Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica

Urban wetlands, although important ecosystems for biodiversity, are highly vulnerable due to human activities. This work aims to study the water quality and the biodiversity present in two small, urban wetlands in Costa Rica, comparing the information collected with that reported for similar wetland...

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Main Authors: Viviana Arguedas, Marco Barquero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-08-01
Series:Biodiversity Data Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/154073/download/pdf/
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author Viviana Arguedas
Marco Barquero
author_facet Viviana Arguedas
Marco Barquero
author_sort Viviana Arguedas
collection DOAJ
description Urban wetlands, although important ecosystems for biodiversity, are highly vulnerable due to human activities. This work aims to study the water quality and the biodiversity present in two small, urban wetlands in Costa Rica, comparing the information collected with that reported for similar wetlands across the Neotropics. We performed a thorough literature review and field visits to elaborate a species list of terrestrial vertebrates and plants. We also analysed water samples from both wetlands to determine the water quality of the study sites. We also assembled a species list extracted from literature referring to urban wetlands. We identified a total of 453 species from our study sites (160 plants and 293 animals), with a low percentage (41%) of shared species between both sites. Fourteen species are considered threatened and two species are endemic to Costa Rica. We found low similarity amongst urban wetlands across the Neotropics. The water from both wetlands showed signs of contamination, such that they are considered for conservation of nature. We suggest that the conservation of urban wetlands should be part of the policies of local governments and more efforts for environmental education should be carried out to protect this type of ecosystem.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1314-2828
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series Biodiversity Data Journal
spelling doaj-art-ab452292363543788db4eff42d9b7e4f2025-08-20T03:37:05ZengPensoft PublishersBiodiversity Data Journal1314-28282025-08-011311710.3897/BDJ.13.e154073154073Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa RicaViviana Arguedas0Marco Barquero1Carrera de Turismo Ecológico, Recinto de Grecia, Sede de Occidente, Universidad de Costa RicaSede del Caribe, Universidad de Costa RicaUrban wetlands, although important ecosystems for biodiversity, are highly vulnerable due to human activities. This work aims to study the water quality and the biodiversity present in two small, urban wetlands in Costa Rica, comparing the information collected with that reported for similar wetlands across the Neotropics. We performed a thorough literature review and field visits to elaborate a species list of terrestrial vertebrates and plants. We also analysed water samples from both wetlands to determine the water quality of the study sites. We also assembled a species list extracted from literature referring to urban wetlands. We identified a total of 453 species from our study sites (160 plants and 293 animals), with a low percentage (41%) of shared species between both sites. Fourteen species are considered threatened and two species are endemic to Costa Rica. We found low similarity amongst urban wetlands across the Neotropics. The water from both wetlands showed signs of contamination, such that they are considered for conservation of nature. We suggest that the conservation of urban wetlands should be part of the policies of local governments and more efforts for environmental education should be carried out to protect this type of ecosystem.https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/154073/download/pdf/biodiversityflorafaunaParaísowater quality
spellingShingle Viviana Arguedas
Marco Barquero
Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica
Biodiversity Data Journal
biodiversity
flora
fauna
Paraíso
water quality
title Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica
title_full Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica
title_fullStr Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica
title_short Comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small, urban wetlands from Costa Rica
title_sort comprehensive ecosystem analysis of two small urban wetlands from costa rica
topic biodiversity
flora
fauna
Paraíso
water quality
url https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/154073/download/pdf/
work_keys_str_mv AT vivianaarguedas comprehensiveecosystemanalysisoftwosmallurbanwetlandsfromcostarica
AT marcobarquero comprehensiveecosystemanalysisoftwosmallurbanwetlandsfromcostarica