Publications & Papers

All research below took place, in part or entirely, at Caño Palma Biological Station or was carried out with the assistance of Caño Palma personnel.

Papers marked with an asterisk (*) are those for which we have not yet obtained permission to link a copy of the pdf file from the publisher

Academic Publications by Topic

Birds

• Benyeto, D., Monrós, J. and Piculo, R. (2013). Los yolillales como fuentes o sumideros de ornitofauna: una primera aproximación al problema. Revista de Biología Tropical, 61(1), 131-142.

• Fernandez, D.A. and Zook, J. (1993). Northward migration of peregrine falcons along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Journal of Raptor Research, 27(2), 123-125.

• Ryder, T. B., & Wolfe, J. (2009). The current state of knowledge on molt and plumage sequences in selected tropical families: a review. Ornitologia Neotropical. 20(1), 1-18. *

• Wolfe, J. D., Pyle, P., & Ralph, C. J. (2009). Breeding seasons, molt patterns, and gender and age criteria for selected northeastern Costa Rican resident landbirds. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 121(3), 556-567. *

Fish 

• Lewis, T., Ryall, C., Laduke, T., and Grant, P. (2010). Predation by Atractosteus tropicus on Bufo marinus and its possible affect on population in a lowland tropical wet rainforest. Boletín de la Sociedad Herpetológica Mexicana, 18(2), 51-60.

Insects 

• Khazan, E., Bujan, J., & Scheffers, B. R. (2020). Patterns of ant activity and nesting ecology depend on flooding intensity in a Neotropical floodplain. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 40, 909-917. *

• Kranzfelder, P. and Ferrington, L. (2018). Chironomidae (Diptera) species diversity of estuaries across a land use gradient on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Revista de Biologia Tropical, 66(3), 1118-1134.

Mammals

• Dechmann, D. K., Safi, K., & Vonhof, M. J. (2006). Matching morphology and diet in the disc-winged bat Thyroptera tricolor (Chiroptera). Journal of Mammalogy, 87(5), 1013-1019. *

• Graham, K. E., Bulloch, M. J., & Lewis, T. R. (2013). Foraging behaviour of three primate species in a Costa Rican coastal lowland tropical wet forest. Biodiversity Journal, 4(2), 327-334.

• Fenton, M. B., Rydell, J., Vonhof, M. J., Eklöf, J., & Lancaster, W. C. (2000). Constant-frequency and frequency-modulated components in the echolocation calls of three species of small bats (Emballonuridae, Thyropteridae, and Vespertilionidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 77(12), 1891-1900. *

• Khazan, E. S., Arias, M., & Fernández, L. M. (2016). Large mammal community composition and density under a disturbance gradient in Northeast Costa Rica. Revista de biologia tropical, 64(4), 1553-1564.

• Lim, B. K., Pedro, W. A., & Passos, F. C. (2003). Differentiation and species status of the Neotropical yellow-eared bats Vampyressa pusilla and V. thyone (Phyllostomidae) with a molecular phylogeny and review of the genus. Acta Chiropterologica, 5(1), 15-29. *

• Pape, T., Dechmann, D., & Vonhof, M. J. (2002). A new species of Sarcofahrtiopsis Hall (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) living in roosts of Spix's disk-winged bat Thyroptera tricolor Spix (Chiroptera) in Costa Rica. Journal of Natural History, 36(8), 991-998. *

• Riskin, D. K., & Fenton, M. B. (2001). Sticking ability in Spix's disk-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor (Microchiroptera: Thyropteridae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 79(12), 2261-2267. *

• Smethurst, D., & Nietschmann, B. (1999). The distribution of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the coastal waterways of Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Biological Conservation, 89(3), 267-274. *

• Woodman, N. (2003). New record of the rare emballonurid bat Centronycteris centralis (Thomas, 1912) in Costa Rica, with notes on feeding habits. Caribbean Journal of Science, 39(3), 399-402. *

• Vanlangendonck, N., Nuñez, G., Chaves, A., & Gutiérrez-Espeleta, G. A. (2015). New route of investigation for understanding the impact of human activities on the physiology of non-human primates. J Primatol, 4(123), 2.

• Vonhof, M. J., & Fenton, M. B. (2004). Roost availability and population size of Thyroptera tricolor, a leaf-roosting bat, in north-eastern Costa Rica. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 291-305. *

• Vonhof, M. J., Whitehead, H., & Fenton, M. B. (2004). Analysis of Spix's disc-winged bat association patterns and roosting home ranges reveal a novel social structure among bats. Animal behaviour, 68(3), 507-521. *

Plants

• Lewis, T. et al (2021). Ecology and morphology of the dwarf bromeliad boa Ungaliophis panamensis (Squamata, Boidae, Ungaliophiinae) in Costa Rica and Panama. Neotropical Biology and Conservation, 16(2), 317-331.

• Lewis, T., Grant, P., Quesada, M. G., Ryall, C., LaDuke, T. C., & Road, W. (2010). A botanical survey of Caño Palma Biological Station (Estación Biológica Caño Palma), Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Brenesia, 73(74), 73-84. *

• Rueda, R. et al (2013). Inventario preliminar de plantas asociadas a los pantanos dominados por palmas del Caribe de Costa Rica y Nicaragua. Revista de Biologia Tropical, 61(1), 101-120.

Reptiles & Amphibians

• Bonilla-Murillo, F., Beneyto, D., and Sasa, M. (2013). Anfibios y reptiles de los pantanos dominados por la palma de yolillo Raphia taedigera (Arecaceae) en el noreste de Costa Rica. Revista de Biologia Tropical, 61(1), 143-161.

• Burger, R. M. (1997). Predation by two species of coral snakes in Limón Province, Costa Rica. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society., 32(7), 145. *

• David, G., & Lewis, T. R. (2011). Hatching neonates of Sibon annulatus (Günther, 1872) in a Manicaria swamp forest, Costa Rica. Herpetology Notes, 4, 269.

• Fernández, L. M., Arias, M., & Khazan, E. S. (2015). Analysis of population density and distribution of Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) in Caño Palma, Northeast Costa Rica. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 10(3), 959-968.

• Figueroa, A., Lewis, T., and Mooney, P. (2013). Notes on reproduction in Oxybelis fulgidus from Costa Rica. Herpetology Notes, vol. 6, 29-31.

• Grant, P. B., & Lewis, T. R. (2010). High speed boat traffic: a risk to crocodilian populations. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 5(3), 456-460.

• Grant, P. B., Woudneh, M. B., & Ross, P. S. (2013). Pesticides in blood from spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) downstream of banana plantations in Costa Rica. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 32(11), 2576-2583. *

• Grant, P., T. Lewis, T.C. Laduke, and C. Ryall. (2008). Caiman crocodilus: opportunistic foraging. Herpetological Review 39:345–346. *

• Rice, E. A., Lewis, T. R., Griffin, R. K., & Grant, P. B. (2022). Heads nods and boat bobs: Behavior of Iguana iguana is affected by environment and boat traffic in riparian tropical forest. Biotropica, 54(4), 820-828.*

• Khazan, E. S., Verstraten, T., Moore, M. P., & Dugas, M. B. (2019). Nursery crowding does not influence offspring, but might influence parental, fitness in a phytotelm-breeding frog. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 73(3), 1-8. *

• Lewis, T. (2004). Leptophis depressirostris (Satiny Parrot Snake): Reproduction. Herpetological bulletin, 31-31. *

• Lewis, T. R. (2009). Sibon longifrenis (Drab Snail-eater). Reproduction. Herpetol. Rev, 40, 103. *

• Lewis, T. and Griffin, R. (2019). Cohabitation by Bothrops asper (Garman 1883) and Leptodactylus savagei (Heyer 2005). Herpetology Notes, vol 12: 969-970.

• Lewis, T. et al (2013). Morphology and ecology of Sibon snakes (Squamata: Dipsadidae) from two forests in Central America. Phyllomedusa 12(1), 47–55.

• Lewis, T. R., & Grant, P. B. (2007). On the diet of Rhadinaea decorata (Günther, 1858). Herpetozoa, 20, 91. *

• Lewis, T. R., & Grant, P. B. (2009). Communal behaviour by Basiliscus plumifrons in a Manicaria swamp forest, northeast Costa Rica. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española, (20), 35-37.

• Lewis, T. R., & Grant, P. B. (2010). Predation attempt by Oxybelis aeneus (Wagler)(Mexican Vinesnake) on Basiliscus plumifrons (Cope).19-22.

• Lewis, T. R., Grant, P. B., Henderson, R. W., Figueroa, A., & Dunn, M. D. (2011). Ecological notes on the annulated Treeboa (Corallus annulatus) from a costa Rican lowland Tropical Wet forest. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians: Conservation and Natural History 18(4): 202-207.

• Lewis, T. R., & Lewis, O. J. (2010). Defensive behavior in Dipsas articulata (Cope, 1868). Comportamiento defensivo en Dipsas articulata (Cope, 1868). Herpetozoa., 23(1/2), 79-81.

• Lewis, T. R., Nash, D. J., & Grant, P. B. (2009). Predation by Corallus annulatus (Boidae) on Rhynchonycteris naso (Emballonuridae) in a lowland tropical wet forest, Costa Rica. Cuadernos de herpetología, 23.

• Lewis, T. R., Ryall, C., & Laduke, T. C. (2008). Leptodactylus melanonotus (sabinal frog). Diet. Herpetological Review., 39(1), 79. *

• McKelvy, A., Figueroa, A. and Lewis, T. (2013). First record of ophiophagy in the widely distributed snake Leptodeira septentrionalis (Kennicott, 1859). Herpetology Notes, 6, 177-178.

Sea Turtles

• Damian, M., Harris, A., Aussage, J., & Fraser, G. S. (2022). Seasonal deposition of marine debris on an important marine turtle nesting beach in Costa Rica. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 177, 113525. *

• Pheasey, H., Glen, G., Allison, N. L., Fonseca, L. G., Chacón, D., Restrepo, J., & Valverde, R. A. (2021). Quantifying illegal extraction of sea turtles in Costa Rica. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 2, 705556.

• Pheasey, H., McCargar, M., Glinsky, A., & Humphreys, N. (2018). Effectiveness of concealed nest protection screens against domestic predators for green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 17(2), 263-270. *

• Pheasey, H., Roberts, D. L., Rojas-Cañizales, D., Mejías-Balsalobre, C., Griffiths, R. A., & Williams-Guillen, K. (2020). Using GPS-enabled decoy turtle eggs to track illegal trade. Current Biology, 30(19), R1066-R1068.

• Restrepo, J., Rojas-Cañizales, D., & Valverde, R. A. (2022). Historical Records of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Journal of Herpetology, 56(3), 336-340. *

• Velez-Espino, A., Pheasey, H., Araújo, A., & Fernández, L. M. (2018). Laying on the edge: demography of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting on Playa Norte, Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Marine Biology, 165(3), 1-12. *

Climate Change

• Wolfe, J. D., & Ralph, C. J. (2009). Correlations between El Niño—Southern Oscillation and Changes in Nearctic—Neotropic Migrant Condition in Central America. The Auk, 126(4), 809-814. *

Anthropology

• Burton, F.D. (1994). In the footsteps of Heraclitus. Strength in Diversity: A Reader in Physical Anthropology. 77-102.

Past Independent Research Projects 

Graduate Theses

• Abdelmalik, S. Where Jungle Meets Sand (2009), film flier as part of Masters portfolio, Faculty Environmental Studies, York University.

• Card, K. (2007). A comparison of marine turtle conservation on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, Costa Rica. Doctoral dissertation. McMaster University. *

• Cole, M. (1994). The founding of Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation. Major paper for Masters Degree. York University, Canada. *

• Flores, M.D. (2019). Wildlife and macro-debris pollution: examples from marine and freshwater environments. Master's thesis. York University. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. *

• Pheasey, H. (2020). Methods of and motives for laundering a wildlife commodity beyond captive farming-based systems: The harvest of olive ridley sea turtle eggs. PhD Dissertation. University of Kent, England. *

• Ramírez Molina, H. A. (2018). Análisis de variabilidad y diferenciación genética poblacional de la lapa verde (ara ambiguus) en Costa Rica. Master’s thesis. University of Costa Rica. Costa Rica. *

• Ström, C. (2013). Rapid biodiversity assessment of a Neotropical rainforest using soundscape recordings. Masters Thesis. Umea Universitet. Suecia. *

• Wickham. J. (2001). Characterization of a Tropical Hawkmoth (Family Sphingidae) Community in an Atlantic Lowland Rainforest. Masters Thesis. Fredonia State University of New York.

• Wolfe, J.D., (2009) Habitat use of Neartic-Neotropic migrant birds in northeastern Costa Rica. Masters thesis. The Humboldt State University, California, USASupervisor, MD Johnson. Due to publisher copyright issues, we cannot provide a copy of this research. *

• van Oudenhoven, F. J. (2007). Of Turtles and Tactics: Conservation and Sustainable Community Development in San Francisco, Costa Rica. Major Paper for Masters Degree.York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. *

• Very, A. (2024). Effect of erosion on the nest depths of sea turtles and its impact on the egg chamber temperature. Ghent University.

• Vonhof, M. J. (2003). Habitat availability, population size, and the composition, stability, and genetic structure of social groups of Spix's disk-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor. PhD Dissertation. York University, Canada. *

Undergraduate Projects

• Al-Samaraie, H. (2013). Is there a correlation between tent occupancy and abundance of tent-roosting bats and environmental factors in the area of Caño Palma Biological Station? Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.

• Baker, R., Solari, S. & Hoffman, F. (2002). A new Central American species from the Carollia brevicauda complex. Texas Tech University, USA. *

• Bakker, C. (2015). Effect of temporal flooding on the hatching success of leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea). HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands. *

• Belderok, R. (2015). The strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio) density in relation to environmental variables. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Boeren, D. (2015). Activity of tent-making bats in the Barra Del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Bosch, A. J. van den (2014). Foraging behaviour and characteristics of the Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) in the lowland swamp forest in the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands. Available at: https://doczz.net/doc/7395335/foraging-behaviour-and-characteristics-of-the-mantled

• Bouwmeester, G. (2015). Shorebirds from "Playa Norte": Is there a difference in shorebird abundance between Lagoon Quatro and Lagoon Tortuguero based on environmental differences and human impact? Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Buijs, J. (2012). Foraging and nesting habits of the leafcutter ant. HAS University of Applied Sciences. Netherlands.

• Cappello, C. and Dekker, G. (2015). Microhabitat use of the strawberry dart-poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) in relation to individual body condition. Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands

• Garnier, M. (2015). Influence of the vertical beach profile on Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting behaviour. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Groen, M. (2012). A comparative study of the herpetofauna in two different forest types at Caño Palma Biological Station. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Guevara, O.J., Mungia Briceño, B.A. and Reyes, A.A. (2009). Caracterización floristica de los pantanos dominados por palmas, en el sureste de Nicaragua y Noreste-Noroeste de Costa Rica energy un periodo comprendido de Marzo 2008. Bachelor's thesis. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua.

• Helsloot, F. (2017). Strawberry poison-dart frog breeding habitat: A study on Oophaga pumilio and their tadpole rearing sites. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Heuvelmans, I. (2016). Activity of tent-making bats and use of artificial tents in Barra Del Colorado Wildlife Refuge. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Hurkens, L. (2015). Plant Phenology in a Lowland Atlantic Tropical Wet Rainforest. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Koenraads, K. A. (2014). Selection of migratory routes by neotropical migrants along a coastal area in Costa Rica. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands. Available at: https://doczz.net/doc/8920600/selection-of-migratory-routes-by-neotropical-migrants-along

• Lambrikx, N. (2014). The effect of yolkless eggs on hatching and emerging success of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Tortuguero area, Costa Rica. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Leemans, I. (2012). Beach profile correlated to nest-site selection of Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Playa Norte, Tortuguero. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Mulcahy, T. (1993). Social Organization in Artibeus watsoni (Chiroptera Phyllostomidae). University of Toronto.

• O'Toole, B. (1993). Leaf selection on Manicaria saccifera (Palmae) by the tent-making bat Artibeus watsoni (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Costa Rica. University of Toronto.

• O'Toole, E. (1993). Tent, Tent who made the Tent: An analysis of observations on tent making by Artibeus watsoni (Phyllostomidae) in Costa Rica. University of Toronto.

• Pottie, S. (2012). Investigating the relationship between the distance from the high-tide line and the number of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests found in Tortuguero. Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.

• Prince, B. (2014). Relationship between nest position and predation rates in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Roosmalen, C. van (2018). The Great Green Macaw Project. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Ros, E. (2013). Size, clutch size and nesting distribution in leatherbacks on Playa Norte, Costa Rica. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Royea-Spratt, D. & Griffin, J. (2013). A Plant Species Inventory of a One-hectare Forested Plot Using ACER Sampling Methodologies at the Caño Palma Biological Station in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Vanier College, Montreal, Canada.

• Snijders, J. (2016). The effect of perch height and colour intensity on escape behaviour in Oophaga pumilio. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• van der Haar, R. (2020). Coastal erosion on the Caribbean Coast: Examining an ever-changing beach in Costa Rica. Bachelor's thesis. Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• van Iersel, R. (2016). ​​​An inventory of anolis lizards in Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, 2016. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• van Oudenhoven, F. Van (2006). Turtle Conservation Project for the Tortuguero North Beach - Feasibility Study. York University, Toronto.

• Verstraten, T. (2015). Oophaga pumilio. HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Vervoorn, K. (2016). Is there a correlation between the density of tent-capable leaves and tent density? HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Wattel, B. (2016). Abundance of plastic debris on the beach and above sea turtle nests (Playa Norte). HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Willems, J. (2015). Flight behaviour of the black river turtle (Rhinoclemmys funerea). HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

• Wockner, O, (2013). Plant phenology in an Atlantic lowland tropical wet rainforest -The beginnings of a phenology study at Caño Palma Biological Station.