- Title Pages
- In Memory of Dr. Luis Diego Gómez Pignataro (1944–2009)
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Presentation
- Preface
-
Chapter 1 Costa Rica’s Ecosystems: Setting the Stage -
Chapter 2 Climate of Costa Rica -
Chapter 3 Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach -
Chapter 4 Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach -
Chapter 5 The Pacific Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 6 The Gulf of Nicoya Estuarine Ecosystem -
Chapter 7 Isla del Coco: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 8 Isla del Coco: Terrestrial Ecosystems -
Chapter 9 The Northern Pacific Lowland Seasonal Dry Forests of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula -
Chapter 10 Biodiversity Conservation History and Future in Costa Rica: The Case of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) -
Chapter 11 The Central Pacific Seasonal Forests of Puntarenas and the Central Valley -
Chapter 12 The Southern Pacific Lowland Evergreen Moist Forest of the Osa Region -
Chapter 13 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Volcanic Cordilleras -
Chapter 14 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca -
Chapter 15 The Páramo Ecosystem of Costa Rica’s Highlands -
Chapter 16 The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests -
Chapter 17 The Caribbean Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 18 Rivers of Costa Rica -
Chapter 19 Lakes of Costa Rica -
Chapter 20 Bogs, Marshes, and Swamps of Costa Rica -
Chapter 21 Costa Rican Ecosystems: A Brief Summary - Acronyms
- Subject Index
- Systematic Index of Common Names
- Systematic Index of Scientific Names
The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests
The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests
- Chapter:
- (p.527) Chapter 16 The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests
- Source:
- Costa Rican Ecosystems
- Author(s):
Deedra McClearn
J. Pablo Arroyo-Mora
Enrique Castro
Ronald C. Coleman
Javier F. Espeleta
Carlos García-Robledo
Alex Gilman
José González
Armond T. Joyce
Erin Kuprewicz
John T. Longino
Nicole L. Michel
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez
Andrea Romero
Carlomagno Soto
Orlando Vargas
Amanda Wendt
Steven Whitfield
Robert M. Timm
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
Geography has played a critical role in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands with respect to initial origin of the landmass, climate, patterns of vegetation, sites of early human settlement, colonial expansion, the construction of access roads, colonial and postcolonial exploitation of natural resources, conservation efforts, and current political and environmental issues. In this chapter, the authors offer a brief overview of these topics, encapsulate major biological research efforts in the Caribbean lowlands over the past 50 years, and look into the future—always within the framework of geography at different scales. First, the authors provide a historical overview of the Costa Rican Caribbean lowlands, a region which here includes Province of Limón, plus portions of the Provinces of Heredia, Alajuela, and Guanacaste, from 70 million years ago to the present. The authors then summarize the physical environment, giving descriptions of climate, weather, and soils in the region, as well as the biodiversity in plant and animal life, and the interactions therein. The chapter ends with a discussion of the relationship between humans and nature in the region, including effects of agriculture and pesticides and the efforts of conservationists.
Keywords: Costa Rica, Caribbean lowlands, geography, geology, forestry, conservation
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- Title Pages
- In Memory of Dr. Luis Diego Gómez Pignataro (1944–2009)
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Presentation
- Preface
-
Chapter 1 Costa Rica’s Ecosystems: Setting the Stage -
Chapter 2 Climate of Costa Rica -
Chapter 3 Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach -
Chapter 4 Soils of Costa Rica: An Agroecological Approach -
Chapter 5 The Pacific Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 6 The Gulf of Nicoya Estuarine Ecosystem -
Chapter 7 Isla del Coco: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 8 Isla del Coco: Terrestrial Ecosystems -
Chapter 9 The Northern Pacific Lowland Seasonal Dry Forests of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula -
Chapter 10 Biodiversity Conservation History and Future in Costa Rica: The Case of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) -
Chapter 11 The Central Pacific Seasonal Forests of Puntarenas and the Central Valley -
Chapter 12 The Southern Pacific Lowland Evergreen Moist Forest of the Osa Region -
Chapter 13 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Volcanic Cordilleras -
Chapter 14 The Montane Cloud Forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca -
Chapter 15 The Páramo Ecosystem of Costa Rica’s Highlands -
Chapter 16 The Caribbean Lowland Evergreen Moist and Wet Forests -
Chapter 17 The Caribbean Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -
Chapter 18 Rivers of Costa Rica -
Chapter 19 Lakes of Costa Rica -
Chapter 20 Bogs, Marshes, and Swamps of Costa Rica -
Chapter 21 Costa Rican Ecosystems: A Brief Summary - Acronyms
- Subject Index
- Systematic Index of Common Names
- Systematic Index of Scientific Names