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Greater Diversity Of Fungi On Atlantic Slope Of Costa Rican Cloud Forest, May 2010, Joshua Obermeyer
Greater Diversity Of Fungi On Atlantic Slope Of Costa Rican Cloud Forest, May 2010, Joshua Obermeyer
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Biodiversity in much of the Neotropics is impacted by windward/leeward effects. North East trade winds dump moisture as they hit the mountains, creating a wetter Atlantic slope, and a drier more seasonal Pacific slope. These factors often favor higher biodiversity for a given taxon on the Atlantic slope. Fungi were collected between the two slopes of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. A total of 130 fungi specimens were collected from 1550 meters on both slopes of the Continental Divide to 1750 m. As predicted, fungal species richness (Pacific = 24 species, Atlantic = 39 species), abundance (Pacific = 40, Atlantic = …
Importance Of Environmental Education And Knowledge Comparing Grades 9-12 In Monteverde, Costa Rica And Middleton, Wisconsin, Usa, May 2010, Katie Wipfli
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Environmental education is not always a part of school curricula, particularly in the developing world, where population growth and environmental degradation are increase most rapidly. This study takes place in Monteverde, Costa Rica where three local schools with varying levels of environmental education were surveyed. I compared them to a high school in Middleton, Wisconsin to see how Costa Rica and the United States compare. A 20-question survey was used to measure environmental knowledge of students at each school. I found that environmental education is important. Environmental education was an important determinant of environmental awareness and knowledge. Environmental Education, as …
The Wag-Display Of The Blue-Crowned Motmot (Momotus Momota) As A Predator-Deterrent Signal, May 2010, Elise Nishikawa
The Wag-Display Of The Blue-Crowned Motmot (Momotus Momota) As A Predator-Deterrent Signal, May 2010, Elise Nishikawa
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
The blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) is a large, omnivorous, Neotropical bird. Momotus momota demonstrates a variety of life history traits that could make the bird more vulnerable to ambush predators as well as adaptations to signal to, and deter attack by, ambush predators. Like other motmots, M. momota performs an exaggerated tail-wagging motion when presented with a visual predatory stimulus. I studied the different reactions elicited by four treatments to examine the importance of the signal receiver as a predator that had been visually located by the motmot. I presented either an avian model or an avian call played back …
Supernormal Stimulus As A Mimicry Strategy The Case For Epidendrum Radicans (Orchidaceae), May 2010, Daniel Paul
Supernormal Stimulus As A Mimicry Strategy The Case For Epidendrum Radicans (Orchidaceae), May 2010, Daniel Paul
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Epidendrum radicans is a food deceptive Batesian mimic of its sympatric model species Asclepias curassavica and Lantana camara. Theoretically, food deceptive orchids should be rare with small inflorescences (Johnson et al. 1993; Weins 1978) yet in San Luis, Costa Rica E. radicans grows in large monotypic stands with individuals sporting up to 12 open flowers per inflorescence. E. radicans might attract pollinators using flower or inflorescence size as a visual supernormal stimulus also implicated in floral mimicry (Scheistl 2004). Pollinia removal of E. radicans was measured in plants with i) inflorescence sizes of two and ten growing amongst model species …
Anthocyanins And Delayed Greening: Inhibition Of Leafcutter Ants (Atta Cephalotes) In Inga Punctata (Mimosaceae) And Zygia Palmana (Fabaceae), May 2010, Antoinette Hertel
Anthocyanins And Delayed Greening: Inhibition Of Leafcutter Ants (Atta Cephalotes) In Inga Punctata (Mimosaceae) And Zygia Palmana (Fabaceae), May 2010, Antoinette Hertel
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Leaves that undergo delayed greening with anthocyanins are suspected of having antiherbivore defenses in addition to low leaf nutrient content. This study examines two species with delayed greening, one with anthocyanins, Zygia palmana, and one without, Inga punctata, to determine whether anthocyanins deter herbivores more than low nutritional quality. Leaf samples were taken from 20 trees in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotinoids and anthocyanins were extracted from leaves and tested for concentrations as well as chemical preference to an herbivore, Atta cephalotes. There was a significant preference for older, fully green leaves in each species (p=.041), as …
Community Composition And Chlorophyll Levels In Lichens As Indicators Of Atmospheric Pollution In Monteverde, Costa Rica, May 2010, Kathryn A. Graziano
Community Composition And Chlorophyll Levels In Lichens As Indicators Of Atmospheric Pollution In Monteverde, Costa Rica, May 2010, Kathryn A. Graziano
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Lichens and their photosynthetic pigments are commonly used as bioindicators of atmospheric pollutants. This study compared lichen community structure and chlorophyll levels between two sites in the Monteverde region, Costa Rica, to determine the effect of local pollution. The first site, Santa Elena, is rapidly becoming more populated as a result of an increase in ecotourism, leading to heavy vehicle traffic. The other site, Bajo del Tigre, is secondary forest surrounded by a sparsely populated area far removed from automobile exhaust. Lichen samples were collected from each site. Chlorophyll was extracted with 90 percent acetone and degradation was measured as …
Foraging Habits And Social Learning Of White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Capucinus), May 2010, Jennifer E. Koska
Foraging Habits And Social Learning Of White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Capucinus), May 2010, Jennifer E. Koska
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Foraging for food is an essential aspect to the life of Cebus capucinus. The transmission of this knowledge takes many months of careful observations and trial and error. I studied the foraging habits of C. capucinus in the Cloud Rainforest. It was predicted that there would be a difference between adults and juveniles. My data suggests that there is no difference in the foraging habits between adults and juveniles. These results suggest social learning during the juvenile phase of life impacts the foraging behavior of the C. capucinus.
Polyethism In Eciton Burchellii Army Ants: A Look At Task Specializations Of Worker Castes, May 2010, Colleen Nell
Polyethism In Eciton Burchellii Army Ants: A Look At Task Specializations Of Worker Castes, May 2010, Colleen Nell
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Insect societies, specifically Eciton burchellii army ants have had high ecological success due to polyethism within the colony. This division of labor within the colony increases efficiency and therefore fitness of the colony, which has selected four morphologically and behaviorally defined castes; majors, submajors, media, and minims. Samples of these castes show strong division of labor and roles throughout the colony. Majors are shown to restrict themselves to the column and bivouac where defense is of highest necessity. Submajors have morphologically evolved to carry large prey and maintain column flow. Media are found to be generalists, reinforcing essential functions of …
Responses To Prey Size In Metabus Gravidus (Araneae: Araneidae) Provide Evidence For Optimal Foraging, May 2010, Sunjana Supekar
Responses To Prey Size In Metabus Gravidus (Araneae: Araneidae) Provide Evidence For Optimal Foraging, May 2010, Sunjana Supekar
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Foraging strategy is a critical factor in the fitness of many organisms. The optimal foraging theory states that animals optimize their fitness by selecting food that will provide the most amount of nutrition for the least amount of time and energy spent obtaining food. By minimizing energy spent on foraging, organisms can focus on other activities that benefit them, such as watching for predators, looking for mates, or caring for offspring. Because spiders have a very unique method of predation, they are a useful model organism for the study of optimal foraging. Metabus gravidus (Araneae: Araneidae) is a species of …
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Vesicles In Coffea Arabica (Rubiaceae): Agroforestry And Conventional Coffee Farms, May 2010, Jason C. Kopp
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Vesicles In Coffea Arabica (Rubiaceae): Agroforestry And Conventional Coffee Farms, May 2010, Jason C. Kopp
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Due to their nutrient-poor soils, a pressing issue in tropical countries is the conservation of land through more sustainable agricultural practices in order to continue to feed their booming populations. Agroforestry is a possible sustainable solution, which reduces negative impacts on the environment, including impacts on mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungal associations within plants are important designators of a healthy crop and a more sustainable management system. This study investigates differences in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) vesicle abundance between the center and edge of an agroforestry coffee farm and the center of a conventional coffee farm. Eight different root samples were …