Wildlife Composition and Abundance in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Research in the Spatial Ecology & Conservation (SPEC) Lab is focused on human-environment interactions and their impacts on ecosystems, including on plant and animal composition, abundance and interaction, and ecosystem services. Research typically incorporates remote sensing, including satellite, airplane, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and ground-based sensor platforms, and geospatial analyses to integrate across scales and disciplines using a wide variety of research and analytical tools.

This project focused on the effects of ecotourism related trail use and infrastructure on wildlife composition and abundance at the Lapa Rios Ecolodge on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.Bushnell and Reconyx camera traps were paired with one placed on a hiking trail and another 50-100m into the forest adjacent to it. This pair was moved throughout the Los Amigos Conservation Concession every 2-3 weeks starting in September, 2014 and is ongoing. Research questions related to wildlife interactions, temporal changes, and interactions with trail users on the trail system.