Science & Nature Tour Notes

Costa Rica - Tropical Biodiversity

For anyone interested in tropical biodiversity and interspecies dependence, Costa Rica is a country that has set aside 25 percent of its land as protected areas. In spite of its small size, the country has greater biodiversity than either Europe or North America.

The Costa Rican rainforest is a wondrous place. The term "rainforest" refers to a luxuriant forest that usually occurs in regions with a high annual rainfall and a hot and steamy climate. Tropical rainforests are found primarily in South and Central America, Indonesia, parts of Southeast Asia, and tropical Australia.

A unique feature of rainforests is a vertical stratification of plant and animal development. The highest plant layer, the tree "canopy", is between 100 and 150 feet high. Some animals never leave the canopy.

Costa Rica's tropical climate and geography include a range of habitats, from lowland rainforest to cloud forests to tropical lakes and rivers. The country is home to 9000 identified species of vascular plants, including 900 species of trees and 1500 species of orchids. Over 850 species of birds have been identified in Costa Rica, including the ornate quetzal, the harpy eagle that preys on monkeys in the treetops, over 50 species of hummingbirds, 15 species of parrots, 75 species of flycatchers, and so on.

The country has over 200 animal species, including howler monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and squirrel monkeys. Other fauna include two types of sloth, three types of anteater, armadillos, agoutis, coaties, peccaries, kinkajous, raccoons, squirrels, and bats. Jaguars and tapirs in the rainforest are now considered endangered species and are rarely seen.

Over 35,000 species of insects have been recorded in Costa Rica, with 10 percent of the world's butterfly species living in this country, the butterflies exhibiting some remarkable camouflage adaptations.

Other fauna include 150 species of amphibians, including tree frogs and poison-arrow frogs, 200 species of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles.

Costa Rica is easily accessed by air from the United States. It's a small country of less than 4 million people, with progressive politics and a literacy rate of 93 percent. A variety of package nature tours are available and the costs are not exorbitant. The country and its remarkable flora and fauna will provide a memorable naturalist experience. Bon voyage!