elzota.habitats.htm

Lowland Tropical Habitats

Agricultural
Cropland Bananas are an important agricultural crop in the lowland tropical rain forests near El Zota. Many acres of native vegetation have been converted to banana plantations.

Cattle
grazing Another agricultural use of land in Costa Rica involves conversion of native vegetation to pasture. As roads are extended into the forest, land becomes accessable to farmers and ranchers.

Urban Development of land for housing is another way that forest is converted. With the disturbance of land comes invasive plants. The small pink flowers along the ground are the non-native impatiens, which have invaded large areas in Costa Rica.

Mature primary and secondary forest Nearly 25% of Costa Rica's land is in some form of conservation or protection from development or clearing for agriculture. At El Zota you will find large intact portions of forest. Many of the trees have extended buttressing at the base of the trunk for stability in hydric soils.

Aquatic ecosystems: lagoons and quebradas The station is also blessed with aquatic ecosystems, including several small creeks (quebradas), lagoons and swamps. On a sunny day you might see caimans basking on the edge of a lagoon.

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Agricultural Cropland		Bananas are an important agricultural crop in the lowland tropical rain forests near El Zota. Many acres of native vegetation have been converted to banana plantations.
Cattle grazing		Another agricultural use of land in Costa Rica involves conversion of native vegetation to pasture. As roads are extended into the forest, land becomes accessable to farmers and ranchers.
Urban		Development of land for housing is another way that forest is converted. With the disturbance of land comes invasive plants. The small pink flowers along the ground are the non-native impatiens, which have invaded large areas in Costa Rica.
Mature primary and secondary forest		Nearly 25% of Costa Rica's land is in some form of conservation or protection from development or clearing for agriculture. At El Zota you will find large intact portions of forest. Many of the trees have extended buttressing at the base of the trunk for stability in hydric soils.
Aquatic ecosystems: lagoons and quebradas		The station is also blessed with aquatic ecosystems, including several small creeks (quebradas), lagoons and swamps. On a sunny day you might see caimans basking on the edge of a lagoon.