Guanacaste Conservation Area Research Articles

Zoonotic Ancylostoma ceylanicum Infection in Coyotes from Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica, 2021.

Ancylostoma ceylanicum is the second most common hookworm infecting humans in the Asia-Pacific region. Recent reports suggest presence of the parasite in the Americas. We report A. ceylanicum infections in coyotes from the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica. Our findings call for active surveillance in humans and animals.

O fenômeno ENOS e a análise da variabilidade das séries temporais de precipitação na Área de Conservação Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The Pacific Northwest of Costa Rica is a region with marked seasonality in rainfall patterns. This area of Costa Rica is prone to extreme hydroclimatic phenomena such as droughts and floods. Due to the limited distribution of rainfall gauges and the unavailability of relevant information, complementary data obtained from satellites and their respective reanalyzes become imperative for acquiring crucial information. This information can support water resource management actions and their impacts on both natural and productive ecosystems.
 To analyze the precipitation patterns, we utilized the CHIRPS product’s precipitation time series for five ecoregions within the Guanacaste Conservation Area, located in the northwestern Pacific region of Costa Rica. These curves were strongly and negatively correlated with time series from sea surface temperature monitoring regions, including Niño 1.2, Niño 3, Niño 3.4, and Niño 4.
 All analyzed ecoregions exhibited strong negative correlations with the Niño 1.2 region, with correlation coefficients (R values) ranging between -0.72 to -0.74. Additionally, a lag of four to five months was observed in the Niño 4 curve compared to the Niño 1.2 region. This study suggests that the Niño 4 anomaly, with a lag of approximately 4 to 5 months, can serve as an indicator of possible impacts on precipitation patterns in different ecoregions. This provides sufficient time to plan actions, particularly within the agricultural sector. This study demonstrates the potential predictability of the effects of ENSO phenomenon on precipitation patterns for large areas with a certain eco-systemic homogeneity, such as the ecoregions in the Guanacaste Conservation Area.

Determining the Environmental Impacts of Extreme Hydrometeorological Events on Fire Management in the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica

[Introduction]: The heightened levels of environmental degradation resulting from forest fires and their correlation with climate change are of global concern. In Costa Rica, hydrometeorological events categorized as extreme due to their significant impact, such as Hurricane Otto in 2016 and Tropical Storm Nate in 2017, appear to have induced changes in vegetation and, consequently, forest fuel. [Objective]: Therefore, this study analyzes the impact of extreme hydrometeorological events on the supply of vegetative fuel from 1997 to 2020 in the Platanares, El Avión, and Junquillal sites within the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG) in the northwest of the country. [Methodology]: The study utilized data from eight vegetation indices selected for their representation of forest growth. Additionally, field verifications and information collection from official personnel and ACG volunteers were conducted to determine the effect of extreme events on the characteristics of vegetative fuel and its relationship with fire management and climate change adaptation. [Results]: The results obtained suggest that the vegetation in the investigated sites is in a state of natural regeneration but is increasingly exposed to the recurring influence of the ENSO phenomenon in its various phases (Neutral, La Niña, El Niño) and extreme hydrometeorological events, such as Hurricane Otto or Tropical Storm Nate [Conclusions]: These events could be contributing not to the quantity but to the intensity of forest fires.

Reassessment of the olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea nesting population at Nancite Beach, Costa Rica

AbstractNancite is a fully protected beach within the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica where olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles nest in synchronous mass‐nesting events known as arribadas. Arribadas decreased in magnitude at this beach by approximately 90% during the period 1971–2007 due to unknown causes. The total count estimate of females nesting in a year also decreased over these decades. In the present study, from August 2009 to February 2021, the trend of arribada nesting female abundance and estimated annual production of hatchlings were assessed and compared with previous trend analyses. A total of 62 mass‐nesting events were quantified in the period 2009–2021, with an estimated annual average of 64,694 nesting females. Trend analysis indicated that during our recent study period, the number of females per arribada event increased by an estimated 14% (8%, 20% CI95%). During this period, a mean hatching rate of 33.4% was estimated, corresponding to an overall estimated production average of 2,165,597 per season, which represented an increase of 82.7% compared with a previous estimate for the period 1980–1984, when the arribadas were larger. We suggest that the growth in hatchling production over the past four decades is at least in part responsible for the slight increase in the estimated size of arribadas since 2009/2010. However, because maximal hatching success did not increase above 60%, the beach may be close to reaching carrying capacity, and it seems that high hatchling production may soon level off or begin to decrease. Thus, it is not clear whether current hatchling production will lead to the recovery of the Nancite population to the historical levels documented in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The Use of Camera Traps and Auxiliary Satellite Telemetry to Estimate Jaguar Population Density in Northwestern Costa Rica.

Simple SummaryWe used data from a grid of camera traps, combined with satellite telemetry data from one female jaguar, to estimate jaguar population density in northwestern Costa Rica. Our estimate of 2.6 females and 5.0 males per 100 km2 was influenced by camera placement and sex of the jaguar, and indicated the importance of telemetry data to improve field design and parameter estimation. We recommend population assessments of at least 3 consecutive months, expanding the survey area to one several times the size of an individual’s home range, and including sex and camera placement considerations to reduce bias in jaguar density estimates.Regular evaluation of jaguar (Panthera onca) population status is an important part of conservation decision-making. Currently, camera trapping has become the standard method used to estimate jaguar abundance and demographic parameters, though evidence has shown the potential for sex ratio biases and density overestimates. In this study, we used camera trap data combined with satellite telemetry data from one female jaguar to estimate jaguar population density in the dry forest of Santa Rosa National Park in the Guanacaste Conservation Area of northwestern Costa Rica. We analyzed camera trap data collected from June 2016 to June 2017 using spatial capture-recapture methods to estimate jaguar density. In total, 19 individual jaguars were detected (11 males; 8 females) with a resulting estimated population density of 2.6 females (95% [CI] 1.7–4.0) and 5.0 male (95% [CI] 3.4–7.4) per 100 km2. Based on telemetry and camera trap data, camera placement might bias individual detections by sex and thus overall density estimates. We recommend population assessments be made at several consecutive 3-month intervals, that larger areas be covered so as not to restrict surveys to one or two individual home ranges, as in our case, and to carry out long-term camera monitoring programs instead of short-term studies to better understand the local population, using auxiliary telemetry data to adjust field designs and density estimations to improve support for jaguar conservation strategies.

Long‐term comparison of the orchid bee community in the tropical dry forest of Costa Rica

AbstractGlobal bee decline and its impact on pollination in agricultural and natural ecosystems have attracted public attention. However, more data are needed to show their generality and intensity in different ecosystems, especially in the tropics. For centuries, the tropical dry forest (TDF) of Costa Rica underwent intense deforestation, but in the last four decades, a large part of this forest has entered a recovery process. Using data of orchid bees generated by Janzen et al. (Ecology, 63, 66) in TDF in the Santa Rosa sector of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG), we posed a general question: What changes have occurred in diversity, composition, and seasonality of the euglossine bee community in the TDF during the last 40 years and how are these changes related to the current recovery of this forest. We sampled euglossine bees during 2018–2019 using methods similar to those applied previously. To characterize the response of euglossine bees to habitat loss, we extended the sampling to pastures adjacent to the protected area. With the loss (n = 4) and gain (n = 3) of bee species, we did not find significant changes in overall species richness between now and 40 years ago. However, the composition of the euglossine community in the protected area in 1977 was more similar to that found in current pastures than to the current community in forests, where the presence of forest‐dependent species has been favored. It is possible that TDF regeneration in Santa Rosa has led to changes in the composition of the community of these bees.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Bosques de coral negro del Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica: especies y distribución

Introduction: Little is known about the antipatharians in Costa Rica, only three species are known from the Pacific and the occurrence of coral forests was previously reported only for Isla del Coco. Black coral forests were observed at several sites in the north Pacific of the country, within the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG), which are reported and characterized in this study.
 Objective: To determine the species of black corals present in the ACG Marine Sector and its surroundings, and geographically locate the sites where black coral forests grow.
 Methods: Visual censuses were made by diving, samples were taken and analyzed in the laboratory for identification.
 Results: These black coral forests are composed of two species: Myriopathes panamensis and Antipathes galapagensis, these species are described and illustrated. The coral forests were found within and outside ACG marine protected areas. Myriopathes panamensis was found between 15-35 m depth and A. galapagensis at 30-45 m. Associated macrofauna was observed among the branches of M. panamensis, their ecological importance and status have not been determined.
 Conclusions: The species found did not have morphological variations with those described in other similar regions. Associated fauna was found (mainly the anemone Nemanthus californicus, the bivalve Pteria sterna and the longnose hawkfish Oxycirrhithes typus) and needs to be studied to determine its role on black corals. The importance of the ACG as a marine biodiversity conservation site is emphasized.

Residency of bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae), at San Pedrillo Islet in Islas Murciélago, North Pacific of Costa Rica

Introduction: The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, is particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic actions because of its permanence in coastal ecosystems; populations depletion is registered in different places around the world. Aggregations of bull sharks have been reported in the North Pacific of Costa Rica, at Islas Murciélago, within the Guanacaste Conservation Area.
 Objective: To study the residency of bull sharks at San Pedrillo islet, Islas Murciélago.
 Methods: During the study period (June 2013 to February 2015) we used passive telemetry to tag 10 bull sharks.
 Results: All the sharks tagged were females, they were detected on 59 798 occasions by the acoustic receiver deployed in San Pedrillo. Acoustic signals from tagged sharks were received for a total period of 1 to 229 days (mean = 73.9 ± 71.3 days), with the last detections occurring on 9 January 2015. The Residency Index for each tagged shark across the entire monitoring period ranged from 0.41 to 1.00. The bull shark activity showed a significant pattern throughout the day at the receiver that specifically corresponded with the daily light cycle.
 Conclusions: This study concludes that San Pedrillo is an aggregation site (cleaning station) for bull sharks (C. leucas), possibly related to reproduction and not feeding behaviors.

Assessing the probability of wildfire occurrences in a neotropical dry forest

ABSTRACT In tropical dry forests, wildfires are likely to become a major disturbance as a result of anthropogenic pressures and dryer conditions due to climate warming. Based on remote sensing techniques, this paper assesses the probability of fires occurring in the dry region of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (GCA), northwestern Costa Rica, testing the roles as fire determinants of topography, early successional forest stages, between-area susceptibility, and accessibility to human (roads and trails). Probability of fire occurrence and fire danger were determined based on a machine learning algorithm. Fire occurrence model was inferred from burned areas and fire line density; while fire danger was inferred from the probability of fire occurrence, the proportion of burned areas, and the number of fires per area. Results indicate that the presence of early successional vegetation on flat lowlands highly accessible by roads and trails are key components of fire occurrence. Three of the six investigated sectors show high probability of fire occurrence and fire danger, indicating the spatial heterogeneity of fire risk in the landscape. The results could be useful for the management of the conservation area.

Plant galls recorded from Guanacaste Conservation Area-Costa Rica as an integrated concept of a biological database

Abstract: Galling insects are specialist herbivorous that have the ability of manipulating plant tissue to form complex biological structures called galls. Even though different organisms have the ability to induce galls in plants, insect galls have the highest degree of structural complexity. The main goal of this study was to obtain a preliminary systematic record of plant gall morphotypes from the Guanacaste Conservation Area in Costa Rica and integrate the information into a biological database. Plant gall morphotypes were recorded, characterized and deposited into a specialized herbarium established as a reference for the inventory. Moreover, organisms associated with gall morphotypes were included in the inventory when it was possible to obtain and identify them. Galls were collected in the rainy season over a period of three years. In total, we recorded forty-four families, seventy genera, and eighty-seven host plant species. One hundred thirty-one morphotypes of plant galls were identified in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. The family with the highest number of gall morphotypes was Fabaceae (8.4%). Leaves were the organ with the largest number of galls (71%), followed by stems (17.6%), and apical buds (6.9%). The predominant gall shape was globular (25.2%), followed by discoid (18.3%). Fifty-nine percent of the galls had a glabrous texture, which was most common on leaves, with 77%. One hundred twenty of our field records (91.6%) of plant galls were new morphotypes not only for Costa Rica but also the world. As a consequence of this research and considering the prospect of future increases in new gall records (and associated organisms), we proposed having the biological entities resulting from the inventory placed in a cecidiarium. This repository represents a standardized and comprehensive way to manage the data and biological materials associated with the plant galls. We also suggest a nomenclature for standardizing gall morphotype registries and identifications. This work is the first and most detailed inventory of plant galls carried out thus far in the Guanacaste Conservation Area.

Reef environments of Murciélago Islands and Santa Elena peninsula, Guanacaste conservation area, Costa Rican pacific

The ecology of the marine environments of the Murciélago Islands and the Santa Elena Peninsula have been studied little despite their high biodiversity. This area is influenced by a coastal upwelling. In 2014, 2016 and 2018, the region was visited to assess the composition and diversity of its reef environments. Bottom coverage, macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance, and reef fish biomass were quantified. The substrate was dominated by turf and crustose calcareous algae. Live coral coverage has decreased compared to previous reports for the area. Sea urchins were the macroinvertebrates with the highest densities, while species of commercial interest presented low densities, this may suggest some degree of fishing pressure. 84 reef fish species were identified, making the islands area with the greatest diversity of reef fish in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Coral biotopes in this region are key to the conservation of connectivity between reef areas due to their high diversity.

Competition interactions among stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) for Croton yucatanensis Lundell resins

Stingless bees use extrafloral resources such as resins for nest construction, defense systems and chemical communication. We conducted the first study of the resin-collecting process from Croton yucatanensis Lundell shrubs by three stingless bee species in the tropical deciduous forest of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica. We performed systematic observations on 10 C. yucatanensis shrubs for 10-min periods between 8:20 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for three days, and for 90 min we focused on behavior and interaction among bees on three shrubs. Trigona corvina Cockerell was the most frequent visitor. These bees made cuts on shrub stems and leaves to collect resin and transport it in their corbiculae. Others visitor species were Trigona fulviventris Guerin and Plebeia frontalis Friese, which tried to approach the resin remains left by T. corvina. While monopolizing the resource, T. corvina behaved aggressively if approached by T. fulviventris. Towards the last hour of sampling, T. fulviventris visits increased notably, which may indicate a decrease in the dominance or aggressiveness of T. corvina at that time. This tendency seems to be the beginning of temporal resource partitioning behavior commonly observed in bee communities. We provide novel observations on the ways in which stingless bees collect resin and the interactions that occur among them. We also propose and discuss working hypotheses to explain the fact that all the individuals observed almost exclusively visited a single C. yucatanensis specimen.

New species of Trichuris (Nematoda: Trichuridae) parasitizing Heteromys salvini (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) from Costa Rica, with a key to Trichuris species described from Heteromyidae.

Trichuris guanacastei n sp., a parasite isolated from the Salvin' spiny mouse Heteromys salvini, collected from the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica, during February 1996 is described. The new species was compared morphologically with the 29 known species that parasitize rodents distributed in 12 families in North and South America; T. guanacastei n. sp. it is characterized by the following set of traits: presence of a spicular tube (measuring 0.72-0.99); thick proximal cloacal tube and a short distal cloacal tube with a total length of 0.72-1.36; eggs 0.03-0.05 long and a semi-protrusible vulva. The new species represents the first one described in the genus in Costa Rica and the fifth one described in the Americas that parasite Heteromyidae.

Modelo de vulnerabilidad ante incendios forestales para el Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Los incendios forestales ocurren en casi todos los tipos de ecosistemas; sin embargo, la vulnerabilidad y capacidad de programación de los incendios depende en gran medida de la cantidad de combustible y el contenido de humedad. Los bosques secos tropicales en particular son un ecosistema vulnerable a los incendios, ya que durante al menos 6 meses por año reciben una precipitación de menos a 10mm por mes. La evaluación de la vulnerabilidad es una herramienta crítica en la prevención de incendios forestales, al estimar los sitios más vulnerables al fuego. El objetivo de este estudio fue implementar un modelo de vulnerabilidad ante incendios forestales que permita definir áreas prioritarias para el control del fuego en el Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG). El modelo se diseñó integrando componentes ecológicos como calidad visual y biodiversidad, y componentes socioeconómicos como infraestructura y servicios ecosistémicos presentes en el ACG. Nuestros resultados indican que las áreas más vulnerables a incendios forestales en el AGC existen una presencia alta de especies de alto valor ecológico y mayor desarrollo de servicios ecosistémicos. Por otro lado, las zonas que se encuentran cerca de comunidades y carreteras son menos vulnerables; sin embargo, presentan una mayor incidencia de incendios forestales. Se espera que este modelo puede ser adaptado en otras áreas silvestres protegidas con características ecológicas y socioeconómicas a las del AGC y que se vean afectadas por incendios forestales, tomando en consideración las particularidades de cada sitio.

Ourism, natural protected areas, conservation, land management, Costa Rica

Ever since the 1980s, conservation-related tourism has been particularly important in Costa Rica. The interest in enjoying and being part of nature brought a signifcant change to how tourism is practiced. The country hosts a great wealth of natural and cultural resources, as well as rural landscapes characterized by protected areas and surrounded by natural landscapes and local communities. This document reviews the experience of Santa Rosa National Park, located in the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG)—an area with emerging tourism development and natural attractions as its main resource. The participation and integration of local communities are part of recent concerns. Our methodology includes a review of secondary information and frst-person interviews with townspeople. Moreover, information was gathered on-site through different visits to the area of study. The ACG is one of the protected areas that hosts important resources for research; however, increasing conservation in neighboring areas and incorporating the local community still represents a challenge.

Marine biodiversity baseline for Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica: published records.

The diversity of tropical marine organisms has not been studied as intensively as the terrestrial biota worldwide. Additionally, marine biodiversity research in the tropics lags behind other regions. The 43,000 ha Sector Marino of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG, Marine Sector of Guanacaste Conservation Area), on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica is no exception. For more than four decades, the terrestrial flora and fauna has been studied continuously. The ACG marine biodiversity was studied in the 1930’s by expeditions that passed through the area, but not much until the 1990’s, except for the marine turtles. In the mid 1990’s the Center for Research in Marine Science and Limnology (CIMAR) of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) initiated the exploration of the marine environments and organisms of ACG. In 2015, ACG, in collaboration with CIMAR, started the BioMar project whose goal is to inventory the species of the marine sector of ACG (BioMar ACG project). As a baseline, here I have compiled the published records of marine ACG species, and found that 594 marine species have been reported, representing 15.5% of the known species of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The most diverse groups were the crustaceans, mollusks and cnidarians comprising 71.7% of the ACG species. Some taxa, such as mangroves and fish parasites are well represented in ACG when compared to the rest of the Costa Rican coast but others appear to be greatly underrepresented, for example, red algae, polychaetes, copepods, equinoderms, and marine fishes and birds, which could be due to sampling bias. Thirty species have been originally described with specimens from ACG, and 89 species are not known from other localities on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica except ACG. Most of the sampling has been concentrated in a few localities in Sector Marino, Playa Blanca and Islas Murciélago, and in the nearby waters of Bahía Santa Elena. In an effort to fill this gap, CIMAR is collaborating with ACG and a private foundation to start an inventory of the marine organisms of the conservation area. The project will be assisted by two marine parataxonomists, and all samples will be catalogued, photographed, bar coded and voucher specimens deposited at the Museo de Zoología, UCR. All the information will be available through Internet. It is anticipated that the BioMar project will fill many of the knowledge gaps and significantly more marine species will be encountered. This project could become a viable model for marine biodiversity inventories in other Costa Rican Conservation Areas (Áreas de Conservación) and in other countries.

Neotropical dry forest wildlife water hole use and management

Se estudió el uso diurno por especies faunísticas p 1 3de un ojo de agua natural (QDl y otro artificial (AW ) a finales de la época seca de 1990 en el Area de Conservacion de Guanacaste, Costa Rica. En total 9 19 individuos (seis especies de mamíferos y una de ave cinegética) consumieron agua de QD y 7 13 individuos (cuatro especies de mamíferos) de AQ. Se estimó que en un dia, las especies de vida silvestre estudiados tomaron 29.7 1 y 27.3 1 de agua de QD y AW, respectivamente. El total de agua consumido o evaporado de cada ojo de agua durante 24-horas fue estimado en 44.6 1 en QD y 4 1 . 1 1 en AW, con base en: al agua bebida durante 12 h por las especies seleccionadas, b) agua bebida por todos los otros individuos durante 24 h (QD = 1 4.85 1, AW = 13.65 1) y c) evaporación diaria (QD = 0.04 1, AW = 0.0 1 1). Para abastecer AW durante una epoca seca de 120 días, la administración del parque debe proveer 4 932 1 de agua. Se discute las implicaciones de manejo en las regiones de bosque seco neotropical.

Machine learning an audio taxonomy: Quantifying biodiversity and habitat recovery through rainforest audio recordings

We present a set of tools for semi-supervised classification of ecosystem health in Meso-American tropical dry forest, one of the most highly endangered habitats on Earth. Audio recordings were collected from 15-year-old, 30-year-old and old growth tropical dry forest plots in the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica, on both nutrient rich and nutrient poor soils. The goals of this project were to classify the overall health of the regenerating forests using markers of biodiversity. Semi-supervised machine learning and digital signal processing techniques were explored and tested for their ability to detect species and events in the audio recordings. Furthermore, multi-recorder setups within the same vicinity were able to improve detection rates and accuracy by enabling localization of audio events. Variations in species' and rainforest ambient noise detection rates over time were hypothesized to correlate to biodiversity and hence the health of the rainforest. By comparing levels of biodiversity measured in this manner between old growth and young dry forest plots, we hope to determine the effectiveness of reforestation techniques and identify key environmental factors shaping the recovery of forest ecosystems.

Developing the Bioliteracy of School Children for 24 Years: A Fundamental Tool for Ecological Restoration and Conservation in Perpetuity of the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG, Guanacaste Conservation Area) in northwestern Costa Rica in Central America was created to protect in perpetuity the rich natural diversity found there. The ACG contains an entire range of interconnected ecosystems from the Pacific coastal-marine zone, through dry and cloud forests, to the Caribbean rain forest. Generations of human pressures on the area, including ranching, agriculture, fires, timber extraction, and hunting, have degraded these ecosystems, which are now in a process of regeneration through protection from destructive human use. Although protection is an important part of conservation, the ACG's most potent tool for the long-term conservation of its natural resources is the biocultural restoration of its neighbors. The ACG's Programa de Educacion Biologica (PEB, Biological Education Program) promotes the bioliteracy of local students, parents, and teachers through field-oriented workshops in its different ecosystems. Through the education of the surrounding community about its natural resources, PEB is restoring the biological understanding of its neighbors with the aim of creating a community that can make better-informed environmental decisions in the future.

Estimación de poblaciones de jaguar (Panthera onca) en el Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Se estimó la población de jaguares del Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), al noroeste de Costa Rica, mediante el uso de cámaras trampa. Se aplicó el método de captura-recaptura para obtener la abundancia y se calculó la densidad según el área efectiva de muestreo. Para el Sector San Cristóbal el área efectiva de muestreo fue 164,81 km2. La abundancia se estimó en 9,50 ± 7,7 jaguares y la densidad fue 0,057 ± 0,046 ind/km2. El área efectiva de muestreo para los parques nacionales Santa Rosa y Guanacaste fue 103,92 km2. La abundancia encontrada fue 3,00 ± 2,46 jaguares para una densidad de 0,028 ± 0,023 ind/km2. Los resultados resaltan que aún no es posible estimar el número total de jaguares por encontrarse valores tan diferentes entre los dos sectores muestreados. Con base en este estudio se rediseñó una Unidad de Conservación del Jaguar (UCJ) propuesta por expertos para el noroeste de Costa Rica, ya que la cordillera de Guanacaste probablemente presenta una alta densidad de jaguares.