Effects of tropical forest fragmentation on ecology and conservation of migrant and resident birds in lowland Costa Rica

Abstract

The overall objetive of my research was to understand the value of forest fragments to a diverse group of rainforest birds that depend on lowland tropical rainforest for their survival at one part or all of their annual cycle. Using both intensive research methods on a migrant songbird and extensive survey methods for eight species of resident forest birds, results show that in general, remaining forest fragments of the Sarapiqui region provide important habitat for all species studied, to varying degrees. For eight species of resident birds, we quantified changes in species abundance and patch occupancy in forest fragments that exist across a continuum of fragmentation, isolation and remaining forest cover. We detected all eight species within at least a subset of the fragments.