Range change in Cecropia and Azteca: the effects of climate change on mutualistic partners in Monteverde, Costa Rica, May 2008

Alternative Title

Cambio de rango en Cecropia y azteca: los efectos del cambio climático sobre los socios mutualistas en Monteverde, Costa Rica

Creator

Garrison Loope

Files

Publication Date

May 2008

Abstract

The effects of climate change on the fauna of the Monteverde area has been well documented for vertebrate taxa such as birds, anurans, Norops spp, (Pounds 1999) and bats (LaVal 2004), but like the rest of the world little work has been done on the effects of climate change on invertebrates. This study examines the altitudinal ranges of the four species of Azteca and the three species of Cecropia living between 1500 and 700m in an area from Monteverde-Cerro Plano to San Luis. The current ranges of species are compared to elevations from a 1985 survey by John Longino (Longino 1989) and a 2003 survey by Mazzei (2003). In the last 23 years two species, A. xanthochroa, and A. alfari, are shown to have moved significantly up slope with a change in mean elevation of 103m, and 100m (P= .0018, and .0348). A. constructor shows no evidence for upslope movement but it increased its relative population size threefold over that reported by Longino (1989). The lowermost Azteca, A. coeruleipennis, has not shifted with climate change but its distribution may be restricted by the range of C. peltata. The two ant-housing Cecropia species did not have significant changes in means, but the upper of the two, C.obtusifolia, did show an extension of its range upslope as well as an increase in hybrids between it and the uppermost non-ant-housing species C. angustifolia. These data are unique in showing the effect of climate change on invertebrate populations. Although the impact of climate change on invertebrates throughout the world has been poorly studied, this study suggests that they can be heavily impacted by climate change.

Resumen

Existen documentos sobre los efectos del cambio climático en los animales de la zona de Monteverde especialmente los vertebrados como las aves, las ranas, Norops spp, (Pounds 1999) y los murciélagos (LaVal 2004), pero al igual que el resto del mundo hay pocos trabajos que se han hecho sobre los efectos del cambio climático en los invertebrados. Este estudio examina la distribución altitudinal de las cuatro especies de azteca y las tres especies de Cecropia que viven entre los 1500 y 700 metros en una area desde Monteverde-Cerro Plano hasta San Luis.

Keywords

Plant diversity, Cecropia, Azteca (Insects), Climatic changes, CIEE Spring 2008

Palabras claves

Diversidad de plantas, Azteca (Insectos), Cambios climáticos, CIEE Primavera 2008

Extent

8 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00445

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Loope, Garrison, "Range change in Cecropia and Azteca: the effects of climate change on mutualistic partners in Monteverde, Costa Rica, May 2008" (2008). Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation. 510.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/510