Stories and photos from the field
Declines in amphibian and reptile populations have been a global issue, with more than one third of all species globally threatened. At La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, researchers have shown that over 75% of all species of terrestrial amphibians have declined by 75% since 1870. This is among the most critical issues in… Continue reading Biodiversity Crisis: Amphibians and Reptiles at La Selva
A recent study conducted in the landscape surrounding La Selva Biological Station, of northeastern Costa Rica, found that landscape matrix really matters for tropical reptiles and amphibians. La Selva is located adjacent to the Braulio Carrilio Nation Park, however, the landscape surrounding La Selva Biological Station is a mixture of pasture, plantations, fragmented forest and… Continue reading Forest-land use complementarily modifies community structure of a tropical hepetofauna
Date: June 8, 2017 Source: Michel, N. L., Sherry, T. W., & Carson, W. P. (2013). The omnivorous collared peccary negates an insectivore-generated trophic cascade in Costa Rican wet tropical forest understory. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 30(01), 1-11. Summary: Leaf-litter disturbance by omnivorous peccaries can reverse trophic cascades. In tropical forest, insectivores, such as birds… Continue reading Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Peccaries
Source: Boyle W.A., Sigel B.J. 2015. Ongoing changes in the avifauna of La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica: Twenty-three years of Christmas Bird Counts. Biological Conservation 188: 11-21 Summary: Contrary to previous research, recent research has found that the diets of tropical birds are not a main factor that affect affect bird communities. Instead, body… Continue reading The diets of tropical birds are not influencing population changes
The toucan is a medium sized bird with a large beautifully colored beak, and it is native to the rainforests of Central and South America and the Caribbean. The toucan is mostly known as a frugivorous bird (one that feeds on fruits), and their primary ecological function is seed dispersal because of their long distance… Continue reading Toucan’s unusual behavior at La Selva Biological Research Station
The Night. It is disappearing before our eyes. As the human population grows, so does the light pollution produced by our infrastructure; this concentration of lights produced by cities can be seen from space. Dr. Lewanzik at La Selva Biological Field Station in Costa Rica researches the impact of increased light intensity on bats. A… Continue reading Stealing the Night from Bats
“Global temperature increases over the next century are predicted to contribute to the extinction of a number of taxa, including up to 40 % of all lizard species.” Frightening way to start a scientific paper, but even more so when you realize the drastic implications that this study brings about. By using a cross examination… Continue reading Wanted for the murder of lizards: Climate Change
Sunlight has two different types of ultraviolet rays, UV-A and UV-B. It isn’t a surprise that ultraviolet rays (in large amounts) harm not only humans, but also a tiny frog found in the Neotropics. Scientists at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica have researched the strawberry dart frog, Oophaga pumilio, and the influence UV… Continue reading UV-B rays influence poison dart frog perch height
Recent study at La Selva Biological Station reveals that even tadpoles of Oophaga pumilio have poison. In a recent study, Styonski and colleagues surveyed tadpoles, juvenile and adults of the strawberry poison dart frog to try to determine in which life stages the frogs gain their poisonous alkaloids that so efficiently repel predators. This… Continue reading How do baby poison dart frogs get their poison??
A recent study in Costa Rica revealed some evolutionary secrets of one of nature’s most adorable birds–the hummingbird. Scientists at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica wanted to understand feeding habits of the tiny birds and how the relationship between hummingbirds and their favorite flower foods may have developed. Biologists looked at characteristics of… Continue reading The secrets of the hummingbird