Open AccessVegetation, bird and soundscape characterization: a case study in Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica
Author(s) -
Mónica Isabel Retamosa Izaguirre,
David Segura Sequeira,
Jimmy Barrantes-Madrigal,
Manuel Spínola Parallada,
Óscar Ramírez-Alán
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
biota colombiana/biota colombiana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2539-200X
pISSN - 0124-5376
DOI - 10.21068/c2021.v22n01a04
Subject(s) - soundscape , species richness , vegetation (pathology) , geography , species evenness , national park , habitat , ecology , abundance (ecology) , physical geography , sound (geography) , geology , archaeology , biology , medicine , pathology , geomorphology
We assessed the structural complexity of vegetation, birds and soundscapes in two areas of Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica, with different road exposure, as baseline information for conservation and management. We measured vegetation structure complexity, surveyed birds and recorded soundscapes in an area adjacent to the National Highway 32 (Quebrada) and another area 20 km away (Ceibo). Quebrada presented a more open forest structure and lower density of trees and shrubs; lower evenness and higher acoustic complexity, higher bioacoustic activity and sound pressure level; higher bird abundance and richness. Ceibo showed a higher density of trees and shrubs, higher complexity of vegetation structure, higher proportion of biophonies than anthrophonies, and an acoustic community with higher diversity and entropy. The study sites differed in characteristics of their bird communities in an unexpected way; these differences appear to be mostly influenced by the structure and complexity of the vegetation surrounding the road. However, the soundscapes seemed to properly reflect the habitat condition, and are promising for evaluating the ecological condition of a site.