The effects of reforestation on mammal diversity and abundance in Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017

Alternative Title

Efectos de la reforestación en la diversidad y abundancia de mamíferos en Monteverde, Costa Rica

Creator

Noelle Pruett

Files

Publication Date

December 2017

Abstract

Reforestation is an important mechanism in helping previously deforested landscapes recover. However, reforested areas tend to have less diversity in vegetation, due to the fact that humans are not able to replicate the same diversity or pattern of regeneration that would occur naturally. I investigated whether or not these changes in forest types and vegetation affect the diversity and abundance of mammals that inhabit these areas. I used both camera traps and Sherman traps to survey mammals from areas with reforestation and with natural regeneration. I observed a total of 72 mammals from five species in the camera traps. I found that while there were no significant differences in the number of species present, there was a significantly larger number of individual mammal appearances on camera traps in locations with natural regeneration. I captured a total of 28 individual rodents over five species in the Sherman traps. Though I found more individual rodents in areas with reforestation, there was not a significant difference between areas with reforestation and natural regeneration. These results indicate that three of the five larger mammal species observed in the cameras (Nasua narica, Dasyprocta punctata, and Puma concolor) were significantly more abundant in areas with natural regeneration than reforestation. Though more research is needed to determine the specific reasons these species are less abundant in reforested areas, I speculate that it is due to dietary changes.

Resumen

La reforestación es un mecanismo importante en ayudar a recuperar áreas previamente deforestadas. Sin embargo, las áreas reforestadas tienden a tener menor diversidad en la vegetación, debido al hecho de que los humanos no pueden replicar el mismo patrón de diversidad de la regeneración que ocurriría naturalmente. Investigué si estos cambios de tipos de bosque y vegetación afecta la diversidad y abundancia de mamíferos que habitan esas áreas. Utilicé cámaras trampa y trampas Sherman para registrar los mamíferos en bordes reforestados y bordes regenerados naturalmente. En las cámaras trampa registré en total 72 mamíferos de cinco especies. Encontré que, aunque no hubo diferencias en el número de especies presentes, sí hubo significativamente mayor número de individuos en los sitios de regeneración natural. En las trampas Sherman registré 28 roedores de cinco especies. Aunque encontré más ratones en áreas reforestadas, no hubo diferencia entre áreas reforestadas y regeneradas. Estos resultados indican que tres de las cinco especies de mamíferos observados en las cámaras (Nasua narica, Dasyprocta punctata, y Puma concolor) fueron significativamente más abundantes en áreas regeneradas que en las reforestadas. Aunque hace falta investigar más para determinar razones específicas de menor abundancia en áreas reforestadas, que en este estudio especulo se debe a requerimientos de las dietas.

Keywords

Reforestation, Mammals, EAP Fall 2017

Palabras claves

Reforestación, Mamíferos, EAP Otoño 2017

Extent

11 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00658

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Pruett, Noelle, "The effects of reforestation on mammal diversity and abundance in Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017" (2017). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 439.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/439