D. watsoni prefers to construct tents in sheltered habitats with a high cover abundance of trees. These types of habitat areas should be targeted for conservation efforts to protect this species.
ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andrew Whitworth, Chris Beirne, Eleanor Flatt, Graden Froese, Chase Nunez, Adrian Forsyth
Summary: Under favorable conditions, secondary rainforest showed similar levels of recovery in dung beetle community traits compared to old-growth forest. However, dung beetle abundance, richness, biomass, and diversity varied between habitat types with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance and land use.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo, Marta Piche-Ovares, Jose Carlos Gamboa-Solano, Luis Mario Romero, Claudio Soto-Garita, Alejandro Alfaro-Alarcon, Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar
Summary: This study found that free-ranging bats and birds were exposed to unreported viruses and detected neutralizing antibodies. However, their specific role in virus transmission remains undetermined.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Francisco Sanchez-Murillo, Randall Arguedas
Summary: Wildlife in rural Costa Rica are suffering injuries from power lines due to increasing human development. Blood tests on electrocuted mantled howler monkeys showed significant differences in plasma glucose levels between adults and juveniles, as well as in plasma urea levels between deceased and surviving individuals.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Cindy Fernandez-Garcia, Carolina Salas-Moya, Sebastian Mena, Juan Carlos Azofeifa-Solano, Juan Jose Alvarado
Summary: This study investigates the marine biodiversity in different habitats (rocky reefs, coral reefs, Sargassum forests, subtidal sedimentary bottoms) in a tropical seasonal upwelling area in Costa Rica. The results reveal uncommon and unstudied habitats that harbor a diverse range of taxa, including new records for the Pacific mainland of Costa Rica. The findings emphasize the importance of studying neglected ecosystems to better understand and conserve coastal biodiversity.
REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Esteban Jimenez, Miguel Mendez, Alexis Obregon-Carrillo
Summary: We describe and illustrate a new species of Matelea Aubl. from Peninsula de Nicoya, Costa Rica. The new species, Matelea nicoyana, is similar in morphology to Matelea pseudobarbata but can be distinguished by its stem characteristics, leaf blade features, calyx lobe shape, and corolla trichome structure. Information on distribution, habitat, phenology, and conservation status, as well as related species, are provided.
Article
Forestry
David Antonio Carvajal-Arroyo, Juan Pablo Villegas-Espinoza, Gustavo Vargas-Rojas, Rafael Murillo-Cruz, Carlos Avila-Arias, Ana Isabel Barquero-Elizondo
Summary: The morphological and descriptive analysis of fruits, seeds, and seedlings is an important tool for their identification and management. This study focused on the morphological description of Aspidosperma cruentum Woodson, including fruits, seeds, seedlings, and plants at different development stages. The study evaluated the characteristics of the fruits and seeds, conducted germination tests, and analyzed the effect of vermicompost on the growth of the plants.
REVISTA FORESTAL MESOAMERICA KURU-RFMK
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Blaine C. Luiz, Christian P. Giardina, Lisa M. Keith, Douglass F. Jacobs, Richard A. Sniezko, Marc A. Hughes, James B. Friday, Philip Cannon, Robert Hauff, Kainana Francisco, Marian M. Chau, Nicklos Dudley, Aileen Yeh, Gregory Asner, Roberta E. Martin, Ryan Perroy, Brian J. Tucker, Ale'Alani Evangelista, Veronica Fernandez, Chloe Martins-Keli'iho'omalu, Kirie Santos, Rebekah Ohara
Summary: Metrosideros polymorpha is a keystone species in Hawaii's native forests and is of great cultural, ecological, and economic importance. However, these forests, especially on Hawaii Island, are being severely affected by Rapid 'Ohi'a Death (ROD), a disease caused by fungal pathogens. This article outlines the 'Ohi'a Disease Resistance Program (ODRP) which aims to identify and develop ROD resistance in Metrosideros polymorpha to mitigate the impacts of the disease and preserve the ecology, culture, and communities depending on this tree species.
Article
Ecology
Mary K. Donovan, Catherine Alves, John Burns, Crawford Drury, Ouida W. Meier, Raphael Ritson-Williams, Ross Cunning, Robert P. Dunn, Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, Leslie M. Henderson, Ingrid S. S. Knapp, Joshua Levy, Cheryl A. Logan, Laura Mudge, Chris Sullivan, Ruth D. Gates, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: This paper discusses how coral reef resilience is studied at different scales and explores emerging technologies that provide new insights. The authors also propose a framework for integrating insights across scales to guide management solutions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Konrad Wessels, Xiaoxuan Li, Alexandre Bouvet, Renaud Mathieu, Russell Main, Laven Naidoo, Barend Erasmus, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Global savannas, as the third largest carbon sink, are facing rapid changes. This study tested the ability of L-band SAR to track changes in savanna vegetation structure and found that it has a higher sensitivity than previous studies suggested.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiwei Li, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Three-dimensional shallow benthic complexity provides valuable information for coral reef conservation and management, as it reflects the physical conditions and biodiversity of shallow coral reef environments. This study mapped global shallow water benthic complexity using satellite images and found that high complexity regions are mainly concentrated in areas with high benthic biodiversity. However, a significant portion of coral reef regions with high benthic complexity remains unprotected. The global coral reef benthic complexity map generated in this study can contribute to improving marine protected areas, reef conservation, and management.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Nicholas R. Vaughn, R. Flint Hughes, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Fungal pathogens of the genus Ceratocystis have caused significant mortality of native 'O over bar hi'a trees on the island of Hawai'i. High resolution imaging spectroscopy has enabled the easy detection of the associated disease, Rapid 'O over bar hi'a Death (ROD). By analyzing wall-to-wall maps of affected 'O over bar hi'a canopy over four years, the study reveals the relationship between changes in canopy distribution and density and environmental drivers at different scales.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
M. M. Seeley, E. A. Stacy, R. E. Martin, G. P. Asner
Summary: Imaging spectroscopy can be used to map closely related plant species at a larger scale. This research focused on understanding the differences in spectral reflectance between genotypes of a single species, Metrosideros polymorpha, and its hybrids. The study found that leaf reflectance patterns successfully distinguished different varieties of M. polymorpha on Hawaii Island and populations of the same variety on different islands. The findings contribute to the use of imaging spectroscopy in biodiversity studies at the genetic level.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Megan M. Seeley, Roberta E. Martin, Christian Giardina, Blaine Luiz, Kainana Francisco, Zachary Cook, Marc A. Hughes, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Plant pathogens pose a growing threat to forest health, impacting the ecological, economic, and cultural goods and services provided by global forests. Remote sensing methods have been used to identify disease resistance in agricultural crops but have had limited application in forest trees. However, in the case of Metrosideros polymorpha or Modified Letter Turned CommaOhiModified Letter Turned Commaa, a native Hawaiian tree, remote sensing was able to detect resistance to Ceratocystis wilt caused by the fungal pathogen Ceratocystis lukuohia, which is significant for disease control efforts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Megan M. Seeley, Roberta E. Martin, Nicholas R. Vaughn, David R. Thompson, Jie Dai, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Imaging spectroscopy is a useful tool for studying ecosystem functioning, but its application in assessing intra-specific trait variation across environmental gradients needs more testing. Selection of specific genotypes and their effects on trait variation and functional diversity are unclear.
Article
Ecology
Nicoletta Stork, Amy Mainzer, Roberta Martin
Summary: Mediterranean-type ecosystems are facing ecological stress, with non-native species invasions driven by fire regimes, climate change, and human disturbances. This study assesses ecosystem health in the Santa Monica Mountains from 2014 to 2020, focusing on the effects of the 2018 Woolsey Fire. The analysis shows an increase in non-native cover and rapid regrowth of non-native species after the fire, raising concerns for the future of native vegetation and highlighting the damage caused by densely populated non-native plant communities.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Erin C. Netoskie, Kristina L. Paxton, Eben H. Paxton, Gregory P. Asner, Patrick J. Hart
Summary: The recent development of animal-borne sensors combined with location data has allowed researchers to study how animals modify their behavior in response to specific habitat features. In a study on the endemic Hawaiian thrush, researchers used a novel acoustic transmitter to investigate the vocal behaviors of the bird and how they interacted with different habitat characteristics in a fragmented forest landscape. The study revealed that the use of different vocalization types by the bird varied across the landscape and was associated with distinct habitat features. The research also showed context-specific changes in behavior, including courtship, aggression, and social interactions.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Nadine Keller, Ilja van Meerveld, Christopher David Philipson, Gregory P. Asner, Elia Godoong, Hamzah Tangki, Jaboury Ghazoul
Summary: As secondary tropical forests grow, the changes in canopy structure and density affect the interception loss. However, the effects of tropical forest regeneration on mean throughfall are poorly studied. This hampers the estimation of interception loss for regenerating forests.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Megan M. Seeley, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: The role of intraspecific trait variation in functional ecology has gained attention in recent years. This study used remote sensing data of the tree species Metrosideros polymorpha to quantify the environmental controls on intraspecific trait variation. The results showed that elevation was the most important predictor for all canopy traits.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Megan M. Seeley, Nicholas R. Vaughn, Brennon L. Shanks, Roberta E. Martin, Marcel Konig, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: This study provides accurate and high-resolution spatial data on the keystone species Metrosideros polymorpha in Hawai'i Island, using airborne imaging spectroscopy and LiDAR. The study compares two tree species classification techniques and finds that the support vector machine (SVM) model better reproduces the spatial distribution of M. polymorpha than spectral mixture analysis (SMA) model.