University of Costa Rica

About: University of Costa Rica is a education organization based out in San José, Costa Rica. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Venom. The organization has 9817 authors who have published 16781 publications receiving 238208 citations. The organization is also known as: UCR & Universidad de Costa Rica.

Energetics and Water Balance in Free-Living Tropical Hummingbirds

Abstract: Grâce a la technique du «doubly-Labeled water» (DLW), le metabolisme d'activite et le flux de l'eau chez Thalurania Colombica et Chalybura Urochrysia sont etudies

A revision of the genus Leptogorgia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 (Coelenterata: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the eastern Pacific

Abstract: The species of the widespread gorgoniid genus Leptogorgia, which occur along the eastern Pacific, are taxonomically revised based on original type material of all species described until now and reference specimens from recent surveys and expeditions along the Pacific coast of Panama, and Costa Rica. As a result, 21 species are recognized as valid and one as dubious. Lectotypes are assigned for eight species in order to establish their taxonomic status. All the species are described and illustrated. The fauna herein reported does not represent overall diversity or geographical range of each species but adds new reports. The present count is 16 species for Panama, 11 for Costa Rica, 7 for Mexico, 6 for El Salvador, 4 for Peru, 4 for Ecuador, 3 for Colombia, 2 for California, 2 for Nicaragua, and 2 for Chile.

Radioimmunoassay of bovine, ovine and porcine luteinizing hormone with a monoclonal antibody and a human tracer.

Abstract: A radioimmunoassay for bovine (bLH), ovine (oLH) and porcine (pLH) luteinizing hormone was developed using a human 125 ILH tracer from a commercial kit and a monoclonal antibody (518B7) specific for LH but with low species specificity. Standard curves demonstrated similar binding kinetics when bLH, oLH and pLH were incubated with tracer and antibody for 2 h at room temperature. A 30-min delay in the addition of the tracer gave sufficient sensitivity when analysing pLH. Separation of antibody-bound LH from free hormone was achieved by using second antibody-coated micro Sepharose beads. The assay was validated and the performance compared with that of an RIA currently in use for determination of bLH and oLH (coefficient of correlation: 0.99 and 0.98). Regardless of the standards used, intra-assay coefficients of variation were <10% for LH concentrations exceeding 1 µg/L. The inter-assay coefficients of variation were <15%. The assay was used for clinical evaluation demonstrating the pre-ovulatory LH surge in two cyclic cows, LH pulsatility in an oophorectomized ewe and LH response to GnRH injection in a boar.

Protected areas and economic welfare: an impact evaluation of national parks on local workers' wages in Costa Rica

Abstract: The number of protected areas around the world has significantly increased. However, the effects of this policy on the wellbeing of local households are still under debate. Using pre-treatment characteristics and household surveys with highly disaggregated geographic reference, we explore how national parks affect the wages of local workers in Costa Rica. We use matching techniques to control for the endogenous location of parks. We find that parks' effects on wages are, on average, positive and significant, but the magnitudes vary. Wages close to parks are higher for local workers living near tourist entrances. However, there is no robust evidence of positive effects for those close to parks but far away from tourist entrances. With our individual-level data, we also show that the positive effects on local households might not be as large as suggested by previous studies that use aggregated level data containing both local and immigrant households.