Papers by Tania Bermudez-Rojas
Biocenosis • Vol. 30 (1-2) 2016, 2016
Degradation of urban aquatic ecosystems, including rivers and creeks, has ended in biodiversity l... more Degradation of urban aquatic ecosystems, including rivers and creeks, has ended in biodiversity loss, environmental quality decrease and life quality affectation of urban areas inhabitants. This study presents three scientific – technological options for soil and water rehabilitation, through vegetal coverings on slopes and two polluted waters
depuration systems: “biojardineras” (bio-planters) and nitrifying bacteria, all of them realized within Pirro river urban micro-basin, Heredia. These options are a contribution for future research on ecological restoration area.
Memorias del I Congreso Internacional de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica,, 2019
communication of species. There are few studies on this subject in urban areas of Costa Rica and ... more communication of species. There are few studies on this subject in urban areas of Costa Rica and our objective was to characterize the environmental noise and bird richness of the microbasin of the Bermudez River. Eight transects were established where bird richness and environmental noise were recorded through counting points along the microbasin. We recorded 171 species belonging to 41 families. Significant differences were found in the number of species per site in periurban (136 species) and urban (108 species) areas. Noise was lower in the periurban zone (45.4 dB) than in the urban zone (59.4 dB). Environmental noise could have negative effects on birds, and it is necessary to establish noise mitigation measures that benefit the conservation of urban and riparian ecosystems.
Recursos Naturales y Ambiente, 2011
Plant selection for erosion control in Costa Rica by means of the expert criteria method. Use of ... more Plant selection for erosion control in Costa Rica by means of the expert criteria method. Use of plants for erosion control in Costa Rica is scarce and poorly documented. This study used expert criteria to identify vegetal species used for such purpose. Through semistructured interviews to 20 experts, information of 74 species was collected (6.25±5.11 recommendations per expert). Perennial native herbs with fasciculate root predominated. The species most frequently mentioned were Yucca guatemalensis (75%), Arachis pintoi (55%), Zygia longifolia (30%), Vetiveria zizanioides and Gynerium sagittatum (25% each). Research and experimentation with suggested species, mainly native, should be established in order to define guidelines for plant use in erosion
control.
Los artículos publicados se rigen bajo la licencia CreativeCommons versión 3.0. Costa Rica, lo qu... more Los artículos publicados se rigen bajo la licencia CreativeCommons versión 3.0. Costa Rica, lo que implica la posibilidad de que los lectores puedan de forma gratuita descargar, almacenar, copiar y distribuir la versión final aprobada y publicada (post print) del artículo, siempre y cuando se realice sin fines comerciales, no se generen obras derivadas y se mencione la fuente y autoría de la obra.
Rev. Biol. Trop., 2018
Gastrointestinal parasites of wild birds in a tropical riverine urban ecosystem in Heredia, Costa... more Gastrointestinal parasites of wild birds in a tropical riverine urban ecosystem in Heredia, Costa Rica. In urban ecosystems, rivers provide various ecosystem services, among them, serving as interurban biological corridor, allowing birds to move and shelter in the middle of the city. However, high levels of pollution expose them, and even humans, to several health problems. Hence the importance of performing environmental diagnoses that allows to identify alterations and mitigate them in a timely manner. This study provides a first diagnosis of the parasitic situation of wild birds along the Pirro river which is located in an urban environment, fragmented and with high levels of surface water pollution. The sampling was carried out at the upper and middle part of the Pirro river in Heredia, Costa Rica. Mist-nets were used to capture the birds, and a general objective exam (GOE) was conducted in order to evaluate their nutritional and hydration state, as well as their physical state. In addition, stool samples were collected in order to characterize the gastrointestinal parasites (GPI). This procedure was carried out on 158 birds, belonging to 30 species, three PGI groups were identified: protozoa, nematodes and cestodes. The highest percentages of infection were represented by coccidia, with 97.6 %, followed by nematodes and cestodes with 2.4 %. Within the group of coccidios, it was possible to identify Eimeria spp., Isospora spp., in the nematodes: at the Strongylida group level and at the Capillaria spp., and for the cestodes: Choanotaenia spp. GOE resulted regular-to-good in all individuals captured, however, a general linear model was used to identify that the oral cavity and the state of the plumage could be the more linked variables with the percentage of infection by gastrointestinal parasites in birds, due to the fact that the oral cavity is the bird’s main route of ingestion, as well as the state of the plumage shows its vigor.
Revista Geográfica de América Central, 2018
This research article considers the quantification of the access that residents of the city of He... more This research article considers the quantification of the access that residents of the city of Heredia
have to some basic services in the city, taking as reference the distance to which the residents live,
calculating what percentage of the population resides at 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 m and more than
1000 m away from the location of the services. The results obtained show heterogeneous access to
services by the residents of the city, which is expected in an urban area that has grown and evolved
in response to economic and commercial interests, without the intervention of an entity to plan and
regulate the activities based on the well-being of the resident population
Revista de Biología Tropical, 2018
Environmental indicators of urban green areas for management in two cities of Costa Rica.
Environ... more Environmental indicators of urban green areas for management in two cities of Costa Rica.
Environmental quality contributes to the physical and mental well-being of the population. In this way, the green areas (GA) of the cities are essential spaces for coexistence, sports, socialization, and recreation, among others.The objective of this research was to determine the environmental conditions of green areas, using indicators as tool for urban management in two cities of Costa Rica. The study area corresponded to the districts of Heredia and Carmen, Costa Rica. The existing GA were determined using Rapid Eye satellite images, 2012 through spatial analysis and remote sensing. Eleven indicators of urban green areas were applied, the species was identified, the height, the diameter at breast height (DBH) and the number of trees in parks and streets were measured. In addition, surveys were conducted to users of public GA, on issues related to accessibility and use of GA. Five types of GA were identified in Carmen and six in Heredia. The percentage of public and private green areas corresponded
to 36 % and 64 % in Carmen and 13 % and 87 % in Heredia respectively. The green area per capita
(m2/hab) was 24.6 in Carmen and 2.7 in Heredia. Sixty-two species of trees were identified in the Carmen parks
and 23 in Heredia. There were 1 105 trees of 61 species in the streets, sidewalks and avenues of Carmen and 278 individuals of 47 species in Heredia. Regarding the existence of riparian vegetation, it was determined that Pirro, Burrio, Torres and Negritos streams maintain 82, 51, 81 and 14 % of margin protection areas in conforming use. Eleven of the public GA’s were evaluated, nine presented a high physical accessibility. In both districts, the surveyed citizens indicated the necessity to have more GA, highlighting the recreational, ecological and touristic value of these spaces. It is concluded that the indicators of urban green areas showed that there are differences between the environmental conditions in both of the evaluated cities. In addition, the applicability of the indicators
is feasible as an input for the sustainable environmental management of urban ecosystems.
Cuadernos de Investigación UNED, 2012
The Bandler-Grinder Learning Model and teaching techniques for Mendelian genetics in Costa Rican ... more The Bandler-Grinder Learning Model and teaching techniques for Mendelian genetics in Costa Rican tenth grade students. Education in genetics is basic for learning in other areas such as health, agriculture and environmental sciences. In Costa Rica, little is known about genetics education in high school, despite the importance of this discipline to society. Here we analyze the techniques used in two Costa Rican institutions to teach Mendelian genetics, and identify the learning styles based on the NLP Bandler & Grinder Learning Model. The research was conducted under a mixed approach in ten-grade students from two daytime high schools. We used three kinds of instruments: semi-structured interview, observation by recording critical incidents in class and a learning styles test. We found that the teachers had little knowledge of learning styles, and that lessons are developed mainly as master classes. Teachers and students do not agree on the degree of difficulty of several subtopics of Mendelian genetics. Even though the auditory style was predominat, we found that the prevalence is probably multifactorial.
Revista Geográfica de América Central, 2019
An evaluation was conducted on landscape elements (land use, access roads, slopes, and environmen... more An evaluation was conducted on landscape elements (land use, access roads, slopes, and environmental
fragility) and trends in the use of soil during the period 2005-2016 in the area proposed for the Biological Corridor Tibas River (CBRT). From these elements and trends, a methodology for the selection of priority sites (SP) was applied for the restoration of plant cover, and a survey to assess the perception and consent of their respective owners was applied. The CBRT has a distribution almost equitable between urban, agricultural and natural use, with an important concentration of forest cover in its high area. However, in 11 years the CBRT has undergone a process of urbanization, up to
three times faster than other urban areas in the region, being the agricultural uses the most vulnerable to change. The implementation of the methodology identified 20 priority sites of management; the
above-mentioned survey was applied in 10 of them. The 94% of the owners are willing to the restoration,
motivated primarily by the conservation of water, biodiversity and landscape.
SPANISH JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, 2014
Mechanical and structural erosion of soils is produced by the loss of the vegetal cover and the a... more Mechanical and structural erosion of soils is produced by the loss of the vegetal cover and the action of rain on
unprotected surfaces. Raindrop impact, transport and sediment deposition leads to landslides and slope instability and soil loss. In Costa Rica, water bodies have been negatively impacted by urban development and both water resources and soils have become more vulnerable. This is the case of the Pirro river micro watershed where riverbed vegetation has been replaced by constructions producing erosion problems in its slopes. In order to evaluate how native plants favor sediment control and prevent this sediment from been deposited in the river, eight experimental plots were installed. Four treatments were established: A (Costus pulverulentus Presl), B (Heliconia tortuosa
(Griggs) Standl.), C (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash) and D (control). Sediments were collected weekly during the rainy and transitional seasons. A clear relation between rainfall intensity and sediment production was determined, particularly for intensities higher than 50 mm h-1. Significant differences were also determined
between the treatments and the efficiency order was B > A > C > D, with the native plants being the most efficient in terms of sediment control. The use of native plants is recommended for the management and rehabilitation of slopes near urban rivers due to their ecological value and their capability for sediment control.
Revista Forestal Mesoamericana Kurú, 2018
This research had as objective to determine the forest structure and floristic composition of the... more This research had as objective to determine the forest structure and floristic composition of the "Tibás River Interurban Biological corridor" region. We delimit three elevational zones/strata in the area and established 61 sampling plots (15 x 15 m). Species richness, abundance and ecological group species (early or late-successional and seed dispersal methods) in trees (diameter > 10 cm) and seedlings (individuals between 30 cm and 1.5 m of height) were evaluated. Then we characterized the ecosystems according with diversity indexes (Shannon and Pielou), their diameter category, tree density and forest canopy gap. We recorded 113 tree species in 43 families (diameter > 10 cm) and 122 seedlings species (41 families). Mean tree density estimation ranged between 469-491 individuals/ha in the elevational zones. The three strata follow a reverse-J diameter distribution, and among 70-77 % of tree diameters ranged between 10 and 39.9 cm. While the three elevational zones recorded optimal recruitment and diversity indexes, according with diameter distribution, Shannon (> 3.13) and Pielou (> 0.81), the low and medium stratum suggested a greater ecosystem disturbance, and less sustainability, due to high early-successional and wind-dispersed species proportions encountered. Likewise, mean forest canopy gap values were moderate in the lower elevational zones (59-72 %) and relatively high in the greater altitudinal level (87 %). This information suggests that the low and medium elevational zones are areas with higher restoration priority, and enrichment strategies in the riparian forest may be required. Composition and forest structure of the interurban biological Corridor Tibás River, Heredia, Costa Rica
Revista Forestal centroamericana, 2002
C h a n ge of Land Use and Covering and Forest
Conservation in Two Protected Areas. In the area b... more C h a n ge of Land Use and Covering and Forest
Conservation in Two Protected Areas. In the area between Volcano Irazú National Park and Volcano Turrialba National Park in Costa Rica, the space structure of the landscape was determinate;its analyzes the change of the land use / covering for a period of 20 years (1978, 1992, 1998), as well as, the factors that have influenced in this change. The information to
carry out this work was obtained through air picture. Then, using diversity indexes and Markov probabilities the structure and the land use/cover change for every analyzed period was determinate. Finally, using multinomial logistic models, the factors associated to the changes. The results suggests a tendency of the landscape to be added without presenting
dominance for any type of land use / cover, was determinate and a small decreasing of landscape diversity was found too. There is a small and constant recovery of forest areas and moor vegetation with very dynamic uses as the grasses and cultivations, but that they spread to change among them. The factors that influences in the change to non-forest covering as
to forest, present statistical significance; concluding that the protect areas policy of the country contribute positively to the maintenance of the forest covering in spite of existing occupation inside them.
La degradación de los ecosistemas acuáticos urbanos que incluye ríos y quebradas ha provocado la ... more La degradación de los ecosistemas acuáticos urbanos que incluye ríos y quebradas ha provocado la pérdida de biodiversidad, disminución de la calidad ambiental y la afectación de la calidad de vida de los habitantes de las zonas urbanas. Se presentan tres alternativas científico -tecnológicas para la rehabilitación del suelo y el agua, mediante coberturas vegetales en taludes y dos sistemas de depuración de aguas contaminadas; biojardineras y bacterias nitrificadoras, todas realizadas en la microcuenca urbana del río Pirro, Heredia, siendo estas una contribución para futuras investigaciones en el campo de la restauración ecológica.
Los artículos publicados se rigen bajo la licencia CreativeCommons versión 3.0. Costa Rica, lo qu... more Los artículos publicados se rigen bajo la licencia CreativeCommons versión 3.0. Costa Rica, lo que implica la posibilidad de que los lectores puedan de forma gratuita descargar, almacenar, copiar y distribuir la versión final aprobada y publicada (post print) del artículo, siempre y cuando se realice sin fines comerciales, no se generen obras derivadas y se mencione la fuente y autoría de la obra.
Gastrointestinal parasites of wild birds in a tropical riverine urban ecosystem in Heredia, Costa... more Gastrointestinal parasites of wild birds in a tropical riverine urban ecosystem in Heredia, Costa Rica. In urban ecosystems, rivers provide various ecosystem services, among them, serving as interurban biological corridor, allowing birds to move and shelter in the middle of the city. However, high levels of pollution expose them, and even humans, to several health problems. Hence the importance of performing environmental diagnoses that allows to identify alterations and mitigate them in a timely manner. This study provides a first diagnosis of the parasitic situation of wild birds along the Pirro river which is located in an urban environment, fragmented and with high levels of surface water pollution. The sampling was carried out at the upper and middle part of the Pirro river in Heredia, Costa Rica. Mist-nets were used to capture the birds, and a general objective exam (GOE) was conducted in order to evaluate their nutritional and hydration state, as well as their physical state. In addition, stool samples were collected in order to characterize the gastrointestinal parasites (GPI). This procedure was carried out on 158 birds, belonging to 30 species, three PGI groups were identified: protozoa, nematodes and cestodes. The highest percentages of infection were represented by coccidia, with 97.6 %, followed by nematodes and cestodes with 2.4 %. Within the group of coccidios, it was possible to identify Eimeria spp., Isospora spp., in the nematodes: at the Strongylida group level and at the Capillaria spp., and for the cestodes: Choanotaenia spp. GOE resulted regular-to-good in all individuals captured, however, a general linear model was used to identify that the oral cavity and the state of the plumage could be the more linked variables with the percentage of infection by gastrointestinal parasites in birds, due to the fact that the oral cavity is the bird's main route of ingestion, as well as the state of the plumage shows its vigor. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 788-798. Epub 2018 June 01.
Urban Ecosyst , 2017
The urban domestic gardens that are part of urban green areas have become a very important elemen... more The urban domestic gardens that are part of urban green areas have become a very important element due to their ecosystematic benefits and the poor information about them. Information regarding the floristic richness of three socioeconomic
stratifications from the city of Heredia, Costa Rica is presented in this study. Research was conducted from October 2011 to May 2012. Information was collected using a semistructured questionnaire, which was provided to 61 garden owners, including the owner’s personal data, time living in the dwelling, area of the property and the garden, variation of its size in time and the garden’s location on the property. In addition, a floristic inventory was conducted in each garden as well as a taxonomic identification of all plants. Vegetative forms and substrates were also noted. Characteristics of the
gardens and their owners were then analyzed to determine the relationship of species richness between the three sites studied. The number of plant species recorded was 618, corresponding to 102 families (19 % exotic). Regarding geographical
origin, 64, 4 % were exotic, 35,6 % native. Orchidaceae (93 spp.) and Araceae (39 spp.) were the most dominant families. The variables of garden area and location and owner's age determined the garden’s floristic richness. In addition, the garden’s area and vegetative forms varied among the sites studied probably due to socioeconomic differences among them. Diversity of pioneer plants increased with the garden’s area. In sum, this research provides important floristic information of domestic gardens, since, being private property, data about them is scarce and municipal management guidelines are nonexistent.
Esta investigación trata sobre la cuantificación del acceso que tienen los residentes de la ciuda... more Esta investigación trata sobre la cuantificación del acceso que tienen los residentes de la ciudad de Heredia a algunos servicios básicos en la ciudad, a partir de la distancia a la que viven, calculando que porcentaje de la población reside a 100, 250, 500. 750, 1000 y más de 1000 metros de distancia de la ubicación de los servicios. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un acceso heterogéneo a los servicios por parte de los residentes de la ciudad, lo cual es lo esperado en un área urbana que ha crecido y evolucionado en función de intereses económicos y comerciales, sin la intervención de un ente que planifique y regule las actividades en función del bienestar de la población residente.
Environmental quality contributes to the physical and mental well-being of the population. In thi... more Environmental quality contributes to the physical and mental well-being of the population. In this way, the green areas (GA) of the cities are essential spaces for coexistence, sports, socialization, and recreation, among others. The objective of this research was to determine the environmental conditions of green areas, using indicators as tool for urban management in two cities of Costa Rica. The study area corresponded to the districts of Heredia and Carmen, Costa Rica. The existing GA were determined using Rapid Eye satellite images, 2012 through spatial analysis and remote sensing. Eleven indicators of urban green areas were applied, the species was identified, the height, the diameter at breast height (DBH) and the number of trees in parks and streets were measured. In addition, surveys were conducted to users of public GA, on issues related to accessibility and use of GA. Five types of GA were identified in Carmen and six in Heredia. The percentage of public and private green areas corresponded to 36 % and 64 % in Carmen and 13 % and 87 % in Heredia respectively. The green area per capita (m 2 /hab) was 24.6 in Carmen and 2.7 in Heredia. Sixty-two species of trees were identified in the Carmen parks and 23 in Heredia. There were 1 105 trees of 61 species in the streets, sidewalks and avenues of Carmen and 278 individuals of 47 species in Heredia. Regarding the existence of riparian vegetation, it was determined that Pirro, Burrio, Torres and Negritos streams maintain 82, 51, 81 and 14 % of margin protection areas in conforming use. Eleven of the public GA's were evaluated, nine presented a high physical accessibility. In both districts, the surveyed citizens indicated the necessity to have more GA, highlighting the recreational, ecological and touristic value of these spaces. It is concluded that the indicators of urban green areas showed that there are differences between the environmental conditions in both of the evaluated cities. In addition, the applicability of the indicators is feasible as an input for the sustainable environmental management of urban ecosystems.
The Bandler-Grinder Learning Model and teaching techniques for Mendelian genetics in Costa Rican ... more The Bandler-Grinder Learning Model and teaching techniques for Mendelian genetics in Costa Rican tenth grade students. Education in genetics is basic for learning in other areas such as health, agriculture and environmental sciences. In Costa Rica, little is known about genetics education in high school, despite the importance of this discipline to society. Here we analyze the techniques used in two Costa Rican institutions to teach Mendelian genetics, and identify the learning styles based on the NLP Bandler & Grinder Learning Model. The research was conducted under a mixed approach in ten-grade students from two daytime high schools. We used three kinds of instruments: semistructured interview, observation by recording critical incidents in class and a learning styles test. We found that the teachers had little knowledge of learning styles, and that lessons are developed mainly as master classes. Teachers and students do not agree on the degree of difficulty of several subtopics of Mendelian genetics. Even though the auditory style was predominat, we found that the prevalence is probably multifactorial.
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Papers by Tania Bermudez-Rojas
depuration systems: “biojardineras” (bio-planters) and nitrifying bacteria, all of them realized within Pirro river urban micro-basin, Heredia. These options are a contribution for future research on ecological restoration area.
control.
have to some basic services in the city, taking as reference the distance to which the residents live,
calculating what percentage of the population resides at 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 m and more than
1000 m away from the location of the services. The results obtained show heterogeneous access to
services by the residents of the city, which is expected in an urban area that has grown and evolved
in response to economic and commercial interests, without the intervention of an entity to plan and
regulate the activities based on the well-being of the resident population
Environmental quality contributes to the physical and mental well-being of the population. In this way, the green areas (GA) of the cities are essential spaces for coexistence, sports, socialization, and recreation, among others.The objective of this research was to determine the environmental conditions of green areas, using indicators as tool for urban management in two cities of Costa Rica. The study area corresponded to the districts of Heredia and Carmen, Costa Rica. The existing GA were determined using Rapid Eye satellite images, 2012 through spatial analysis and remote sensing. Eleven indicators of urban green areas were applied, the species was identified, the height, the diameter at breast height (DBH) and the number of trees in parks and streets were measured. In addition, surveys were conducted to users of public GA, on issues related to accessibility and use of GA. Five types of GA were identified in Carmen and six in Heredia. The percentage of public and private green areas corresponded
to 36 % and 64 % in Carmen and 13 % and 87 % in Heredia respectively. The green area per capita
(m2/hab) was 24.6 in Carmen and 2.7 in Heredia. Sixty-two species of trees were identified in the Carmen parks
and 23 in Heredia. There were 1 105 trees of 61 species in the streets, sidewalks and avenues of Carmen and 278 individuals of 47 species in Heredia. Regarding the existence of riparian vegetation, it was determined that Pirro, Burrio, Torres and Negritos streams maintain 82, 51, 81 and 14 % of margin protection areas in conforming use. Eleven of the public GA’s were evaluated, nine presented a high physical accessibility. In both districts, the surveyed citizens indicated the necessity to have more GA, highlighting the recreational, ecological and touristic value of these spaces. It is concluded that the indicators of urban green areas showed that there are differences between the environmental conditions in both of the evaluated cities. In addition, the applicability of the indicators
is feasible as an input for the sustainable environmental management of urban ecosystems.
fragility) and trends in the use of soil during the period 2005-2016 in the area proposed for the Biological Corridor Tibas River (CBRT). From these elements and trends, a methodology for the selection of priority sites (SP) was applied for the restoration of plant cover, and a survey to assess the perception and consent of their respective owners was applied. The CBRT has a distribution almost equitable between urban, agricultural and natural use, with an important concentration of forest cover in its high area. However, in 11 years the CBRT has undergone a process of urbanization, up to
three times faster than other urban areas in the region, being the agricultural uses the most vulnerable to change. The implementation of the methodology identified 20 priority sites of management; the
above-mentioned survey was applied in 10 of them. The 94% of the owners are willing to the restoration,
motivated primarily by the conservation of water, biodiversity and landscape.
unprotected surfaces. Raindrop impact, transport and sediment deposition leads to landslides and slope instability and soil loss. In Costa Rica, water bodies have been negatively impacted by urban development and both water resources and soils have become more vulnerable. This is the case of the Pirro river micro watershed where riverbed vegetation has been replaced by constructions producing erosion problems in its slopes. In order to evaluate how native plants favor sediment control and prevent this sediment from been deposited in the river, eight experimental plots were installed. Four treatments were established: A (Costus pulverulentus Presl), B (Heliconia tortuosa
(Griggs) Standl.), C (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash) and D (control). Sediments were collected weekly during the rainy and transitional seasons. A clear relation between rainfall intensity and sediment production was determined, particularly for intensities higher than 50 mm h-1. Significant differences were also determined
between the treatments and the efficiency order was B > A > C > D, with the native plants being the most efficient in terms of sediment control. The use of native plants is recommended for the management and rehabilitation of slopes near urban rivers due to their ecological value and their capability for sediment control.
Conservation in Two Protected Areas. In the area between Volcano Irazú National Park and Volcano Turrialba National Park in Costa Rica, the space structure of the landscape was determinate;its analyzes the change of the land use / covering for a period of 20 years (1978, 1992, 1998), as well as, the factors that have influenced in this change. The information to
carry out this work was obtained through air picture. Then, using diversity indexes and Markov probabilities the structure and the land use/cover change for every analyzed period was determinate. Finally, using multinomial logistic models, the factors associated to the changes. The results suggests a tendency of the landscape to be added without presenting
dominance for any type of land use / cover, was determinate and a small decreasing of landscape diversity was found too. There is a small and constant recovery of forest areas and moor vegetation with very dynamic uses as the grasses and cultivations, but that they spread to change among them. The factors that influences in the change to non-forest covering as
to forest, present statistical significance; concluding that the protect areas policy of the country contribute positively to the maintenance of the forest covering in spite of existing occupation inside them.
stratifications from the city of Heredia, Costa Rica is presented in this study. Research was conducted from October 2011 to May 2012. Information was collected using a semistructured questionnaire, which was provided to 61 garden owners, including the owner’s personal data, time living in the dwelling, area of the property and the garden, variation of its size in time and the garden’s location on the property. In addition, a floristic inventory was conducted in each garden as well as a taxonomic identification of all plants. Vegetative forms and substrates were also noted. Characteristics of the
gardens and their owners were then analyzed to determine the relationship of species richness between the three sites studied. The number of plant species recorded was 618, corresponding to 102 families (19 % exotic). Regarding geographical
origin, 64, 4 % were exotic, 35,6 % native. Orchidaceae (93 spp.) and Araceae (39 spp.) were the most dominant families. The variables of garden area and location and owner's age determined the garden’s floristic richness. In addition, the garden’s area and vegetative forms varied among the sites studied probably due to socioeconomic differences among them. Diversity of pioneer plants increased with the garden’s area. In sum, this research provides important floristic information of domestic gardens, since, being private property, data about them is scarce and municipal management guidelines are nonexistent.
depuration systems: “biojardineras” (bio-planters) and nitrifying bacteria, all of them realized within Pirro river urban micro-basin, Heredia. These options are a contribution for future research on ecological restoration area.
control.
have to some basic services in the city, taking as reference the distance to which the residents live,
calculating what percentage of the population resides at 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 m and more than
1000 m away from the location of the services. The results obtained show heterogeneous access to
services by the residents of the city, which is expected in an urban area that has grown and evolved
in response to economic and commercial interests, without the intervention of an entity to plan and
regulate the activities based on the well-being of the resident population
Environmental quality contributes to the physical and mental well-being of the population. In this way, the green areas (GA) of the cities are essential spaces for coexistence, sports, socialization, and recreation, among others.The objective of this research was to determine the environmental conditions of green areas, using indicators as tool for urban management in two cities of Costa Rica. The study area corresponded to the districts of Heredia and Carmen, Costa Rica. The existing GA were determined using Rapid Eye satellite images, 2012 through spatial analysis and remote sensing. Eleven indicators of urban green areas were applied, the species was identified, the height, the diameter at breast height (DBH) and the number of trees in parks and streets were measured. In addition, surveys were conducted to users of public GA, on issues related to accessibility and use of GA. Five types of GA were identified in Carmen and six in Heredia. The percentage of public and private green areas corresponded
to 36 % and 64 % in Carmen and 13 % and 87 % in Heredia respectively. The green area per capita
(m2/hab) was 24.6 in Carmen and 2.7 in Heredia. Sixty-two species of trees were identified in the Carmen parks
and 23 in Heredia. There were 1 105 trees of 61 species in the streets, sidewalks and avenues of Carmen and 278 individuals of 47 species in Heredia. Regarding the existence of riparian vegetation, it was determined that Pirro, Burrio, Torres and Negritos streams maintain 82, 51, 81 and 14 % of margin protection areas in conforming use. Eleven of the public GA’s were evaluated, nine presented a high physical accessibility. In both districts, the surveyed citizens indicated the necessity to have more GA, highlighting the recreational, ecological and touristic value of these spaces. It is concluded that the indicators of urban green areas showed that there are differences between the environmental conditions in both of the evaluated cities. In addition, the applicability of the indicators
is feasible as an input for the sustainable environmental management of urban ecosystems.
fragility) and trends in the use of soil during the period 2005-2016 in the area proposed for the Biological Corridor Tibas River (CBRT). From these elements and trends, a methodology for the selection of priority sites (SP) was applied for the restoration of plant cover, and a survey to assess the perception and consent of their respective owners was applied. The CBRT has a distribution almost equitable between urban, agricultural and natural use, with an important concentration of forest cover in its high area. However, in 11 years the CBRT has undergone a process of urbanization, up to
three times faster than other urban areas in the region, being the agricultural uses the most vulnerable to change. The implementation of the methodology identified 20 priority sites of management; the
above-mentioned survey was applied in 10 of them. The 94% of the owners are willing to the restoration,
motivated primarily by the conservation of water, biodiversity and landscape.
unprotected surfaces. Raindrop impact, transport and sediment deposition leads to landslides and slope instability and soil loss. In Costa Rica, water bodies have been negatively impacted by urban development and both water resources and soils have become more vulnerable. This is the case of the Pirro river micro watershed where riverbed vegetation has been replaced by constructions producing erosion problems in its slopes. In order to evaluate how native plants favor sediment control and prevent this sediment from been deposited in the river, eight experimental plots were installed. Four treatments were established: A (Costus pulverulentus Presl), B (Heliconia tortuosa
(Griggs) Standl.), C (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash) and D (control). Sediments were collected weekly during the rainy and transitional seasons. A clear relation between rainfall intensity and sediment production was determined, particularly for intensities higher than 50 mm h-1. Significant differences were also determined
between the treatments and the efficiency order was B > A > C > D, with the native plants being the most efficient in terms of sediment control. The use of native plants is recommended for the management and rehabilitation of slopes near urban rivers due to their ecological value and their capability for sediment control.
Conservation in Two Protected Areas. In the area between Volcano Irazú National Park and Volcano Turrialba National Park in Costa Rica, the space structure of the landscape was determinate;its analyzes the change of the land use / covering for a period of 20 years (1978, 1992, 1998), as well as, the factors that have influenced in this change. The information to
carry out this work was obtained through air picture. Then, using diversity indexes and Markov probabilities the structure and the land use/cover change for every analyzed period was determinate. Finally, using multinomial logistic models, the factors associated to the changes. The results suggests a tendency of the landscape to be added without presenting
dominance for any type of land use / cover, was determinate and a small decreasing of landscape diversity was found too. There is a small and constant recovery of forest areas and moor vegetation with very dynamic uses as the grasses and cultivations, but that they spread to change among them. The factors that influences in the change to non-forest covering as
to forest, present statistical significance; concluding that the protect areas policy of the country contribute positively to the maintenance of the forest covering in spite of existing occupation inside them.
stratifications from the city of Heredia, Costa Rica is presented in this study. Research was conducted from October 2011 to May 2012. Information was collected using a semistructured questionnaire, which was provided to 61 garden owners, including the owner’s personal data, time living in the dwelling, area of the property and the garden, variation of its size in time and the garden’s location on the property. In addition, a floristic inventory was conducted in each garden as well as a taxonomic identification of all plants. Vegetative forms and substrates were also noted. Characteristics of the
gardens and their owners were then analyzed to determine the relationship of species richness between the three sites studied. The number of plant species recorded was 618, corresponding to 102 families (19 % exotic). Regarding geographical
origin, 64, 4 % were exotic, 35,6 % native. Orchidaceae (93 spp.) and Araceae (39 spp.) were the most dominant families. The variables of garden area and location and owner's age determined the garden’s floristic richness. In addition, the garden’s area and vegetative forms varied among the sites studied probably due to socioeconomic differences among them. Diversity of pioneer plants increased with the garden’s area. In sum, this research provides important floristic information of domestic gardens, since, being private property, data about them is scarce and municipal management guidelines are nonexistent.