Ecosystems

Based on combinations of temperature, rainfall and seasonality, biologist L.H. Holdridge set up a system to classify various types of vegetation or zones. This system, set up in 1947 is still used today. Costa Rica has 12 different zones, each one having its distinct natural vegetation and ecosystem. The combination of its climates and tropical situation have allowed certain habitats to evolve such as the mangrove swamps, which are relatively simple, to the tropical rainforest in the lowlands of the Caribbean and Osa Peninsula, which are among some of the worlds most complex ecosystems.

The impressive tropical rainforest in the eastern region of Costa Rica and the Osa Peninsula give way to a dry evergreen forest at lower elevation in the central Pacific, and to a dry deciduous forest farther north. Since South American species of flora find no barrier into Costa Rica , these forests in the lowlands have strong affinities with the jungle there.

The large collection of certain species such as palms, tree ferns, lianas, and epiphytes confirm to the constant heat and humidity of the region and as the elevation rises, above about 1000 meters, the resemblance and species of South American fauna become fewer and the affinities with North America become stronger.