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Revista de Biología Tropical, ISSN: 2215-2075, Vol. 72: e53238, enero-diciembre 2024 (Publicado Feb. 29, 2024)
can have detrimental effects on the forest and
organisms that depend on litterfall and dendrit-
ic food webs (Beck, 2005; Reider et al., 2013).
On the other hand, peccary popula-
tions around La Selva Biological Station have
declined or become locally extinct (Kuprewicz,
2013). For instance, there are no reports of
peccary presence in the Nogal Private Wildlife
Refuge (Nogal) since 2004 by locals or based
on monitoring activities conducted by person-
nel of the reserve. Since 2004, wildlife tracking
has been conducted through field observation
and camera traps at the site, without sight-
ing any peccaries (pers. comm). In regard to
La Selva, studies on the historical and cur-
rent abundance of peccaries suggest population
growth (Kuprewicz, 2013; Michel et al., 2015;
Romero et al., 2013). Thus, comprehending the
role of this species in natural forest recovery is
essential, knowing that there is a possibility of
a significant reduction in its population in neo-
tropical areas (Beck, 2005; Gongora et al., 2011;
Ontiveros et al., 2021; Reider et al., 2013). This
reduction is attributable to rapid deforestation
rates and excessive hunting, which may impact
in the trophic cascade and the natural recovery
(Reider et al., 2013; Stoner et al., 2007).
Overall, recent studies have shown a ten-
dency of increasing peccary populations at La
Selva (Romero et al., 2013), leading to the per-
ception that peccaries are the source of nega-
tive impact on forest natural recovery (Michel
& Sherry, 2012). Based on this, a debate about
the management of this species at La Selva
has emerged (Romero et al., 2013). Investiga-
tions have focused on direct trophic relations
with one or more species in trophic cascades
(Michel et al., 2014), effects on insectivorous
birds and bats (Kalka et al., 2008; Van Bael &
Brawn, 2005), interaction and perturbation
between palms and peccaries (Avalos et al.,
2016; Queenborough et al., 2012), use of natu-
ral and anthropized areas (Osorto-Nuñez &
Alvarado, 2023) peccaries as important agents
that impact litterfall structure, and the abun-
dance of aquatic (anurans), and the terrestrial
reptiles (Beck et al., 2010; Reider et al., 2013).
However, few investigations have centered on
the direct relation of peccaries with recovery
dynamics and their influence in the tropical
forest at La Selva (Clark & Clark, 1989). Most
studies with mammals have been conducted
in other natural locations. (DeMattia et al.,
2004; Dirzo & Miranda, 1991; Ickes et al.,
2001; Mendoza & Dirzo, 2007; Paine & Beck,
2007; Roldán & Simonetti, 2001; Terborgh &
Wright, 1994).
Nevertheless, the presence of peccaries and
their relationship with the ecosystem should
not be considered negative a priori because its
natural distribution plays a crucial role within
the trophic chain or other ecological processes.
Therefore, efforts must be channeled to pre-
serve the integrity of mammal communities
and research the causes of sapling mortality to
better understand the processes that maintain
the diversity of forest species. In this way, we
can ensure the preservation of fauna and flora
and the ecological processes that favor the
recovery and maintenance at La Selva. Hence,
this study aims to measure the impact of pec-
caries (Dycotiles tajacu) on the understory veg-
etation of the tropical rainforest at the Nogal-La
Selva Biological Corridor, Costa Rica, in a site
without peccaries and another location with
their presence.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Areas: The study was conducted
within the biological corridor at Nogal-La
Selva, Heredia, Northwest Costa Rica. The
corridor was developed within the Natura-
leza y Communidad Project located in Nogal
(Masis-Aguilar, 2019; Ubieta et al., 2009).
It was created through collaborative efforts
involving Chiquita Brands, the local commu-
nity, the Sarapiquí local government, Rainfor-
est Alliance, German Technical Cooperation
Agency (GTZ), and the Swiss supermarket
chain Migros (Ubieta et al., 2009). Ecological
restoration actions took place from 2004 to the
present, aiming to connect the Nogal Private
Wildlife Refuge (Nogal) with La Selva Biologi-
cal Station (Masis-Aguilar, 2019). La Selva com-
prises an area of 1 600 hectares. It is classified