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Natural History and habitat composition in the Highlands of Talamanca

Over 60 million years ago when Costa Rica didn't even exist, the North American continent would extend down to where currently we find Nicaragua which was then a tropical peninsula. 50 million years ago an intense process of volcanism and tectonic lifts started forming islands between North America and South America. From 5 to 3 million years ago a complete isthmus had been formed, making possible the colonization of species from continental land to these islands. One of the biggest islands was the current Talamanca Mountain Range, which heads South-east into Western Panama. The highest peak of Costa Rica, Mount Chirripó, rises to 3,820 meters / 12,532 feet and is found in this mountain range overlooking El General Valley. As the best suitable place for colonizing bird life it ended up being a paradise for the generation of new species. Also, as the mountain range/island gained elevation, new species evolved within the same because the territory was divided between Caribbean and Pacific slopes with well defined slopes.


The most dominant habitat found in Talamanca is the Tropical Cloud Forest, with about 74% of the trees being oaks, this forest is a massive garden and trees themselves serve as nurseries, the branches and trunks of most trees are full with bromeliads, orchids, mosses, ferns, ericaceaes (very liked by hummingbirds) and gesneraceaes (gold fish plant)... you will be delighted! All this epiphytic and parasitic growth is stimulated by the constant clouds through daylight hours which create a constant mist that triggers the diverse forest structures and functions. The understory in the Cloud Forest grows from 1 to 6 meters tall and it is dominated in most cases by bamboo species of the genus Chusquea such longifolia, tomentosa,and talamancensis. Dwarf palms, tree ferns, and cyclanths are also dominant. Shrubs are also found here with members from the Asteraceae, Ericaceae, Melastomataceae, Onagraceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, and Solanaceae. Clusiaceae species occur as shrubs or small trees.

The upper canopy is mostly dominated by Oak trees of the genus Quercus, White Oaks and Black Oaks are massive. Other tree include the Lauraceae family which are known as wild avocados, these are the main source of food for Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno), as well as very liked by Emerald Toucanets (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) , Black Guans (Chamaepetes unicolor), Collared Trogons (Trogon collaris) and others.


The average annual temperature in these oak forests range from 8 Celsius at its highest elevations (3,300 m / 10,827 feet) to about 17 Celsius at it is lower elevations (2,000 m / 6,562 feet), and of course even higher temperature as habitats lose altitude. The most drastic temperature variations occur in the driest months from December to April. Annual rainfall ranges from 2,000 to 3,500 millimeters. Just above the Cloud Forest near Savegre Lodge the Talamanca Mountain Range exposes another fantastic type of habitat; The Sub-Alpine Tropical Rain Páramo, with elevations reaching 3,491 m ( 11,453 feet ) just east from the lodge this great habitat is mostly dominated by a short stiffed bamboo of the genus Chusquea and other numerous grasses, as well as representatives of the families Ericaceae, Asteraceae (asters), Apiaceae, Rosaceae, Campanulaceae (bell flowers), Melastomataceae, Bromeliaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Pteridaceae (ferns), and colorful beautiful looking mosses, lichens, and club mosses.


Since the Páramo is a tropical ecosystem of the high mountains it is characterized by certain physical, chemical, and climatic aspects that influence the biology of all the organisms that live in it. The plant life of these mountains adapt to high elevation air with less density of oxygen and carbon dioxide, low temperatures and frost , high ultraviolet radiation, quick changes of temperature, and the dehydrating effects of the wind, among some other factors. Generally speaking, the páramos present a humid and cold climate, with sudden changes in weather and great daily temperature fluctuations which can go from temperatures below 0 Celsius (freezing) to over 25 Celsius producing many times a daily cycle of freezing and unfreezing. Some animal species found in the Páramo are the Green Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus variabilis), Highland Alligator Lizard (Mesaspis monticola), Coyote (Canis latrans), Puma (Puma concolor), Dice's Rabbit (Silvilagus dicei), Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii), Red-brocket Deer (Mazama Americana), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Sooty Robin (Turdus nigrescens), Flame-throated Warbler (Parula gutturalis), Volcano Junco (Junco vulcanii), Black-capped Flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps), Timberline Wren (Thryorchilus brownii), Peg-billed Finch (Acanthidops bairdii), Volcano Hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula), Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis), Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus gracilirostris), just to mention a few.