@article {15, title = {Assessing species traits and landscape relationships of the mammalian carnivore community in a neotropical biological corridor}, journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation}, volume = {25}, year = {2016}, month = {Jan-04-2016}, pages = {739 - 752}, abstract = {

Mammalian carnivores play an important role in regulating food webs and ecosystems. While many carnivore populations are facing various threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and illegal trade, others have adapted to human-dominated landscapes. Information about Neotropical carnivore communities in particular is limited, especially in disturbed landscapes. We conducted a camera trap survey at 38 sites across the San Juan\–La Selva Biological Corridor in Costa Rica to assess occupancy and detection probabilities of the carnivore community. We developed hypotheses within a likelihood-based framework in order to determine the landscape features and species traits (diet and size) that influenced their occupancy. We detected nine of the 13 native carnivores predicted to occur in the corridor. When modeled separately, each species responded to land cover changes differently, suggesting no strong community-wide predictors of occupancy. We then modeled three separate guilds within the carnivore community: omnivorous mesopredators, obligate carnivorous mesopredators, and apex predators. These community guild models revealed a negative relationship between omnivorous mesopredators and increasing forest and tree plantation cover, suggesting omnivores utilize forest fragments and edge habitats in agricultural landscapes. Obligate carnivorous mesopredator models did not reveal any strong habitat relationships, but landscape effects tended to contradict our a priori predictions. Apex predators were positively associated with increasing forest and tree plantation cover, protected areas, and increasing distances to villages. Alarmingly, apex predators and obligate carnivorous mesopredators were generally rare within the biological corridor. A lack of top-down control alone might result in heightened occupancy for all mesopredators, but because the community is dominated by omnivorous species, bottom-up release from human-induced land cover changes and resource provision may better explain their high occupancy.

}, keywords = {Biological corridor, camera traps, Carnivores, Mesopredators, Occupancy models, Omnivores}, issn = {0960-3115}, doi = {10.1007/s10531-016-1089-7}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10531-016-1089-7}, author = {Pardo Vargas, Lain E. and Cove, Michael V. and Spinola, R. Manuel and de la Cruz, Juan Camilo and Sa{\'e}nz, Joel C.} } @article {14, title = {Factors influencing the occurrence of the Endangered Baird{\textquoteright}s tapir Tapirus bairdii : potential flagship species for a Costa Rican biological corridor}, journal = {Oryx}, volume = {48}, year = {2014}, month = {Jan-07-2014}, pages = {402 - 409}, abstract = {

Baird\’s tapir Tapirus bairdii is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is considered rare and locally extirpated from most of its historic range in Costa Rica. We conducted camera-trap and track surveys at 38 forested sites in and around the San Juan\–La Selva Biological Corridor in the Northern Zone of Costa Rica. Cameras were set along established game trails and natural funnels and operated for 14\–38 days per site. Additionally, we documented tapir tracks at many sites. We used survey photographs and track presence to create detection histories to estimate the habitat and survey-specific variables that influence the probability of detection and the probability of occurrence of Baird\’s tapir. The two major protected areas within and adjacent to the corridor were most positively associated with tapir occurrence, and forest cover and native and exotic tree plantations were also positively associated with tapirs\’ use of sites. Although the Baird\’s tapir is rare, our findings suggest that it is more resilient and better able to use available habitat in the fragmented corridor than previously thought. This is most likely a consequence of increased forest cover from reforestation and tree plantations and limited hunting pressure. Given its charismatic nature we recommend that Baird\’s tapir could be used as a flagship species for the San Juan\–La Selva Biological Corridor, to raise local awareness about conservation and increase economic growth from ecotourism.

}, issn = {0030-6053}, doi = {10.1017/S0030605313000070}, url = {http://www.journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0030605313000070https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0030605313000070}, author = {Cove, Michael V. and Pardo Vargas, Lain E. and de la Cruz, Juan Camilo and Spinola, R. Manuel and Jackson, Victoria L. and Sa{\'e}nz, Joel C. and Chassot, Olivier} } @article {5, title = {Observations of cavity-roosting behavior in Costa Rican Lophostoma brasiliense (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)}, journal = {Mammalian Biology}, volume = {73}, year = {2008}, chapter = {230-232}, keywords = {Costa Rica, Lophostoma, Phyllostomidae, Reserva Ecol{\'o}gica Bijagual, roosting behavior, termite nest}, author = {York, Heather A. and Foster, Paul F. and Jones, M. F. and Schwarz, Walter H.} } @article {3, title = {Reproductive strategies and natural history of the arboreal Neotropical vesper mouse, Nyctomys sumichrasti}, journal = {Mammalia}, volume = {77}, year = {2013}, chapter = {363-370}, abstract = {

The vesper mouse, Nyctomys sumichrasti (Rodentia: Cricetidae), a poorly known, arboreal, nocturnal, rodent found in Central America, has been considered rare, and limited information is available about its biology, especially reproduction. We obtained vesper mice from several sites in Costa Rica and prepared them as scientific specimens with standard external measurements and reproductive data recorded. We expanded our dataset by including specimens from museum collections. Vesper mice have 1:1 sex ratios throughout their range. They reproduce year-round and litters may occur in rapid succession. Testis size is positively correlated with body mass; however, we could not determine the onset of sperm production. The onset of reproduction for females, based on mass, is variable but most females are parous by 60 g. Litter size is small with a mode of two, and embryos are not evenly distributed across the uterine horns. Vesper mice exhibit striking morphological differences in terms of tooth-wear and pelage patterns across their range. Much work is needed to fully appreciate N. sumichrasti, its role in tropical habitats, and its reproductive biology.

}, keywords = {Central America, embryo balance, litter size, Reserva Ecol{\'o}gica Bijagual, seasonality, sex ratios}, author = {Romero, Andrea and Timm, Robert M.} } @article {2, title = {Stable-isotope Analysis of Diets of Short-tailed Fruit Bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Carollia )}, journal = {Journal of Mammalogy}, volume = {90}, year = {2009}, month = {Mar-12-2010}, pages = {1469 - 1477}, abstract = {

The coexistence of multiple species of short-tailed fruit bats (Phyllostomidae: Carollia) is common throughout the range of the genus. Previous studies of fecal and stomach contents have documented differences in dietary breadth and in habitat use as mechanisms by which these species may partition dietary niches. By comparing values of \ð15N and \δ13C across species of Carollia from 17 sites in Central and South America, we show that co-occurring Carollia frequently differ in dietary breadth, foraging habitats, and level of insectivory. Values of \δ15N, which tended to be enriched in C. castanea, depleted in C. perspicillata, and intermediate in C. brevicauda and C. sowelli, indicate trophic stratification. Values of \δ13C followed the opposite trend, tending to be enriched in C. perspicillata and depleted in C. castanea, suggesting interspecific differences in breadth of the foraging area. Isotopic comparisons among Carollia, other bat species, and potential food items at 5 of our sites illustrate that populations of Carollia tend to be trophically intermediate between strictly phytophagous and strictly insectivorous organisms, and, contrary to the paucity of insect remains found in fecal samples, indicate that the consumption of insects by Carollia is more common and potentially more important than previously was thought.

}, keywords = {Carollia, feces, frugivory, habitat use, insectivory, niche partitioning, Reserva Ecol{\'o}gica Bijagual, stable isotopes, trophic level}, issn = {0022-2372}, doi = {10.1644/08-MAMM-A-382R.1}, author = {York, Heather A and Billings, Sharon A} }