Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

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  The effect of wing color on Heliconius melpomene mating behavior and its implications on the evolution of mimicry, December 2006

  Ellen Thompson

  Wing color is important to butterflies both for social signals and protection from predators. Butterflies gain protection from predators by having aposematically colored wings that warn the predator that the butterfly is distasteful. Some butterflies are also part of Mullerian mimicry complexes in which two distasteful species converge on the same color pattern to enhance their aposematic protection. Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene are Mullerian mimics that exhibit a wide variety of wing patterns throughout Central and South America. Their wing patterns have greatly diverged within each species, but between the species they are almost perfect mimics in each area. It has previously been found that H. melpomene prefer to court butterflies of their same color pattern race. This study examined a possible mechanism of this racial isolation by investigating the effect of wing color change on H. melpomene courting and mating behavior. To accomplish this, 26 female and 18 male H. melpomene had the red stripe on their forewing painted. Half of the individuals were painted white, and the other half were painted red as a control. Their mating and courting behavior was observed to see how they were affected by the color change. Over seven days, seven matings were observed – all between red individuals. White males also tried to court red females and were rejected on six different occasions. This demonstrates that decreased reproductive success is an immediate consequence of wing color change and wing color may be responsible for the racial isolation observed in H. melpomene. Because of this strong sexual selection to maintain existing color patterns, geographic isolation is most likely necessary for the evolution of any new mimicry patterns.

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  The price we pay: ecotourism’s contribution to conservation in Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2006

  Corrie Haley

  Recent increase in travel has made tourism one of the highest revenue producing industries worldwide (Inman Draft). Ecotourism has grown in Costa Rica, due to the 5% of global biodiversity and high percentage of protected habitat that the country possesses (Inman Draft). Ecotourism is defined as contributing to the local communities as well as conservation of the natural habitats it is based. I conducted numerous surveys were conducted in Monteverde, Costa Rica, which is an area with ecotourism companies, hotels and restaurants. It was found that the reserves, ecotourism companies and organizations are contributing about 9.68% of their annual revenue to conservation of the Cloud Forest. Tourists were also surveyed in order to determine their willingness to pay for a high quality nature-based experience. It was determined that 97.5% of tourists are willing to pay if they are guaranteed their money is going directly to conservation and environmental education. I suggest that a voluntary ecotax will allow more ecotourism revenue to find its way to ongoing conservation efforts.

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  Tropical cloud forest canopy and subcanopy adapt to different light environments by regulating photosynthetic pigments, December 2006

  Bradley D. Wallentine

  The canopy and subcanopy of a Tropical Cloud Forest provide distinctly different light environments. Here, the amounts and ratios of photosynthetic pigments in leaves from a Cloud Forest canopy and subcanopy plants are compared. The pigments of forty canopy and subcanopy leaf samples are extracted using acetone and analyzed using a spectrophotometer. It is found that canopy and subcanopy plants possess equivalent means of concentrations of photosynthetic pigments per mass of leaf tissue (x = 0.21± 0.09 mg/g and 0.22 ± 0.11 mg/g, respectively). Therefore, plants from these two microhabitats invest the same quantity in major pigments for photosynthesis. However, the availability of light cause canopy plants to produce a higher concentration of photosynthetic pigments per area (x = 0.0079 ± 0.0026 mg/cm²) than subcanopy plants (x = 0.0059 ± 0.0019 mg/cm²). Based on the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b, it appears that canopy plants (x =1.63 ± 0.57) use their photosynthetic pigments to maximize their rate of light processing. Subcanopy plants (x = 0.98 ± 0.26), in contrast, appear to maximize light absorption. Using the ratio of carotenoids to chlorophyll b, canopy plants (x = 1.24 ± 0.27) may be using carotenoids to prevent photoinhibition. Subcanopy plants, having a much lower carotenoids to chlorophyll b ratio (x = 0.97 ± 0.27), are possibly using carotenoids for further light absorption.

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  Tropical pteridophyte relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, December 2006

  Katie Heard

  It is known that pteridophytes have a mutualistic association with mycorrhizal fungi, which play a critical role in the capture of nutrients from the soil, to help with the acquisition of phosphorus and nitrogen, perhaps the most limiting factors for plant growth (Brundett 1983). Few studies have been conducted in the tropics; although there is much descriptive evidence from elsewhere that suggests that mycorrhizal relationships are important (Wagner et al.1983). This study was conducted in the San Luis premontane forest and Monteverde lower montane wet forests in Costa Rica. Twenty-four epiphytic individuals and 20 terrestrial individuals were collected to investigate the frequency of infection. The samples were dyed and examined for the presence or absence of mycorrhizae. Thirty-nine of the 44 individuals were infected. The terrestrial individuals exhibited a greater bias towards vesicles and the epiphytic individuals more prone to hyphal infection. All seven families were infected with mycorrhizae with all ten species having at least two individuals infected. The five individuals without mycorrhizae suggest that pteridophytes are capable of developing and sustaining plant growth without the mutualistic interaction.

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  Avian feeding guild diversity in sun-grown and shade-grown coffee farms in San Luis Valley, Monteverde, Costa Rica, 2006

  Anna Richey and Toria Waldron

  Three coffee farms were studied to determine avian feeding guild diversity differences between sun-grown and shade-grown plots in San Luis Valley, Monteverde, Costa Rica. Sun-grown and shade-grown plots were observed on three coffee farms, species were identified by sight, and separated into feeding guilds. Using the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, we found a significantly greater overall avian diversity in sun-grown plots (Modified t-test, t= -4.00, df = 267.36). We also found no significant difference in feeding guild diversity between sun-grown and shade-grown plots, but found a significant difference within insectivorous and omnivorous feeding guilds supporting greater diversity in the sun-grown plots (Modified t-Test, Insectivorous: p > 0.05 t = -2.28, df = 102.51, Omnivorous: p > 0.05, t = -2.84, df = 98.67). This comparison could indicate the sun-grown plots in San Luis Valley, Costa Rica to be a more productive system, whereas shade-grown plots are dominated by two species affecting overall diversity.

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  Coprinus disseminatus data sheet : Coprinus disseminatus [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Coprinus disseminatus.

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  Egg predation and egg predator diversity in forest and open habitat of the Monteverde region, August 2006

  Julia Benson

  As habitats continue to be destroyed and fragmentation decreases the number of large predators, intermediate predators are expected to thrive. To further investigate whether the intermediate predator hypothesis applies to open areas in addition to edges, the difference in the amount of egg predation and the egg predator diversity in the forest and open habitat of the Monteverde region was tested. Each night three clusters of eggs with three quail eggs and three fake plasticine eggs were placed in each habitat. Results showed a significant difference between the total number of real eggs removed from the two habitats, (Chi-squared test, 2 = 5.373, p = 0.0205, n = 2) but there was no difference between the number of eggs removed each night between the two habitats (Sign test, p > 0.05). It is thought that fewer eggs are removed from the open area because other, more preferred food sources such as gardens and compost exist in the open area.

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  Gymnopus sp. data sheet: Gymnopus sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Gymnopus sp.

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  Hygrocybe miniata data sheets: Hygrocybe miniata [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Hygrocybe miniata.

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  Lepiota sp. data sheet: Lepiota sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Lepiota sp.

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  Macrofungal abundance and distribution during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica, August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that play a myriad of important roles in all ecosystems. From providing medication for humans to interacting mutualistically with tropical plants, this kingdom offers benefits to many organisms. However, there is much to be learned from this highly understudied collection of species. This study focused on expanding a database of fungi in and around the Estación biológica de Monteverde. Each fungus collected was photographed and data such as date and time, weather conditions, microhabitat conditions, and morphological characteristics were recorded and entered into the database. Milagro Mata identified 25 of the collected species to the family, genus, or species level. By expanding this database we hope to increase knowledge and interest in the local macrofungal communities.

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  [Macrofungal abundance and distribution during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica--supporting materials--additions to the database of fungi at the Estación Biológica de Monteverde], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Includes morphological and taxonomic keys to newly identified fungi that were collected around the Biological Station in Monteverde in the summer of 2006, an alphabetical species list and a family and species list of the newly identified fungi, and the data sheets and images of each newly identified fungus.

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  Macrofungal abundance and distribution during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica--supporting materials--images, August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Final PowerPoint presentation of the macrofungi collected at the Estación Biológica de Monteverde in the summer of 2006.

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  Morganella fuliginea data sheet: Morganella fuliginea [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Morganella fuliginea.

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  Morpho sp. #1 data sheet: Morpho sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of a coraline Morpho sp. measuring less than 2 cm.

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  Morpho sp. #2 data sheet: Morpho sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Morpho sp. #2 (basic form: toadstool) in a macrofungal abundance and distribution study done during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

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  Morpho sp. #3 data sheet: Morpho sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Morpho [sp.] #3 (basic form: toadstool) in a macrofungal abundance and distribution study done during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

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  Morpho sp. #4 data sheet: Morpho sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Morpho sp. #3 (basic form: toadstool) in a macrofungal abundance and distribution study done during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

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  Morpho sp. #5 data sheet: Morpho sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Morpho sp. #5 (basic form: toadstool] in a macrofungal abundance and distribution study done during the wet season in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

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  Mycena sp. data sheet: Mycena sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Mycena sp.

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  Pluteus sp. #1 data sheet: Pluteus sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Pluteus #1 sp.

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  Pluteus sp. #2 data sheet: Pluteus sp. [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Pluteus #2 sp.

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  Polyporus teniculus data sheet: Polyporus teniculus [images], August 2006

  Jason Prior and Matthew Prior

  Specimen data sheet and accompanying images of Polyporus teniculus.

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  Population distribution and variability of mucosal-sheath mass of Calastoma cinnabarium in the Cloud Forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica, August 2006

  Cecilia Sorensen and Tanner Scrivens

  Comprising an entire kingdom to themselves, fungi have been poorly studied relative to their diversity and importance across ecosystems. Calastoma cinnabarium is one of these widely distributed but understudied mushrooms found throughout the Americas. The purpose of this study was to examine its elevational distribution at Monteverde, Costa Rica and adaptive value of its distinctive mucosal-sheath to investigate its possible role in moisture regulation. Population censuses were conducted along an elevational gradient through two life zones in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in parallel with a study determining mucosal-sheath mass to cap size diameter. Additionally, the adaptive value of mucosal-sheathing was examined through the removal and subsequent 16-day exposure to high elevation environmental conditions. Population size was not significantly correlated with elevation (R2 = 0.077, p-value = 0.315, n = 15). Mucosal-sheath mass to cap diameter ratio varied significantly between elevations (F-value = 4.89, p-value = 0.001, df = 4, n = 128) and supported the prediction that it serves to prevent desiccation at lower elevations. The mucosal sheath was found to confer a fitness advantage to C. cinnabarium by helping it cope with abiotic factors such as moisture and temperature, but not for biotic conditions, such as fungivory (2 = 6.15, p-value = 0.046, df = 2, n = 40). Results from this experiment reinforce the notion of high fungal environmental specificity and shows how this constraint drives specialized morphology.