LA SELVA-BRAULIO CARRILLO MAMMALS 



11 



Study Sites 



Tropical wet forest on the Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica is found from sea 

 level to about 150 m. Tropical wet forest cool-transition changes at 250 to 300 m 

 to tropical premontane wet-transition rain forest, which is found from 300 to 500 m. 

 Tropical premontane rain forest, from 500 to 1,500 m, lower montane rain forest, 

 from 1,500 to 2,500 m, and montane rain forest, from 2,500 to 2,906 m, make 

 up the other life zones found in Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. 



The team of mammalogists on the 1986 expedition worked out of six camps 

 situated at roughly 300 m, 700 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m, 2,050 m, and 2,600 m 

 (Fig. 1). We began at the 300-m site and spent 4-7 days at each site before mov- 

 ing up to the next camp. Censusing of larger mammals was done along the main 

 trails at each study site by searching for animals and their signs (tracks, drop- 

 pings, and so forth). Information was gathered from La Selva Biological Station 

 (30-137 m) based on our previous knowledge of the site and the logbook of mam- 

 mal sightings kept by staff, students, and researchers. 



The first site (10°22'N, 84°03'W), which contained an abandoned farm and 

 logging operation, was in a valley along the Rio Cantarrana from 270 to 300 m, 

 11 km south and 4.5 km west of Puerto Viejo. The thick vegetation consisted of 

 introduced weeds on the valley floor near the buildings; trees included Cecropia, 

 Ochroma lagopus, and Welfia georgii. Primary and secondary forest was found 

 about 200 to 300 m outside of the camp site and enclosed it on three sides. Mean 

 annual rainfall for this area is estimated at 4,000 mm. Key tree species found in 

 the forest at this elevation included Minquartia guianensis and Pentaclethra macro- 

 loba. Trap lines were placed along the main trail in primary forest, along streams, 

 and in abandoned pasture; mist nets were placed in the first two environments. 



The 700 m site was in pasture adjacent to the Rio Cascante, 1 km south and 

 11.5 km east of San Miguel de Sarapiqm (10°18'N, 84°05'W). In abandoned 

 pasture, we found shrubs and dense grass, and isolated individual trees that remained 

 from earlier clearing. Primary forest was found adjacent to the camp site. Rainfall 

 at this tropical premontane rain forest site could be as much as 4,500 mm/year. 

 Key tree species found in the forest at this elevation include Carapa guianensis 

 and Terminalia amazonia. Traps were set along the main trail in primary forest, 

 along streams, and in pasture; mist nets were placed in the first two situations. 



The third site was in primary forest at 1,000 m, 3.5 km south and 11.5 km 

 east of San Miguel (10°17'N, 84°05'W) along the Rio San Rafael. This site was 

 surrounded by virgin tropical premontane rain forest. Both traps and mist nets were 

 set along the trails and streams. 



The 1,500-m site was located 9 km south and 11.5 km east of San Miguel 

 (10° 14'N, 84°05'W). It was in primary forest within the lower montane life zone. 

 Key tree species at this elevation included Ocotea austinii and Quercus corrugata. 

 The site was noticeably wetter, had a lower canopy, more saturated soils, and 



