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Articles 1 - 26 of 26
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An Analysis Of Temporal And Frequency Niches During The Dawn Chorus Of Birds In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Brianne Nguyen
An Analysis Of Temporal And Frequency Niches During The Dawn Chorus Of Birds In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Brianne Nguyen
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Many animals communicate using acoustic signals, making frequency bands a limited resource. To deal with this, animals can partition themselves into acoustic frequency niches. Species of insects, anurans, and birds have been observed to call at discrete frequencies when sharing space with each other. In this study, I recorded and analyzed the temporal and frequency overlap in bird calls around dawn in Monteverde, Costa Rica over the course of ten days. I found very little temporal overlap in the sample I recorded. The calls that did overlap often also overlapped in frequency. My results suggest that frequency niches are not …
Biological Treatment Of Monteverde Gray Water Using Effective Microorganisms And Mountain Microorganisms, December 2017, Sierra Raby
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
As in many rural or less structurally developed areas, homeowners and businesses in Monteverde, Costa Rica filter grey water through grease traps or biojardineras or release it directly into their yards. This study evaluates the efficacy of two concentrations of Effective Microorganisms (EM) and Mountain Microorganisms (MM) in improving local grey water. These solutions contain biologically beneficial bacteria, yeast, and fungi. I collected grey water from six residential and commercial sources, treated each source with EM and MM in different concentrations, and gathered water quality metrics from each group for seven days. The metrics included surface cover, sedimentation, layering, smell, …
Zooplankton Morphospecies And Abundance In Relation With Tide In Mangroves Of Cuajiniquil, Costa Rica, December 2017, Stephanie Li
Zooplankton Morphospecies And Abundance In Relation With Tide In Mangroves Of Cuajiniquil, Costa Rica, December 2017, Stephanie Li
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
In two decades, at least 35% of the world’s mangroves have been lost, which is more than both tropical rain forests and coral reefs (Valiela et al. 2001). Mangroves act as an important habitat and feeding grounds for fish (Sasekumar et al. 1992). Zooplankton are abundant in the mangroves and are important organisms to study to get an understanding of the foundation of ecosystem’s food chain. Zooplankton eat phytoplankton and get eaten by small fish and other sea animals, providing a food source and extending the food chain. I aimed to ask and answer the following question: is there a …
Presence And Prevalence Of Microplastics In The Water And Marine Organisms Of The Gulf Of Santa Elena, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, December 2017, Eliot Headley
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Marine environments are sinks for microplastic pollution. Microplastics are widely dispersed through the world’s Ocean and can be fibrous. Synthetic microfibers shed from clothing, wash into rivers, and eventually into the Ocean. These microplastic pieces can be deleterious to marine organisms and the humans that consume them. My aim was to investigate the presence and prevalence of microplastics in the Gulf of Santa Elena, Costa Rica. Microplastics were collected through a plankton net and through dissection of fish guts from local fishermens’ catch. Microplastics, most of which microfibers, were observed in every plankton net sample and in six of the …
Synchronized Male Cricket Calls In Choruses Of The Cricket Anaxipha Sp., December 2017, Michael Morales
Synchronized Male Cricket Calls In Choruses Of The Cricket Anaxipha Sp., December 2017, Michael Morales
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
In Monteverde, there is a species of cricket within the Genus Anaxipha where males sing in loud choruses at night. I wanted to explore the purpose of this behavior by looking at the call and response activity between individual males. In this experiment, I looked at male responses to manipulations of the species male song, which is composed of two elements. I conducted a series of playback experiments on captive crickets. Responses of test subjects were documented while presenting playbacks of manipulated songs. Each playback treatment had a unique response from the crickets being tested. However, overall, it appears that …
The Effects Of Reforestation On Mammal Diversity And Abundance In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Noelle Pruett
The Effects Of Reforestation On Mammal Diversity And Abundance In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Noelle Pruett
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
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 …
Possible Effects Of Long-Term Weather Changes And Extreme Weather Events On Mice Population Abundances In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Emily S. Parker
Possible Effects Of Long-Term Weather Changes And Extreme Weather Events On Mice Population Abundances In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Emily S. Parker
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Mice and rat abundance is determined by a multitude of factors, including, but not limited to: climate change, predation, and food availability. In this study, I analyzed the effects of daily and long-term weather on rodent populations to understand a possible decrease in abundance from 2016 to 2017 in Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. I took observations of individuals from four different sites: Santa Elena, Bajo del Tigre, Dwight and Rachel Crandell Memorial Reserve, and the Estación Biológica Monteverde. While a considerable number of specimens were captured in Bajo del Tigre, I observed the total abundance of rodents to be significantly …
Adaptive Significance And Abundance Of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates In The Cuajiniquil Bay, December 2017, Zac Durall
Adaptive Significance And Abundance Of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates In The Cuajiniquil Bay, December 2017, Zac Durall
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Bioluminescence in nature is a phenomenon that is found in many different organisms, including fungi, fish and bacteria. Of bioluminescent organisms, dinoflagellates are some of the most common. Despite their abundance, the ecological function of the bioluminescence in dinoflagellates is not fully understood. In my study I attempted to explain the ecological function of this bioluminescence by observing dinoflagellate abundances at different times of day. I collected water samples in the Cuajiniquil Bay in Costa Rica, over the course of seven days, and counted the total number of organisms that I found. This was done to try to find a …
Diet Of Frugivorous Birds And Bats In Monteverde: Potential Seed Dispersal In Naturally Disrupted Areas, December 2017, Yibing Yu
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
After a natural disruption clears away the previous plant community, plants from the new vegetation succession will exploit the newly opened up spaces and start growing in this area. Seed dispersal by aerial animals is important in the new vegetation succession because it allows seeds from places relatively far away to access the area. In early October the storm Nate caused flash floods and landslildes, which disturbed many natural habitats in Monteverde. In this study I investigated plant species that naturally grow in disrupted areas by looking at what kind of seeds are dispersed by the frugivorous birds and bats …
Differences In Heterospecific Pollen Deposition Across Pollination Syndromes In The Monteverde Area, December 2017, Kara Powell
Differences In Heterospecific Pollen Deposition Across Pollination Syndromes In The Monteverde Area, December 2017, Kara Powell
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Pollination is an important ecosystem service, increasing the ability of plants to adapt to changing environments through the process of sexual reproduction. The efficiency of pollination can be reduced due to the transfer of heterospecific pollen, which is pollen from another species. Flower characteristics vary in order to attract certain types of pollinators. This phenomenon is classified in groups of flower morphology characteristics known as pollination syndromes. Little research exists that summarizes heterospecific pollen transfer within these pollination syndromes. I investigated pollen deposition across pollination syndromes in Monteverde, Costa Rica in two different sites: San Gerardo and Curi Cancha. I …
Evidence For Aposematic Coloration Of The Sea Urchin Astropyga Pulvinata, December 2017, Nathan Howell
Evidence For Aposematic Coloration Of The Sea Urchin Astropyga Pulvinata, December 2017, Nathan Howell
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Astropyga pulvinata is a brightly colored urchin found in some tropical pacific waters including the coast of Costa Rica. The aim of this study was to test a possible explanation for the coloration of A. pulvinata. I tested the hypothesis that the coloration of A. pulvinata is aposematic. I tested this by poking A. pulvinata and another species of urchin, the uniformly black Diadema mexicanum, then comparing their reactions. The results indicated that A. pulvinata were more likely to move as a response to the poking stimulus than D. mexicanum, which was contrary to the predicted hypothesis. 100% of A. …
Medicinal Herbs And Mosquitoes: A Study Of Plant-Based Insect Repellents, December 2017, Miguel Alejandro Ochoa
Medicinal Herbs And Mosquitoes: A Study Of Plant-Based Insect Repellents, December 2017, Miguel Alejandro Ochoa
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Mosquito-borne illnesses present a great threat to human health, and result in millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of extracted essential oils from three neotropical plants traditionally used in Costa Rican folk medicine as mosquito repellents. I extracted the essential oils of Siparuna decipiens (Monimiaceae), Gliricidia sepium (Fabaceae), and Neuroloena lobata (Asteraceae) via simple steam distillation. The extracted oils were then examined and compared to a negative control in the field on live volunteers, focusing on the mosquitoes in the Monteverde Zone, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. After a total …
Activity Patterns Of Costa Rican Bat Species, December 2017, Nicole Orsi
Activity Patterns Of Costa Rican Bat Species, December 2017, Nicole Orsi
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
In Costa Rica, bats are important nocturnal pollinators and seed dispersers. In this study, I investigated how diet type, species, levels of moonlight and moon phases, and nightly weather influenced the activity of bats. To do this, I used mist nets and an ultrasound detector for 11 nights to capture bats and record their species, sex, diet, and forearm length. Each night two to four mist nets were open from 17:30 to 20:00 and checked at 20 minute intervals. Nets were placed in Bajo del Tigre, the Monteverde Institute, San Luis, the Crandell Memorial Reserve, and La Estación Biológica Monteverde. …
Species Abundance Of Fungi Is Greater In Landslide Areas Compared To Undisturbed Areas Of The Forest In Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, December 2017, Sunshine Lopez
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Fungi plays an important role in the ecosystem by decomposing dead plants, and other organic matter. Without this process, there would be an accumulation of organic material in the forest which would go un-decomposed. Fungi which are saprotrophic macrofungi from the phyla Basidioycota and Ascomycota have the vital job of recycling nutrients from dead plant material in the forest back into the soil. The abundance of organic material created by the landslides on the reserve behind Estación Biológica in Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica may have given rise to nearly twice the amount of different species of fungi (n=31) compared to …
Variability Of Mycorrhizal Colonization Amongst Varieties Of Coffea Arabica In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Mckenzie Sime
Variability Of Mycorrhizal Colonization Amongst Varieties Of Coffea Arabica In Monteverde, Costa Rica, December 2017, Mckenzie Sime
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Mycorrhizae are a kind of fungus that forms symbiotic relationships with plants. They help plants deal with environmental stressors such as drought and disease. Almost all plants have this symbiosis with mycorrhizae, coffee being included in this group. Coffea arabica, a species of coffee, is grown in tropical regions and multiple varieties have been developed to increase the productivity of the plants. However, tropical regions, like Monteverde, Costa Rica where this study was conducted, are going to be some of the hardest areas hit by climate change. Plants are going to be depending more and more on their mycorrhizae as …
Differential Maternal Defense Behavior In Three Species Of Treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae), December 2017, Mackenzie Kui
Differential Maternal Defense Behavior In Three Species Of Treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae), December 2017, Mackenzie Kui
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Maternal care in the animal kingdom can vary immensely from species to species, but the reason for its ubiquity underlies an evolutionary impulse to pass on favorable genes to the next generation. In treehoppers, maternal care increases the rate of offspring survival through species-specific levels of protection from both predation and parasitism. To investigate the factors that influence maternal care, I introduced a variety of animate and inanimate stimuli to both brooding and non-brooding treehoppers in three species: Antianthe expansa, Alchisme grossa, and Umbonia crassicornis. By quantifying their responses as proxies for energy output, I concluded that maternal defense is …
Color Change In Dolabrifera Dolabrifera (Sea Hare) In Response To Substrate Change, December 2017, Jennay Argiris
Color Change In Dolabrifera Dolabrifera (Sea Hare) In Response To Substrate Change, December 2017, Jennay Argiris
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Dolabrifera dolabrifera is an Opisthobranch (sea slug) known for its cryptic coloration. This coloration is an important defense mechanism, but D. dolabrifera have never been studied to see if they change colors to increase their cryptic nature. After photographing 12 D. dolabrifera on different substrates, the color of the slugs and their substrate were determined. These colors were then depicted as hue values. Each D. dolabrifera was photographed three times, in different tide pools and over time. Every D. dolabrifera was graphed with the hue value found for the slug, substrate and reference for the three photographs taken. After analyzing …
The Effectiveness Of Cover Crops As A Control For Root Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne Spp.) In Coffee (Coffea Arabica), December 2017, Joyce Silva
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Root Knot Nematodes are members of the family Meloidognidae and can be detrimental to the overall health and productivity of infected crops. Evidence of the presence of these nematodes can be seen by the galls or “swollen nodules” that form where these worms have been feeding. In order to avoid the use of harmful nematicides some farms have chosen to use cover crops as a more sustainable approach to combating these pests. For my study I decided to test if the cover crops used at LIFE Monteverde were effective in reducing the prevalence of root knot nematodes in the roots …
Microbial Diversity In Compost, Its Efficacy Against Pathogenic Fungus Mycena Citricolor, And Soil Erosion At Life Monteverde, June 2017, Naomi Hood, Mason Thurmond
Microbial Diversity In Compost, Its Efficacy Against Pathogenic Fungus Mycena Citricolor, And Soil Erosion At Life Monteverde, June 2017, Naomi Hood, Mason Thurmond
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
The incidence of Mycena citricolor on coffee plants and soil erosion threaten the productivity of coffee farms in the Monteverde region. Mycena citricolor, commonly known as ojo de gallo, is a pathogenic fungus that causes defoliation and loss of fruit in Coffea arabica. The fungus lives on coffee leaves and in the soil. As soil erodes, fertile material for plant growth is lost and ojo de gallo is given the opportunity to spread across the farm. This study investigated the possibility of novel sustainable practices in maintaining healthy coffee plants at Finca Life Monteverde by applying compost to ojo de …
Remediation Of Pesticide Contaminated Soils: Alteration Of Ph By Trametes Spp. Fungi?, May 2017, Liana Warren
Remediation Of Pesticide Contaminated Soils: Alteration Of Ph By Trametes Spp. Fungi?, May 2017, Liana Warren
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Pesticide drift from organophosphate insecticides near industrial farms is a big problem in Costa Rica. Excess organophosphates run into waterways and nearby soils, where they bioaccumulate in the foods grown there and in the drinking water, causing health problems to those who consume them. Some mushrooms have bioremedial effects on pesticides. Trametes versicolor, a species of white rot fungi, can break down organophosphates by secreting chemicals that catalyze degradation reactions in soils. To determine if this is a viable option for bioremediation in the tropics, I observed four Trametes spp. fruiting bodies and one substrate without fungus after adding Malathion …
Song Performance Of Coordinated Male Duet In Long-Tailed Manakins, May 2017, Stephanie Rosas
Song Performance Of Coordinated Male Duet In Long-Tailed Manakins, May 2017, Stephanie Rosas
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Animals use a variety of traits such as brightly colored plumage, nuptial gifts, chemical signaling, or intricate displays to attract mates. Long-tailed manakins (Chiroxiphia linearis) exhibit one of the more elaborate mating rituals found in the animal world. C. linearis form lek mating systems, where a group of males aggregate for cooperative courtship displays. They perform an alpha-beta duet that serves as a long-range cue to attract females to their perch zone for further display. Higher frequency matching in this duet has been correlated to higher courtship success. I investigated differences between alpha-beta vocalizations within and between leks, as well …
Assessing Different Soil Properties In Primary Forest, Pasture, And Regenerative Forest In Los Llanos, Monteverde, May 2017, Arianna Wolff
Assessing Different Soil Properties In Primary Forest, Pasture, And Regenerative Forest In Los Llanos, Monteverde, May 2017, Arianna Wolff
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Animal agriculture is one of the largest causes of deforestation, converting primary and secondary forest into pasture for cattle. By severely altering the landscape, major ecosystem changes occur, including changes in soil properties. I compared the soil of four types of land plots in Las Llanos, Monteverde: primary forest, pasture, reforested pasture, and fallow pasture. I tested the compaction, decomposition rate, presence of water stable aggregates, and arthropod diversity within each plot. Primary forest had significantly lower compaction, and seemed to have higher decomposition rates and higher proportions of large aggregate sizes. The reforestation site resembled both pasture and fallow …
The Effectiveness Of Citronella Essential Oil Extract As A Mosquito Larvicide Against Culex Spp., May 2017, Mina M. Patel
The Effectiveness Of Citronella Essential Oil Extract As A Mosquito Larvicide Against Culex Spp., May 2017, Mina M. Patel
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
The production and use of mosquito insecticides has long been practiced; presently, the search for natural insecticides and larvicides is a flourishing field. Natural insecticides and larvicides persist less in the environment and are less toxic than synthetic insecticides such as DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane). I studied the effectiveness of citronella grass, Cymbopogon nardus, as a larvicide against Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus mosquito larvae and how it affected their behaviors. The larvae were exposed to three different treatments: two self-prepared extractions of citronella oil of different concentrations and a natural commercialized citronella repellant spray. I recorded the number of deaths and …
Medicinal Plants In Monteverde: Efficacy And Local Use Of Neurolaena Lobata (Gavilana) And Ageratum Conyzoides (Santa Lucia) Against E. Coli And S. Aureus, May 2017, Rachel Perera
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
I examined the antimicrobial efficacy of both Neurolaena lobata and Ageratum conyzoides found in Monteverde. These two plants are in the Asteraceae family, and can be used to treat gastrointestinal discomfort. Both have been proven to be effective antimicrobials against E. coli and S. aureus. I tested each plant on E. coli and S. aureus using a Kirby-Bauer assay and an agar well diffusion method. For Neurolaena lobata plated on S. aureus, solutions of young leaves exhibited significantly higher inhibition zones than solutions of both old leaves and control disks. I also gathered local knowledge on medicinal plants using a …
Structural Benefits And Distribution Of Cribellar Thread In Adult Tengella Radiata Webs (Araneae: Tengellidae), May 2017, Annakaren Ramirez
Structural Benefits And Distribution Of Cribellar Thread In Adult Tengella Radiata Webs (Araneae: Tengellidae), May 2017, Annakaren Ramirez
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Tengella radiata is a spider endemic to Costa Rica whose webs change as spiderlings mature into adulthood. As adults, a key component of their webs is their use of cribellar thread, spun from a specialized silk-producing organ, the cribellum. This paper seeks to figure out what the structural benefits and distribution of this silk in adult Tengella radiata webs. To address this question, I analyzed thread density in different regions of the web, the amount of cribellar thread used in different segments of the web, and tested thread resistance in cribellar and non-cribellar thread. I found that the area near …
Fungal Growth Inhibition By Quercus Cortesii Galls And The Presence Of Gall-Invaders, May 2017, Samantha E. Simon
Fungal Growth Inhibition By Quercus Cortesii Galls And The Presence Of Gall-Invaders, May 2017, Samantha E. Simon
Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]
Galls are abnormal plant growths induced by highly specialized arthropods and are used as a food source and for protection for the developing larvae. The chemical composition within galls is known for containing high levels of tannins, which have anti-fungal and anti-herbivory properties. This study focuses on the effect of tannins and other chemicals extracted from Quercus cortesii galls on the inhibition of the fungi Mycena citricolor. This study also explores the presence of gall-invaders such as arthropods and vertebrates. Two methods of treatment were used to determine the effect that tannins and other chemicals extracted from cynipid wasp galls …