Why is this study important?

Mammals need a large amount of habitat for foraging and reproducing, Agoutis have a smaller habitat (2 km2) and ocelots a way larger habitat (50 km2), if not more. Despite the size,  all of these mammals are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and loss, such as logging, construction of roads and properties. But what is the effect of properties here in in Ojochal? What does it do with the size and abundance of the mammals.

In some of the forest, mammals are responsable for 66% of the seed disperse, playing a vital role in the seed dispersal of the rainforests. Also, by eating plants, the will create space for other plants. Or they will increase the biodiversity by eating the dominant plants, leaving space for the other less dominant species.

Camera locations:

Results:

• 13 different species
• 7 different mammals at the reserve
• 11 different mammals at the properties

• 343 mammals captured on camera
• Ridgeline is the only property with a higher abundance than the reserve
• Farmland has the lowest relative abundance
• The agouti has the highest abundance with 52,48%
• Primary forest has the highest biodiversity
• The maintained garden has the lowest biodiversity

On Bas’s words the study was too short to draw a significant conclusion, but there are some indications. For example:

• The primary forest on slope and the ridgeline have a higher biodiversity, compared to the reserve, probably because of the big primary forests near the property, and the low human disturbance
• The old cashew plantation has a low abundance and number of species. Some possible causes are: no food, disturbance, etc.
• The creek has a lower biodiversity,  and that might be because of high pet activity, gardeners or a position too close to the creek
• The maintained garden has a low biodiversity, which is the most logical result, since the garden has no forest, a high human and pet activity.
• The farmland has almost no mammals, probably for the presence of traveler and no suitable vegetation and human activity

The study will last 22 weeks, and it started with a meeting between him and the property owners to explain what this study is about.

There are 3 trail cameras at the Reserva and other 3 cameras on 3 different properties in Ojochal, that after 6 weeks will be set on other 3 different properties.

Some of the mammals that the student has found on the cameras at the Reserva Playa Tortuga are: agoutis (more than 40) (Dasyprocta punctata), raccoons (Procyon lotor), pacas (Cuniculus paca), ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), among others. Meanwhile, at the properties the cameras have recorded also ocelots, agoutis, zorro pelón (Didelphis marsupialis), etc.

So far, at private properties the mammals are equally spotted than at the reserve. It’s important to mention that sometimes when the pressence of mammals are less, some factors are: the construction of big fences, roads and especially domestic pets, such dogs and cats, even though some of the the owners say their pets are kept inside the house.

After the camera setting is done, Bas will check and compare the footage, and when the results are ready, he hopes to make a presentation to show this to the neighbors who participated and the rest of the community.

The methodology is to walk 3 times per week to find the tents where the bats sleep and hang out. Those tents are found off the tracks of the reserve. Even though is not very easy, these can be recognized because of the holes the bats make by biting and chewing the veins and midribs of leaves.

Once the tents are found, Michelle sets the GPS location; count the number of bats; identify the plant species, the shape of the tent, and also with the help of RPT staff, catch the bats to identify the sex.

She normally finds groups of maximum 10 bats, where there are around 5 babies.

There are 17 tent-making species, and so far Michelle has identified 2 of them.  She still has a few months left so hopefully some more species can be found.

The bats are flying mammals, and play an important role in many environments around the world. Some plants depend partly or wholly on bats to pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds, while other bats also help control pests by eating insects. In this area, they don’t have predators, and mainly they eat fruits and insects.

Photo credits © Michelle Bakker

Tessa will use 6 cameras that are installed around the trails of the reserve, which will be 24 hours on. After checking the footage, she will be able to detect the location, when the ocelots are active and other important information that may be used in the future, among other things, in reforestation plans for the coastal area to establish Biological Corridors.

She’s checking the cameras 2 times per week, 1 at morning and 1 at night. Tessa also will study any footprints of this mammals and set the location with a GPS.

On the past  the cameras from RPT have captured some footage of ocelots — a nocturnal animal that is not usually seen. Ocelots have unfortunately faced many challenges, from fur trade to habitat destruction.

According to Jack Ewig, owner of Hacienda Baru, “the size of an ocelot’s territory is extremely variable”. He quotes the book “Mammals of Costa Rica” of Mark Wainwright, that mention that the range of the territory of an ocelot can vary from 100 hectares to 3,100 hectares. Ewig thinks that the difference has to do with the abundance of prey. Ocelots eat mainly small rodents like spiny rats, although they also eat larger rodents such as tepescuintles and agoutis, as well as iguanas, small alligators, coatis, raccoons, young sainos, foxes and many more. In other words, they will eat everything they can catch and kill. It seems logical that there is a much higher density of ocelots in a tropical forest with a high level of biodiversity and an abundance of prey.