Reventazón Model Forest, Costa Rica

Regional observatory for long‐term changes in Latin American mountain forests
Altitudinal gradient
Reventazón Model Forest
Costa Rica
Reventazón Model Forest (RMF), Costa Rica
The RMF Territory
309,256 hectares
65% Forest cover
Others: coffee, cattle,
sugarcane, annual crops,
horticulture, urban centers
The Reventazón Model Forest altitudinal gradient, with locations of the PSP network
Area = 227,674 ha
Echeverría (2013)
Permanent sampling plot network design
Altitudinal Belts
2300‐2800 masl 1600‐2300 masl
900‐1600 masl
300‐900 masl
Veintimilla (2013)
A
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g
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Life Zones
Montane rain forest
Lower montane rain forest
Premontane rain forest
Premontane wet forest For the design of the sampling network, the gradient was stratified into four life zones: premontane wet forest at 300 to 900 masl, premontane rain forest at 900 to 1600 masl, lower montane rain forest at 1600 to 2300 masl, and montane rain forest at 2300 to 2800 masl (ITCR 2004). In each life zone, sites were selected with undisturbed primary forest, establishing a total of 32 sampling units of 50 m x 50 m.
Criteria for the placement of plots in forests
The distance between plots was at least 300 m, avoiding atypical terrain conditions for plot placement such as: flooded areas and areas where greater or lesser forest development was evident (Sesnie et al. 2009). Riverine forests were also excluded, placing the plots at a distance greater than 50 m from waterways. All plots were set up on hillsides to standardize the terrain, but on a maximum slope of 100% (45°) to prevent future effects from slippage or landslides.
Botanical identification was done directly in the field with the assistance of Vicente Herra, qualified parataxonomist at CATIE, to species and morphospecies levels; any individuals that could not be identified in the field, or whose identification was complex (Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae), a botanical sample was collected for analysis and identification by Nelson Zamora, botanist of the National Biodiversity Institute (Spanish acronym INBio), Costa Rica.
The plots were placed within the gradient at elevations ranging from 430 masl to 2950 masl.
Distribution of plots along the Reventazón Model Forest altitudinal gradient
Placement of the 32 sampling plots (0.25 ha) on the Caribe‐ Villa Mills altitudinal gradient (Life Zones: lower montane moist forest ‐ bh‐
MB; premontane moist forest transition to basal forest ‐ bh‐P6; lower montane wet forest ‐ bmh‐
MB; premontane wet forest ‐ bmh‐
P; premontane wet forest transition to rain forest ‐ bmh‐P4; tropical moist forest ‐ bmh‐T; tropical wet forest, transition to premontane forest ‐ bmh‐T12; montane rain forest ‐ bp‐M; lower montane rain forest ‐ bp‐MB; premontane rain forest ‐ bp‐P; subalpine rain paramo ‐ pp‐SA).
Distribution of plots on the Reventazón Model Forest altitudinal gradient
Information on permanent plots
Site
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla
Parque Nacional Barbilla - Punta Lanza
Parque Nacional Barbilla - Punta Lanza
La Esperanza de Atirro
La Esperanza de Atirro
Reserva Biólogica el Copal
Reserva Biólogica el Copal
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Parque Nacional Tapantí
Parque Nacional tapantí - La Esperanza
Parque Nacional tapantí - La Esperanza
Parque Nacional tapantí - La Esperanza
Parque Nacional tapantí - La Esperanza
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- Villa Mills
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- Villa Mills
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- Villa Mills
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- Villa Mills
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- Villa Mills
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- Villa Mills
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- tres de junio
Reserva Forestal Río Macho- tres de junio
Type
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Temporary
Temporary
Temporary
Temporary
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Permanent
Temporary
Temporary
Code
PNB1
PNB2
PNB3
PNB4
PNB5
PNB6
PNB7
PNB8
PL1
PL2
EA1
EA2
RBC1
RBC2
PNT1
PNT2
PNT3
PNT5
PNT6
PNT7
PNTE1
PNTE2
PNTE3
PNTE4
VM1
VM2
VM3
VM4
VM5
VM6
TJ1
TJ2
Coordinates UTM
North
West
560610
1101413
560715
1101056
560912
1100767
561140
1100308
561013
1101390
561221
1100598
561248
1100976
561569
1100363
567929
1103990
567241
1104363
538740
1082737
538338
1083140
527475
1081183
526760
1081567
522072
1079639
522288
1079211
522284
1078881
523484
1077813
522935
1078099
522480
1078142
515616
1074178
515749
1073770
515510
1073296
514165
1070765
533280
1058232
533056
1058483
532341
1058763
532494
1058567
534132
1057111
534435
1057075
519596
1063551
519868
1063746
Altitude masl
490
550
620
570
440
580
520
540
430
510
1000
1010
1010
1120
1425
1560
1635
1400
1560
1660
2150
2220
2350
2600
2700
2810
2740
2780
2750
2730
2950
2920
Life Zone
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bmh‐P
bp‐P
bp‐P
bp‐P
bp‐P
bp‐P
bp‐P
bp‐MB
bp‐P
bp‐P
bp‐MB
bp‐MB
bp‐MB
bp‐MB
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
bp‐M
Sampling units and indicators evaluated
Sampling unit size
Indicator evaluated
50 m x 50 m Plant DBH ≥ 10 cm. All trees, palms and ferns with DBH ≥ 10 cm, measured at plot
1.30 m above ground level, were evaluated. Data were recorded on number of individuals, DBH of each one, taxonomic identification, health status, illumination, crown shape, lianas in crown, lianas on trunk. All these variables were measured following the protocols of Camacho (2000).
Regeneration of dominant species. The databases for trees, palms and ferns with DBH ≥10 cm for the plots were used for the selection of species. Basal areas were calculated for species and plots, and those that dominated in 80% of the basal area in each one of the plots were selected. In total, 179 species were selected. Regeneration was categorized as: a) short saplings (height greater than 1.5 m and up to 4.9 cm DBH, and b) tall saplings (DBH from 5 cm to 9.9 cm). Lianas. The protocol of Gerwing et al. (2006) was used, using stem diameter greater than two centimeters, at a distance of 130 cm from the level of rooting in the soil. Sampling units and indicators evaluated
Sampling unit size
Indicator evaluated
50 m x 50 m Functional traits. For the selection of species, the databases of trees, palms plot
and ferns with DBH ≥10 cm for the plots were used. Basal area was calculated for species and for plot, and those that dominated in 80% of the basal area in each one of the plots were selected. A total of 108 species were selected.
The features evaluated, following the protocols of Chave (2005) and Cornelissen et al (2003) were:
Leaf area (LA, mm2), specific leaf area (SLA, mm2/g), leaf dry matter content (LDMC, mg/g), leaf tensile strength (LTS, Newtons), leaf concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, mg/g), wood density: (g/cm3), seed dispersal mode ( DM, anemochory, autochory, zoochory, hydrochory), sexuality (S, hermaphrodite, dioecious, monoecious, polygamous)
Sampling units and indicators evaluated
Sampling unit size
Indicator evaluated
50 m x 50 m Soil: Soil samples were collected in each plot, adapting the methodology of Sesnie et al.
(2009), taking 5 samples in each plot at a depth of 30 cm, eliminating leaf litter from the plot
surface. The five samples were mixed together to homogenize them and obtain one compound sample per plot. Soil depth was measured using a metal rod 1.10 m long in 5 sampling sites per plot
(Sesnie et al. 2009) and depth in four categories was se determined: 1) depth > 90 cm; 2) moderately deep 50‐90 cm; 3) shallow 25‐50 cm; 4) very shallow < 25 cm (Suárez de Castro 1979). Other variables considered were slope (degrees of inclination) of the terrain, measured at 5 points for each plot with a clinometer to obtain an average for the plot, and elevation (masl) measured using an altimeter.
Texture analyses were done using the Bouyoucos hydrometer method and simple
chemistry, which gave data for pH, acidity, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), percentage of total carbon and nitrogen and percentage de MO. The pH was determined in water; acidity, Ca and Mg were obtained via extraction in 1M potassium chloride; K, P, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe were obtained by modified Olsen extraction at pH 8.5; and the percentage of C and N were determined with a C and N autoanalyzer and dry combustion.
More information at:
Veintimilla (2013). Identificación y caracterización de tipos de bosque tropical sobre un gradiente altitudinal en Costa Rica: el caso “Caribe‐Villa Mills” [Identification and characterization of tropical forest types on an altitudinal gradient in Costa Rica: the case of “Caribe‐Villa Mills”].
http://www.climiforad.org/portfolio‐view/1454‐2/
De la Cruz‐Burelo (2013). Distribución espacial de la regeneración natural de especies arbóreas dentro del gradiente altitudinal Caribe‐Villa Mills, Costa Rica y su relación con variables bioclimáticas.[Spatial distribution of natural regeneration of tree species along the Caribe‐Villa Mills altitudinal gradient, Costa Rica and its relationship to bioclimatic variables]
http://www.climiforad.org/portfolio‐view/distribucion‐espacial‐de‐la‐regeneracion‐natural‐
de‐especies‐arboreas‐dentro‐del‐gradiente‐altitudinal‐caribe‐villa‐mills‐costa‐rica‐y‐su‐
relacion‐con‐variables‐bioclimaticas/
Ruiz (2013). Impacto potencial del cambio climático en bosques de un gradiente altitudinal a través de rasgos funcionales.[Potential impact of climate change in forests of an altitudinal gradient through functional traits]
http://www.climiforad.org/portfolio‐view/impacto‐potencial‐del‐cambio‐climatico‐en‐
bosques‐de‐un‐gradiente‐altitudinal‐a‐traves‐de‐rasgos‐funcionales/
Echeverría (2012). Ensambles de murciélagos frugívoros y nectarívoros en un gradiente altitudinal de Costa Rica y su potencial distribución bajo escenarios de cambio climático. [Frugivorous and nectivorous bat assemblages on an altitudinal gradient of Costa Rica and their potential distribution under climate change scenarios.]
http://www.climiforad.org/portfolio‐view/ensambles‐de‐murcielagos‐frugivoros‐y‐
nectarivoros‐en‐un‐gradiente‐altitudinal‐de‐costa‐rica‐y‐su‐potencial‐distribucion‐bajo‐
escenarios‐de‐cambio‐climatico/