Bio FSP Long-Term Data

As part of the Bio FSP course, students have been collecting data on a number of long-term projects. These projects were originally student initiated and have continued to capture the interests of Bio FSP participants. Below you will find project descriptions, project methods, and data that can be used to compare across years. If these projects are repeated, the data will be archived for future student use. In addition, starting in 2010, most student-collected data were archived with relevant meta-data.

Monteverde

The Monteverde Cheese Factory (La Lecheria or Productores Monteverde) used the stream Quebrada Guacimal as a dumping site for organic wastes (soda washes and whey from making cheese) from 1983-1993. Despite the termination of waste deposition, prior studies in 1995, 2001, and 2009 show persistent differences in invertebrate community structure. This study uses biomonitoring of aquatic invertebrates to assess long-term stream recovery. 

These files are being moved to a permanent archive and will be available again on June 17, 2013.

  • Background and Methods
  • Data

Cuerici

This study investigates Quebrada Leones running through Cuerici Biological Station, measures the impact of Cuerici on the stream, and assesses which stream inputs may be responsible for potential effects on water quality. Studying the impacts of the Cuerici Biological Station on the local stream is an interesting case study because the owners and managers of Cuerici seek to practice sustainable land use and environmental stewardship. 

These files are being moved to a permanent archive and will be available again on June 17, 2013.

  • Background and Methods
  • Data

Corcovado

The goal of this study is to assess population variability in Basiliscus basiliscus (basilisk lizards, sometimes called Jesus Christ lizards because of their ability to flee danger by running across streams and small rivers). By working with current data, plus the historical records, students will have the opportunity to use biological and mathematical concepts of reproductive value, life table response experiments, transient dynamics, stable age distribution, and equilibrium growth rates. The accumulating database of repeated, age-classified, population censuses provides an example of the power of combining vertical and horizontal demographic sampling. In addition, with more years of data collection, this dataset provides the opportunity to assess the potential for density-dependence and exploration of negative feedbacks on lizard population growth. 

These files are being moved to a permanent archive and will be available again on June 17, 2013.

  • Background and Methods
  • Data

Bird Abundance and Diversity

Ecologists are fundamentally interested in the factors that drive the distribution and abundance of species. Birds play fundamental roles in ecosystems, including as herbivores, predators, seed dispersers and pollinators. Thus, it is important to understand how bird abundance varies over time. This dataset has information on bird abundance and diversity from a number of field sites around Costa Rica. Some data date back to 1987. This dataset can be used to understand how bird diversity varies between field sites as well as across years at the same sites. 

These files are being moved to a permanent archive and will be available again on June 17, 2013.

  • Background and Methods
  • Data
  • Net locations

Data Archive

Starting in 2010, the Bio FSP has made a concerted effort to follow international trends of archiving data and associated meta-data. These data files are now available for future Bio FSP courses and may be useful for comparing projects across years.

These files are being moved to a permanent archive and will be available again on June 17, 2013.

  • 2010 files (15.9 Mbytes)
  • 2011 files (20.3 Mbytes)
  • 2012 files, sans pictures and videos (44 Mbytes)
  • Extra Large Data Archive ()