- 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
Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach
Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach
- Chapter:
- (p.30) Chapter 3 Geology, Tectonics, and Geomorphology of Costa Rica: A Natural History Approach
- Source:
- Costa Rican Ecosystems
- Author(s):
Guillermo E. Alvarado
Guaria Cárdenes
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
This chapter presents a synopsis of the geology of Costa Rica with an emphasis on the most recent history, particularly the Quaternary and within that the Holocene. After providing an overview of the tectonic basis for Costa Rica’s complex geology, the majority of the chapter consists of an up-to-date account of the main morphotectonic regions, summarizing the geology and geomorphology of each, and well as the results of several recent surveys of marine geology. The chapter also presents a summary of the fossil mammals and plants that have been reported as well as a discussion of paleoenvironments and climate change during the Pleistocene and Holocene. The chapter ends with a brief summary of Costa Rica’s geological history from 170 million years ago at the final separation of North and South America to 2011 with the renewed dormancy of the Arenal volcano.
Keywords: Costa Rica, tectonic, geology, geomorphology, fossils, paleoenvironments, climate change, pleistocene, holocene, natural history
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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
