The Physical Geography, Climate & Biogeography of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is included in the list of global 'megadiversity' hotspots - small areas of the world that contain a significant proportion of the world's species. Everyone knows that Costa Rica has an exceptional number of plant and animals species - but why? It is not great age - most of Costa Rica is geologically young and active! We will discuss the major factors: (1) Geological complexity - why Costa Rica is so mountainous, (2) Climate - how Costa Rica's location in the tropics, and its mountainous backbone, cause the patterns of rainfall and wind, and (3) Origins of plants an animals - what came from North America, from South America, and what is endemic to the region. We will provide an overview of the different biogeographic regions of Costa Rica, so you are prepared (a little) for the amazing diversity of sites that we will visit.

References

Janzen DH (1983) Costa Rican Natural History.

Kricher J (1997) A Neotropical Companion (second edition).

Richards PW (1996) The Tropical Rainforest (second edition).

Terborgh J (1992) Diversity and the Tropical Rainforest.

Valerio CE (1991) La Diversidad Biologica de Costa Rica.