The rainy season part 2: Other frog species in Costa Rica
Did you know… in the wet months the frogs in Costa Rica show themselves more often? They are less prone to drying out because of the wetness and are singing because many species lay their eggs in the rainy season. Earlier we talked about the glass frogs, but there are many more frogs to be seen in this period.
Tree frogs often lay their eggs in or above (temporary) pools of rainwater. The advantage is that these pools are usually free of fish, so there is less chance that the eggs or tadpoles are eaten. During wet nights the males gather around the pools to sing and attract females.
Species from the great genus Craugastor have an even more ingenious way of reproduction to prevent predation (eating their eggs). Most species lay their eggs in small puddles that form on dead leaves or dimples in the ground, without aquatic predators (predators in the water). From the eggs miniature frogs are formed, they skip the whole tadpole step. This is how these frogs deal with the high predation pressure in the rainforest. But it also brings risks: when the little water dries up before the frogs develop, they dry out.
Below an overview of some of the species we regularly see during the night tour in the Work with Nature reserve.
Red-eyed Leaf Frog
Tawny Tree Frog
Pygmy Rain Frog
Masked Litter Frog
Drab Tree Frog
Common Rain Frog
Boulenger’s Long-snouted Tree Frog
Tink Frog
Did you already read our article about glass frogs? Click here
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Critically endangered parrot species Yesterday the research program of Adopt Rainforest participated in the Censo Internacional de la Guacamaya Verde 2022. Or in English the International Sensus of the Great Green Macaw. Throughout its distribution, dozens of organisations participate in the next days to get an understanding of the current state of this parrot species. […]
In recent years, the reserve of the Adopt Rainforest Foundation has been easy for project manager Maarten to oversee. Two or three times a week he and the students make his rounds through the project area for the biodiversity research. For this research they visit several plots of the area, giving them a good insight into what is happening. Should any illegal logging occur, it is immediately noticed. The same goes for illegal hunting. In addition to the local presence, camera traps are hung at various places in the reserve. These are checked weekly. Should hunters or poachers walk through our reserve, this is quickly noticed.
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Costa Rica is known for its beautiful nature, a country with an exceptionally high diversity of plants and animals (one of the highest percentages of biodiversity in the world). A country for the true ecotourist. Over the past twenty years, ecotourism has become increasingly important to Costa Rica. In 2019, there were nearly 3 million tourists in Costa Rica of which 80% are considered ecotourists. (more…)
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From 25 hectares of grassland to a thriving rainforest
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Stichting Adopteer Regenwoud’s research project is entering an exciting new phase thanks to a long-term collaboration with Utrecht University. The foundation was ready for a new step to professionalize the research project and Utrecht University was looking for a stable and reliable partner in Central America to conduct solid research in the rainforest. So for both parties this is a wonderful collaboration! Because of this we will make a big step in professionalizing our current research on biodiversity in our reserve. Together with the visiting students we will focus on scientific research in which the diversity and development of nature in our reserve, with an emphasis on flora, is central.
Despite the fact that there are no students because of the Corona crisis, the research continues (partly).
In the Netherlands, some students are busy analysing data, but also in Costa Rica inventories are still being made. Accompanied by guide Tapa, Hanneke and Maarten walk the transects in different habitats.
on with Utrecht University. The foundation was ready for a new step to professionalize the research project and Utrecht University was looking for a stable and reliable partner in Central America to conduct solid research in the rainforest. So for both parties this is a wonderful collaboration! Because of this we will make a big step in professionalizing our current research on biodiversity in our reserve. Together with the visiting students we will focus on scientific research in which the diversity and development of nature in our reserve, with an emphasis on flora, is central.