The Conservation Ecology of Neotropical Tree Cavity Communities in Forest and Agro-Ecosystems in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor, Costa Rica

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorStutchbury, Bridget J.
dc.creatorSaker, Christopher Paul Duncan
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-28T15:47:58Z
dc.date.available2015-08-28T15:47:58Z
dc.date.copyright2015-05-22
dc.date.issued2015-08-28
dc.date.updated2015-08-28T15:47:58Z
dc.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Studies
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.namePhD - Doctor of Philosophy
dc.description.abstractShade coffee agro-ecosystems with a diversified canopy have been documented to provide quality habitat for a variety of vertebrates. For tree cavity dependent species however, shade coffee may be lacking critical habitat. I chose to investigate whether cavity abundance and the number cavity forming dead trees i.e., snags differed between shade coffee and other disturbed/undisturbed habitats within the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor (ASBC) in Costa Rica. I also chose to investigate whether artificial tree cavities could be used in ecological restoration projects for cavity-nesting species in agro-ecosystems like shade coffee. To accomplish these tasks, I first conducted a comprehensive survey of tree cavities and snags in 1) primary cloud forest (elevation 1100-1400m), 2) primary middle elevation old-growth rainforest (650-750m), 3) selectively logged secondary middle elevation rainforest (650-700m), and (4) shade coffee (900-1000m) and installed motion-sensor cameras across from selected cavities within each habitat to monitor/compare potential occupancy/use. I then installed artificial tree cavities constructed of bamboo in 3 of the 4 habitats with iButton temperature loggers to test the prediction that shade coffee artificial cavities would have a greater number of occupancy detections due to the low number of cavities in this habitat compared with other habitat types. My findings showed an almost complete absence of snags and tree cavities in shade coffee supporting the hypothesis that shade coffee does not provide habitat for cavity-dependent species. Consistent with my prediction, artificial bamboo tree cavities in shade coffee were occupied/used most relative to the other habitats, further supporting the hypothesis that habitat for cavity-nesting species is limited is this agro-ecosystem. This thesis provides evidence that tree cavity restoration through the use of artificial cavities and a change in the management practices of shade coffee farms should be a priority for those concerned with biodiversity in shade coffee agro-ecosystems. A similar study conducted over a broader geographic range would show whether the lack of available habitat for cavity nesting species in shade coffee is reflected in other areas.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/30131
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectEnvironmental studies
dc.subjectEnvironmental science
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subject.keywordsAgro-ecosystem
dc.subject.keywordsAlexander Skutch Biological Corridor
dc.subject.keywordsArtificial Tree Cavity
dc.subject.keywordsConservation
dc.subject.keywordsShade Coffee
dc.titleThe Conservation Ecology of Neotropical Tree Cavity Communities in Forest and Agro-Ecosystems in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor, Costa Rica
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Saker_Christopher_PD_2015_PhD.pdf
Size:
1.6 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.83 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
YorkU_ETDlicense.txt
Size:
3.38 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Environmental Studies

All items in the YorkSpace institutional repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved except where explicitly noted.