Forest area figures. at a given point in time and for a given region of interest, differ considerably, affecting the calculation of deforestation rates and thus confuse the political and scientific discussion on the state and change of the resource forest. This article discusses the variation of published forest cover figures, using Costa Rica as an example. A list of published figures on the f...

BACKGROUND Despite different levels of economic development, Costa Rica and the USA have similar mortalities among adults. However, in the USA there are substantial differences in mortality by educational attainment, and in Costa Rica there are only minor differences. This contrast motivates an examination of behavioural and biological correlates underlying this difference. METHODS The author...

The taxonomic status of the four New World species of Salina MacGillivray with bidentate mucro is uncertain. The first two species to be described, S. bidentata (Handschin) and S. wolcotti Folsom, are so poorly described by modern standards that it is unclear if they represent distinct species or the same, colour-pattern variable forms. This contribution presents additions to the description of...

Salt is a major determinant of population blood pressure levels. Salt intake in Costa Rica is above levels required for good health. With an increasing number of Costa Ricans visiting fast food restaurants, it is likely that fast-food is contributing to daily salt intake. Salt content data from seven popular fast food chains in Costa Rica were collected in January 2013. Products were classified...

Human poisoning caused by ingestion of unripe fruit of Passiflora ade/lOpoda is he re reported, apparently for the first time. HCN is pl'Ocluced in the pericarp and aril of tbe unripe fruit, as well as in tbe primary stem, petiole, br;¡cts and stipules but not in tendrils. HCN yield has been reported previously in Passifloraceae only from vegetative parts. The pericarp and arils of complctely r...

The extent of the H1N1 pandemic has been estimated from case counts and deaths but the proportion of exposed populations with inapparent infections has not been described in detail. We analysed haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titres of pre-vaccination sera from pandemic vaccine trials conducted in six countries on four continents to provide an indication of A/CA/07/2009(H1N1)-like in...

Costa Rica, whose life expectancy was 74 years by 1985, has reached a health level comparable to a developed country. The health achievements of this country are product of political and socioeconomic circumstances as well as of right public health policies. Until about 1970 the features of Costa Rica mortality, although somewhat better than the Latin American average, evolved in a similar way ...

Researchers from a small European country have backed a project set up ten years ago in Costa Rica that has now become a major influence in conservation and research.

Costa Rica is a middle-income country with a strong governmental emphasis on human development. For more than half a century, its health policies have applied the principles of equity and solidarity to strengthen access to care through public services and universal social health insurance. Costa Rica's population measures of health service coverage, health service use, and health status are exc...

We report the first record of Lesson's Seedeater Sporophila bouvronides, a South American species, in Costa Rica. It was seen at Tortuguero, lowlands north-east Rica June 2022. The is perhaps explained by passage tropical storm that moved north-west from off northern America.