Using medium and large-sized mammals as indicator species to measure connectivity and large infrastructure impacts in Costa Rica

Abstract

This research intended to use medium and large-sized mammals to evaluate the condition of a critical link of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) in Costa Rica. Also, we intended to measure the impacts of a hydroelectric reservoir on the mammal community in this corridor. Rather than using single species analyses, we used hierarchical community occupancy models in a Bayesian framework. This, not only allowed for the use of data of rare species, but we believed helped produce stronger inferences on the status of the iv landscape in terms of biodiversity. Our results suggest that the status of this critical link with respect to medium and large-sized mammals is precarious. Furthermore, we were able to measure the impacts of the reservoir on medium and large mammals’ occupancy by including a dynamic component and comparing results in three time periods: before the flooding of the reservoir, immediately after the completion of the flooding of the reservoir, and approximately one year after the flooding of the reservoir. We found considerable changes in medium and large-sized mammals’ occupancy before and after the filling of the reservoir. In this work we also evaluated genetic diversity and population structure of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) Costa Rica, and compared the genetic diversity of Costa Rican ocelots with that of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) in the country, and with ocelots in Belize.