MonteverdeMonteverde

The Study of birds and their The Study of birds and their relationships in Monteverde.relationships in Monteverde.

What started the interests in bird What started the interests in bird life in Monteverdelife in Monteverde

The first biologists to enter this region where The first biologists to enter this region where ornithologists William Buskirk and George ornithologists William Buskirk and George Powell.Powell.– They where attracted by the low stature of the cloud They where attracted by the low stature of the cloud

forest, which made research on mixed-species flocks forest, which made research on mixed-species flocks more tractable than in tall lowland forests.more tractable than in tall lowland forests.

– Most research focuses in on autecological studies Most research focuses in on autecological studies and bird-plant interaction studies (now a days most and bird-plant interaction studies (now a days most studies focus on plant bird interactions due to studies focus on plant bird interactions due to changes in in scientific fashion).changes in in scientific fashion).

Reasons Why Monteverde is so Reasons Why Monteverde is so AttractableAttractable

1) 1) Unusual BehaviorUnusual Behavior – many species of birds exhibit bizarre – many species of birds exhibit bizarre behavior patterns.behavior patterns.2) 2) Abundance and Ease of StudyAbundance and Ease of Study – most species have large – most species have large populations and occur close to or around ground level, making them populations and occur close to or around ground level, making them easier to study.easier to study.3) 3) Changes in Avifauna Small Spatial ScalesChanges in Avifauna Small Spatial Scales – one striking – one striking feature is the turn over of fauna from one life zone to the next. In a feature is the turn over of fauna from one life zone to the next. In a short walk one can pass through six life zones and see the different short walk one can pass through six life zones and see the different avian.avian.4) 4) Dramatic ColorationDramatic Coloration – many scientists and bird enthusiasts are – many scientists and bird enthusiasts are attracted to the aesthetic appeal of the avian community (i.e. the attracted to the aesthetic appeal of the avian community (i.e. the Resplendent Quetzal).Resplendent Quetzal).5) 5) Alluring SettingAlluring Setting – agreeable climate, spectacular views, – agreeable climate, spectacular views, bilingual populace, and international expatriates that welcomes bilingual populace, and international expatriates that welcomes biologists draws many from ornithologists community.biologists draws many from ornithologists community.

Distribution, Species Richness, and Distribution, Species Richness, and DiversityDiversity

What makes Monteverde so unique is that most What makes Monteverde so unique is that most other areas of Costa Rica have either dry or wet other areas of Costa Rica have either dry or wet forest fauna plus some North American forest fauna plus some North American migrants, but Monteverde has all three types.migrants, but Monteverde has all three types.Three Principle Regions of Monteverde.Three Principle Regions of Monteverde.– 1) The Guanacaste fauna on the Pacific slope, which 1) The Guanacaste fauna on the Pacific slope, which

represents the Mesoamerican dry forest fauna.represents the Mesoamerican dry forest fauna.– 2) The highland fauna, a distinct group of species that 2) The highland fauna, a distinct group of species that

occur in Costa Rica and Chiriqui, Panama highlands.occur in Costa Rica and Chiriqui, Panama highlands.– 3) The wet forest fauna of the Caribbean slope.3) The wet forest fauna of the Caribbean slope.

It is derived primarily from South American groups where as It is derived primarily from South American groups where as the highland and Guanacaste fauna are a mixture of North the highland and Guanacaste fauna are a mixture of North and South American groups.and South American groups.

Life Zone DistributionLife Zone Distribution

With a steep dry season gradient of With a steep dry season gradient of increasing moisture from Pacific to increasing moisture from Pacific to Caribbean slope, create remarkably Caribbean slope, create remarkably distinct vegetation in the different life distinct vegetation in the different life zones.zones.– This also causes Avian species diversity to This also causes Avian species diversity to

vary across the different life zones.vary across the different life zones.

Life Zones ContinuedLife Zones Continued

Zone 4 (Lower Montane rain Zone 4 (Lower Montane rain forest)forest)– Has Highest proportion of Has Highest proportion of

unique species (9%).unique species (9%).– Lowest species richness off all Lowest species richness off all

life zones (121 regularly life zones (121 regularly occurring species).occurring species).

This is due to its small This is due to its small geographic extent and geographic extent and isolation from the more isolation from the more diverse higher elevation diverse higher elevation faunas.faunas.

Zones 5 and 6 (Pre-montane Zones 5 and 6 (Pre-montane rain and tropical wet forests)rain and tropical wet forests)– On Caribbean slope (315 to On Caribbean slope (315 to

278 species, relatively)278 species, relatively)– Most species rich life zoneMost species rich life zone– These middle-elevation zones These middle-elevation zones

have highest species diversity have highest species diversity of any site in Costa Ricaof any site in Costa Rica

– They are low enough in They are low enough in elevation to include the upper elevation to include the upper limit of the ranges of many limit of the ranges of many lowland species as seasonal lowland species as seasonal migrants.migrants.

Zone 6 includes a lake of 2-Zone 6 includes a lake of 2-ha that attracts water birds ha that attracts water birds not seen elsewhere in not seen elsewhere in Montverde.Montverde.

The Importance of the CorridorThe Importance of the Corridor

The Corridor is the space between the Cloud The Corridor is the space between the Cloud Forest and Rain-Shadow Forest. Forest and Rain-Shadow Forest.

The Monteverde Corridor is an ecological The Monteverde Corridor is an ecological connection between the highlands and the connection between the highlands and the lowlands. Corridors are critical for area-sensitive lowlands. Corridors are critical for area-sensitive species which require large, interconnected species which require large, interconnected areas to maintain viable populations.areas to maintain viable populations.

Corridors will interconnect various plant, and Corridors will interconnect various plant, and animal habitats.animal habitats.

Species Accumulation CurveSpecies Accumulation Curve

Zone 6 on the Caribbean slope site is much Zone 6 on the Caribbean slope site is much more diverse than that of the Pacific slope and more diverse than that of the Pacific slope and after several hundred captures, there is no after several hundred captures, there is no indication of the level of species richness at indication of the level of species richness at which the curve will flatten out.which the curve will flatten out.– Most research takes place on the Pacific slope where Most research takes place on the Pacific slope where

species richness is intermediate.species richness is intermediate.

The rate of accumulation of species is plotted as The rate of accumulation of species is plotted as a function of the number of mist-net captures.a function of the number of mist-net captures.– Canopy species are under representedCanopy species are under represented

Differences between Pacific and Differences between Pacific and Caribbean slopesCaribbean slopes

Elevational migration is much less pronounced Elevational migration is much less pronounced on the Pacific slope, breeding species tend to on the Pacific slope, breeding species tend to remain resident year round on their territories.remain resident year round on their territories.– Ecological differences are between dry forests and Ecological differences are between dry forests and

the moist highland forests of the Caribbean side: may the moist highland forests of the Caribbean side: may hinder migration.hinder migration.

– Problem: Deforestation is more pronounced on Pacific Problem: Deforestation is more pronounced on Pacific slope where there tends to be more seasonal slope where there tends to be more seasonal migration between adjacent dry and gallery forests.migration between adjacent dry and gallery forests.

Restriction of Species to one life Restriction of Species to one life zonezone

The pattern of species occurring only in specific The pattern of species occurring only in specific life zones is remarkable because habitat life zones is remarkable because habitat specialization occurs on a very small spatial specialization occurs on a very small spatial scale.scale.Most species of birds can only be found in one Most species of birds can only be found in one of the six principle life zones.of the six principle life zones.– As one walks from the Pacific slope to the Caribbean As one walks from the Pacific slope to the Caribbean

slope a series of distinct bird communities is found.slope a series of distinct bird communities is found.– This causes a high alpha species diversity (many This causes a high alpha species diversity (many

species in one habitat) and a high beta species species in one habitat) and a high beta species diversity (a high turnover of species across adjacent diversity (a high turnover of species across adjacent habitats.habitats.

MigrationMigration

Bird populace consists of permanent Bird populace consists of permanent residents, seasonal migrants, and residents, seasonal migrants, and elevational migrants.elevational migrants.– Long distance migrants either breed in North Long distance migrants either breed in North

or Central America during the summer and or Central America during the summer and migrate down to Costa Rica during the non-migrate down to Costa Rica during the non-breeding season.breeding season.

– Elevational Migrants breed at one elevation Elevational Migrants breed at one elevation during the non-breeding season and migrate during the non-breeding season and migrate to other slopes during non-breeding season.to other slopes during non-breeding season.

Migration TypesMigration Types

Long Distance Migration:Long Distance Migration:– 91 species or 21% are long-91 species or 21% are long-

distance migrants.distance migrants.– Some such as the Swallow-Some such as the Swallow-

tailed Kite or the Yellow-Green tailed Kite or the Yellow-Green Vireo breed in Montverde and Vireo breed in Montverde and migrate to South America in migrate to South America in non-breeding season.non-breeding season.

– They decrease in number with They decrease in number with increase in elevation, increase in elevation, occurring most commonly in occurring most commonly in Zones 1-2 and 5-6.Zones 1-2 and 5-6.

– Relatively low competition Relatively low competition between resident and migrant between resident and migrant birds.birds.

Elevational Migration:Elevational Migration:– Ex: the Resplendent Quetzals.Ex: the Resplendent Quetzals.– The broad pattern is a four The broad pattern is a four

stage annual movement.stage annual movement.1) Courtship and nesting 1) Courtship and nesting occur in cloud forest habitats occur in cloud forest habitats between January and June.between January and June.2) After nesting, adults and 2) After nesting, adults and off-spring move to lower off-spring move to lower elevations on Pacific slope.elevations on Pacific slope.Four months later birds move Four months later birds move back to higher elevations back to higher elevations used for nesting.used for nesting.They then move across the They then move across the continental divide to the continental divide to the Caribbean slope until nesting Caribbean slope until nesting season approaches.season approaches.

Why Migrate?Why Migrate?

The pattern is to believed too be the result The pattern is to believed too be the result of the availability of food sources such as of the availability of food sources such as the family of Lauraceae.the family of Lauraceae.

Monteverde Corridor for Monteverde Corridor for Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

Distinct Species in Each ReserveDistinct Species in Each Reserve

Due to amount of moisture and altitude, the Due to amount of moisture and altitude, the species are distinctly different in each type of species are distinctly different in each type of forest. forest.

Cloud Forest has 160 tree species.Cloud Forest has 160 tree species.

Rain-Shadow Forest has 132 tree species. Rain-Shadow Forest has 132 tree species.

Only ten of these tree species can be found in Only ten of these tree species can be found in both areas. both areas.

21 bird species in Rain-Shadow Forest never 21 bird species in Rain-Shadow Forest never live in the Cloud Forest.live in the Cloud Forest.

Lauraceae Tropical TreesLauraceae Tropical Trees

Part of Avocado Family.Part of Avocado Family.Primary source of food for birds and Primary source of food for birds and mammals. mammals. Rain-Shadow has 17 species. Rain-Shadow has 17 species. Cloud Forest has 13 species. Cloud Forest has 13 species. – Not one species can be found in both Not one species can be found in both

areas.areas.

ProblemsProblems

Not much rain-shadow forest is left.Not much rain-shadow forest is left.

– Due to cattle raising & coffee growing, large Costa Due to cattle raising & coffee growing, large Costa Rican industries.Rican industries.

• Also because when birds migrate lower, they crowd into the remaining forest and eat anything that has not been eaten.

• So little of what is left is protected.

• An estimated 2,000 acres is needed to be protected to be sure of the rain-shadow forests survival.

• Currently only 650 acres are protected.

Three Three Important Important EcologicalEcological Functions Functions

1.1. Corridor is critical habitat for fruit-eating Corridor is critical habitat for fruit-eating birds.birds.

2.2. Corridor will Protect Endangered Rain-Corridor will Protect Endangered Rain-Shadow Forests.Shadow Forests.

3.3. Corridor provides critical biological area Corridor provides critical biological area for the region.for the region.