DocumentationofuseofriversintheinterioroftheLaAmistadWorld HeritageSite(PILA)bydiadromousfishandshrimps;acollaborative effortbyindigenousparataxonomistsandtheAsociacionANAI StreamBiomonitoringProgram.

ReporttoUNESCOandthe governmentsofCostaRicaandPanama
ANAI,Inc:1120MeadowsRd. Franklin,NC28734,UnitedStates billmclarney@gmail.com (828)5248369
Asoc.ANAI:Apdo.1702070 SabanilladeMontesdeOca,CostaRica mmafla@anaicr.org (506)27568120

July,2011

AsociacionANAI:StreamBiomonitoringProgram
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DocumentationofuseofriversintheinterioroftheLaAmistadWorld HeritageSite(PILA)bydiadromousfishandshrimps;acollaborative effortbyindigenousparataxonomistsandtheAsociacionANAI StreamBiomonitoringProgram.ReporttoUNESCOandthe governmentsofCostaRicaandPanama

Dr.WILLIAMO.McLARNEY
ProgramDirector

LIC.MARIBELMAFLAHERRERA
ProgramCodirector

LIC.ANAMARIAARIASMORENO
ResearchCoordinator Parataxonomist Parataxonomist

MARCIOBONILLA HUGOSANCHEZ

July,2011

ANAI,Inc:1120MeadowsRd. Franklin,NC28734,UnitedStates billmclarney@gmail.com (828)5248369 Asoc.ANAI:Apdo.1702070 SabanilladeMontesdeOca,CostaRica mmafla@anaicr.org (506)27568120 Web:www.anaicr.org

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

EXECUTIVESUMMARY RESUMENEJECUTIVO INTRODUCTION PERSONNEL PLANNING FIELDSTUDYMETHODS EXPEDITIONNARRATIVESANDSURVEYRESULTS RioTeribe QuebradaBocachica RiosYorkinandTscui RioKatsi ADDITIONALSURVEYWORK CONCLUSIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

4 4 6 8 9 10 13 13 17 17 21 22 24 26

ViewoftheupperRioTeribeWatershed 3

DocumentationofuseofriversintheinterioroftheLaAmistadWorldHeritage Site(PILA)bydiadromousfishandshrimps;acollaborativeeffortbyindigenous parataxonomistsandtheAsociacionANAIStreamBiomonitoringProgram. ReporttoUNESCOandthegovernmentsofCostaRicaandPanama

EXECUTIVESUMMARY
DuringAprilandMay,2011theANAIStreamBiomonitoringProgramdeployedtwoPanamanian Nasoparataxonomists,MarcioBonillaandHugoSanchez,tocarryout4separateexpeditionsinorderto inventory diadromous fish and shrimp in the Panamanian half of the Atlantic slope of the La Amistad International Peace Park and World Heritage Site (PILA). By means of visual survey in streams of the Teribe, Bocachica, Yorkin/Tscui and Katsi watersheds, they verified the presence of 6 species of diadromousfishandoneshrimpatdistancesofupto15km.upstreamofthePILAboundaryandupto 750 m. elevation. The data strongly suggest the presence of at least some diadromous species well above the maximum penetration of our survey, which for the most part corresponds to the highest pointaccessibletoinvestigatorsnotequippedwithhelicopters. Of the 7 diadromous species identified, 3 fish (Joturus pichardi, Agonostomus monticola, and Sicydium spp.) , plus the Palaemonid shrimp Macrobrachium heterochirus, may fairly be described as ubiquitous below natural vertical barriers at altitudes of up to at least 720 m. Sicydium and Macrobrachium,whichhavetheabilitytoclimbmoistverticalsurfaces,arealsofoundabovebarriers;in theRioKatsiwatershedwewereabletoverifytheirpresenceveryclosetotheupperlimitofperennial flow,atthehighestelevationssurveyed. SurveyworkwascomplementedbyinformalmeetingsinthegatewaycommunitiestothePILA watershedsandbyinvolvinglocalresidentsasfieldassistantsandapprenticeparataxonomists.Bythis meansweseektoincreaseawarenessofthreatstotheintegrityofPILAposedbyhydrodamproposals, andalsotostrengthensupportforconservationofPILAintheneighboringindigenouscommunities. Theworkreportedherecomprisesthefirstichthyologicalinventoryundertakenanywhereinthe 10,000 sq. km. World Heritage Site. It complements previous work carried out by ANAI at peripheral sites in the watersheds draining into Costa Rica from PILA (with documentation of several additional diadromousspecies),andstronglysuggeststhatdiadromousfishandshrimpsarethedominantanimals in most streams of the Atlantic slope watersheds of PILA in both countries up to undetermined altitudinallimits. We recommend that, so long as plans remain for construction of hydroelectric dams on the principalriversdrainingPILA,theentireparkshouldbelistedasaWorldHeritageSiteinDanger.

RESUMENEJECUTIVO
Durante abril y mayo de 2011 el Programa de Biomonitoreo de Ros de la Asociacin ANAI contrat a los parataxnomos Panameos Naso, Marcio Bonilla y Hugo Snchez, para inventariar, en cuatroexpediciones,lospecesycamaronesdidromosdelaporcinPanameadelavertienteAtlntica del Parque Internacional de la Paz y Sitio de Patrimonio Mundial La Amistad (PILA). Por medi de revisiones visuales en ros y quebradas de las cuencas Teribe, Bocachica, Yorkin/Tscui y Katsi, confirmaron la presencia de seis especies de peces y un camarn a distancias de hasta 15 km aguas arribadellmitedelPILA,yalturasde750msnm.Estosdatossugierenfuertementelapresenciadepor 4

lomenosalgunasespeciesdidromasbastantearribadelpuntodepenetracinmximaenelpresente estudio,elcualgeneralmentecorrespondialsitioaccesiblemsaltosinusodeunhelicptero. Delassieteespeciesdidromasidentificadas,3peces(Joturuspichardi,Agonostomusmontcola ySicydiumsp.),mselcamarnPalaemonidoMacrobrachiumheterochirus,puedenserdescritascomo ubicuas por debajo de barreras verticales naturales, en alturas de hasta por lo menos 720 msnm. SicydiumyMacrobrachium,alsercapacesdeascenderporsuperficiesverticaleshmedas,tambinse encuentranarribadelasbarreras;enlacuencadelRoKatsiseconfirmosupresenciamuycercaallmite delflujoperenne,enlasmayoreselevacionesvisitadas. El trabajo de inventario fue complementado por medio de reuniones informales en las comunidades cercanas al parque en las cuencas visitadas y a travs del involucramiento de personas localescomoayudantesdecampoyparataxnomosaprendices.Deestamaneraseesperaincrementar la conciencia acerca de las amenazas a la integridad del PILA que representan las propuestas para la construccinderepresashidroelctricas,alavezquesefortaleceelapoyoparalaconservacindelPILA enlascomunidadesindgenasaledaas. Eltrabajoaqureportadocomprendeelprimerinventarioictiolgicohechoencualquierparte deesteSitiodePatrimonioMundialde10,000km2.Escomplementarioaltrabajopreviorealizadopor ANAIensitiosperifricosdelosrosquedrenanelPILAhaciaCostaRica(condocumentacindevarias especies didromas adicionales) y sugiere fuertemente que los peces y camarones didromos son los animales dominantes en la mayora de ros y quebradas de la vertiente Atlntica del PILA en ambos pases,hastalmitesaltitudinalesnodeterminados. Recomendamosquemientraspermanezcanvigenteslosplanesparalaconstruccinderepresas hidroelctricasenlosprincipalesrosquedrenanelPILA,elparqueenterodebeserlistadocomoSitio dePatrimonioMundialenPeligro.

TheRioTeribeabovethemouthofRioPjer 5

INTRODUCTION
ANAIs 2010 report to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (The Threat to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function of ProposedHydroelectricDamsintheLaAmistad World Heritage Site, Panama and Costa Rica) successfullymadethecasethatconstructionof hydroelectricdamsontheriversflowingoutof theLaAmistadInternationalPeacePark,World HeritageSiteandBiosphereReserve(PILA,from itsSpanishacronym)wouldseverelyimpactthe function of the rivers of the area as altitudinal biological corridors, specifically by blocking the migratorymovementsofasuiteofdiadromous fishandshrimpspecieswhicharethedominant large aquatic animals at higher altitudes in the LaAmistadarea. However, the significance of these findings for PILA itself has been questioned, based on the justifiable criticism that our studies of the aquatic fauna of PILA were all carriedoutwithinafewhundredmetersofthe park boundary, with three exceptions outside the actual park boundary. This is due to logisticalrestraints:AtnopointinCostaRicais the PILA boundary located less than 2 days travelbyfootfromthenearestpointaccessible by motor vehicle or boat. And, while the park boundaryinPanamaiswithinafewhourswalk of motorized access, we have until this year been unable to obtain scientific collection permits for work in Panama. There exists no otherinventorydataforaquaticanimalsinPILA for the same reason that our surveys were concentratednear theboundaryaccesstothe interior of PILA is normally extremely time consumingandthereforecostly. Partly in response to these doubts, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee directed the governments of Panama and Costa Rica to carry out a Transboundary Strategic Environmental Assessment (TSEA) of PILA if theywishtoavoidPILAbeingofficiallylistedas aWorldHeritageSiteinDanger.Responseby the governments was slow in coming; when they ultimately published Terms of Reference forthestudytwopointswereclear: 1. They were structured such that ANAI couldnothopetosuccessfullycompete forfundstodothestudy. 2. The specified time interval (report due in April, 2011) made it difficult for anyone using conventional methods to complete meaningful surveys within PILA, even if funding is adequate. Ultimately, the work was not even begun until after the presumptive deadline. At this point, the ANAI Stream BiomonitoringProgramfounditselfinaunique position to respond to the challenge of shedding light on the presence and relative abundance of diadromous animals within PILA. We are the only organization capable of deploying trained indigenous parataxonomists from the La Amistad area to swiftly, accurately and at low cost identify and roughly quantify diadromous (and nondiadromous) fish and shrimp in selected rivers well within PILA. We were fortunate to find support for this work in PILA/Panama (though not in Costa Rica) from theInternationalCommunityFoundation. The present report, summarizing the results of 4 separate expeditions into the interior of PILA/Panama will presumably serve asacomplementtothebinationalTSEAforuse by UNESCO, the governments of Panama and Costa Rica, and all others concerned for the future of the La Amistad World Heritage site and surrounding protected areas and communities. We believe it will also prove valuable as a contribution to the scant biologicalknowledgeofPILA,andincontinuing a process, fomented by ANAI, of engaging the indigenous communities which border PILA in theprotectionoftheWorldHeritageSite. Onadifferentscale,wetrustthatitwill also serve as a reminder to UNESCO and international conservation organizations of the 6

importance of rivers as altitudinal biological corridors. We hope this will contribute to greater attention being paid to diadromy and other riverine corridor functions in making decisions about dam construction and other activities which can disrupt the continuity of fluvialsystems. In addition to reporting on the results of investigations undertaken by parataxonomists in 2011, we have organized and appended selected information from previousandcurrentstudiesinthewatersheds

draining the Atlantic slope of PILA in both countries to build the case for the presence of diadromousfishandshrimpinalargeportionof the World Heritage Site and, as a logical consequence, their status as part of the Outstanding Universal Value of the protected area. Our report will also describe efforts to build upon and strengthen support for the conservation of PILA and preservation of diadromous animals locally, particularly among theindigenousNgobe,Naso,BribriandCabecar populationsborderingPILA.

Three of the widespread diadromous species of PILA: A) Camaron rayado or banded shrimp (Macrobrachiumheterochirus).B)Lisa,sartenormountainmullet(Agonostomusmonticola).c) Bobo,bocachicaorhogmullet(Joturuspichardi)

PERSONNEL
To carry out the field work we contracted two Panamanian parataxonomists. Marcio Bonilla S. and Hugo Sanchez V. are members of the Naso tribe who, following participation in a biomonitoring training workshophostedbyANAIinTalamancain2004, were principals in fish surveys of their native Teribe watershed in 2006 and 2007 and in the upper Uren watershed in Costa Rica during 2009 and 2010. Both are skilled in underwater inventory of fish and shrimp species of the La Amistad drainages and have also functioned as educators, including in training for other parataxonomists. It was decided that permanent ANAI staffwouldnotparticipateinthefieldworkfor several reasons: Srs. Bonilla and Sanchez are much more efficient in doing instream surveys in large, turbulent and sometimes dangerous rivers, and can also set a faster pace in the rugged crosscountry travel necessary to reach sites within PILA. They are also necessarily better at gaining confidence in remote indigenouscommunities,wherenonindigenous visitorsarenormallyatleastsuspectedofbeing agents for dam builders, mining interests and the like; this was particularly important in the Teribe and Bocachica watersheds where ANAI doesnothavealonghistoryofpresence. Ineachofthe4watershedswehired2 other local individuals to serve as guides, bearers and field assistants. While all actual counts in the field were carried out by the parataxonomist team, these individuals were encouragedtoparticipate,asafirststeptoward possible parataxonomist training (a process initiated in the Yorkin/Tscui watershed prior to the inception of the present project). Perhaps equallyimportantwastheirroleininterpreting the activity in their own communities and helping relate the conservation of PILA, about whichmanyindigenouspeoplehaveambivalent feelings, to issues of universal concern in their communities. In the Naso communities of the Teribe watershed,whereSrs.BonillaandSanchezlive, identifyingtheseindividualswasnoproblem.In the Yorkin/Tscui and Katsi watersheds, for which access to PILA is through Bribri communities in Costa Rica, we were able to drawonlongtimecontactsestablishedthrough the Stream Biomonitoring Program and other activities of ANAI. The most culturally and politically sensitive situation we encountered wasintheNgobecommunitiesatthelowerend of the Bocachica watershed. There we were abletoworkthroughcontactsmadeduringthe controversy over construction of the CHAN75 damontheRioChanguinola. Inaddition,itwasnecessarytocontract the services of skilled boatmen to access the boundary of PILA in the Teribe watershed and the expedition jumpoff points for the Yorkin/TscuiandBocachicawatersheds,viathe Rios Yorkin and Changuinola, respectively. ANAI Biomonitoring Program co directors Dr. William O. McLarney and Maribel MaflaH.wereinvolvedinallphasesofplanning and in debriefing of Srs. Bonilla and Sanchez aftereachexpedition.StaffmemberAnaMaria Arias M. assisted in all phases and had the specific responsibility of preparing the maps whichappearinthisreport.

PLANNING
Site selection and expedition planning was done in collaboration between the parataxonomistsandANAIstaff.Sincewewere restricted to work in PILA/Panama, we eliminated the Lari, Coen, Telire and Estrella watersheds, which drain important portions of PILA and would be affected by hydroelectric damsplannedforCostaRica.(Inourproposalto ICF we suggested the possibility to separately fundparallelsurveysinPILA/CostaRica.While thispossibilitywasnotrealized,wedidmanage, without additional funding, to carry out our ownsurveysinportionsoftheLariandEstrella watershedsjustdownstreamofPILA;resultsare includedintheAppendix.) The five principal rivers draining the Atlantic slope of La Amistad/Panama are, from east to west, the Changuinola, Teribe, Yorkin, Tscui and Katsi. We excluded the mainstem of thelargestofthese,the RioChanguinola,from considerationforseveralreasons: WiththeimminentclosureoftheCHAN75 dam on the Changuinola, extirpation of diadromousspeciesinthegreatmajorityof theChanguinolawatershedisassured. The best access to the upper Changuinola isthroughPanamafromthePacificside.To carry out surveys there would have mandated a disproportionate amount of travelcosts. Wehadhopes(whichwerenotrealized)of incorporating a parataxonomist trainee from a Panamanian conservation organization based in Chiriqui province on thePacificslopetoindependentlycarryout surveysintheupperChanguinola. We did however, elect to survey Quebrada Bocachica, tributary to the Changuinola just below the CHAN75 dam site. Once CHAN75 is completed, the Q. Bocachica watershedwillbetheonlypartofPILA/Panama in the Changuinola watershed above the confluence of the Rio Teribe which remains opentoentrybydiadromes. For each of the 4 rivers (except Q. Bocachica)thelocationofthesurveyreachwas the same: from the downstream boundary of PILA up to the point where foot travel became impossibleorunacceptablydangerousorwhere noevidenceofdiadromeswasseen,whichever came first. Our original thought was to survey goingupstream,presumablynotingthedropin diversity and abundance of some species with altitude. Our parataxonomy team, anticipating whatturnedouttobethecase,suggestedthat they were more likely to reach an impassable reach than run out of fish and shrimp, and opted to travel upstream by whatever route was expedient, then concentrate on survey work during the return trip. As it turned out, impassableconditionswerereachedinallofthe watershedsexceptRioKatsi,thesmallestofthe 5 rivers surveyed. The wisdom of this decision willbemorereadilyunderstoodonreadingthe accountoftheTeribeexpedition. ANAIstaffwasresponsibleforproviding or arranging transport to the jumpoff points, while the tasks of arranging guides and other taxonomists and securing provisions was shared. The other main task during the weeks prior to initiating field surveys was to secure collectionpermits(Eventhoughnocollection, noreventemporarycapture,ofspecimenswas contemplated, ANAM requires a permit to collect data within PILA). Because the Biomonitoring Program had already received a permit to do capture and release surveys of aquatic animals in Bocas del Toro province outside PILA, through our participation in the Binational Sixaola Watershed Project, we assumed that getting the additional permit wouldbeanefficientprocess.Infact,although weformallyappliedforthepermitonFebruary 19, an affirmative response was not received until April 13. This forced us to crowd expeditions together, with consequent loss of flexibility leading to loss of effective field time duetorain,turbidityandhighwaterlevels.

FIELDSTUDYMETHODS
In the field methodology was basically as described in our proposal. At selected sites on each survey river, 2 or more survey sites were selected. At a minimum these included onesitejustabovethePILAboundaryandone at the upper end of safe, feasible access (or in thecaseoftheRioKatsi,whereitbecamevery small). The lower reaches of tributary streams were also occasionally surveyed, as opportunitiespresentedthemselves. At each site visual survey of fish and shrimp was carried out, first by walking the banks and observing from vantage points over pools,theninthewaterwithuseofsnorkeland face mask. Fish (both diadromous and non diadromousspecies)andshrimpobservedwere identified to species and abundance estimated (Abundant = constantly in view in suitable habitat, Common = more than 5 individuals observed in half an hour of snorkeling, Rare = less than 5 individuals observed). Care was takentosurveyalltypesofhabitatpresent,and searching was continued at least until no new specieswereobservedovera15minuteperiod. Minimum search time was 30 minutes per site by two persons. The parataxonomists were equipped with underwater flashlights which permitted searching under rocks, undercut banks, etc. while also facilitating species identification in pools where some species of fish might maintain a considerable distance from observers. At survey sites corresponding to campsites, the flashlights were also used to searchforshrimpatnight. While all identification and data recording was done by the parataxonomists, other assistants often participated with preliminary or supplementary surveys. This consistedprimarilyingoingaheadofthesurvey crew to identify concentrations of fish, promising survey sites and special habitats. Somefieldtimewasalsodevotedtoinstruction for those assistants who expressed interest in becomingparataxonomists. InourexperienceinTalamancawehave learnedthatmostspeciesoffishandshrimpare easily observable and identifiable, but certain exceptions must be noted. Among these are two important diadromous forms the American eel or anguila de mar (Anguilla rostrata)andshrimpofthefamilyAtyidae.Both tend to be nocturnal, and spend much of their time buried in substrate. One other diadrome should be mentioned here; Gobiesox nudus (chupapiedracabezonorclingfish)wasreported from the Teribe watershed by our parataxonomists in 2006, but this small, rare and cryptic species was not seen during the present survey. Among nondiadromous forms the only fishes not readily visually detectable andexpectedattheelevationsofPILAaretwo speciesofcatfish(Rhamdia)whichinadditional to being nocturnal and cryptic, normally occur in very small numbers everywhere. Gobiesox andAtyidaewerenotfoundduringthesurvey; Anguilla and Rhamdia were, but their distributionislikelyunderestimated. ForeachsiteGPScoordinates,altitude, water temperature and time of survey were recorded, together with a physical description ofthesite.Thisinformationwassupplemented with ample photodocumentation (photos are included). Since part of our purpose was to raise consciousnessoftheimportanceofdiadromous speciesintheriversofLaAmistad,thethreatto these species from dam construction, and the relationship of PILA as a protected area to the wellbeing of downstream Naso, Ngobe and Bribri communities, meetings open to all interested parties were held in gateway communitiespriortothefirstdayoffieldwork and at the conclusion. The following communitieswerevisited: SiekinandSieyik(RioTeribe,Nasoethnia) Bocachica(QuebradaBocachica,Ngobe) Yorkin(RioTscui,Bribri) KatsiandNamuUoki(RioKatsi,Bribri)

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 In the Yorkin/Tscui and Katsi watersheds, the downstream limit of PILA corresponds to the international boundary, so that while all survey work was conducted in

Panama, selection of field assistants and pre and postsurvey meetings were held in Costa Ricangatewaycommunities.

AccesstoPILA.A)Expeditionmembersclearingatrail.B)Liningadugoutthroughrapidsonthe RioTeribe

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Fieldmethodology.A)GeoreferencingwithGPS.B)Recordingdatainfieldnotebooks.C)Visual surveyusingfacemasks.D)Nocturnalsurveysusingunderwaterflashlights

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EXPEDITIONNARRATIVESANDSURVEYRESULTS
Results of our 2011 survey work in PILA/Panama are summarized in Table 1. The followingindividualexpeditionaccountspainta fuller picture of the role of diadromy in the rivers of PILA/Panama and the context within whichitoccurs. RioTeribe(12days): The original plan for surveying the Rio Teribe, by far the largest of the rivers to be visited,contemplated15daysinthefield.Itwas decidedtoembarkfromSiekin,theseatofNaso government and the uppermost permanent settlement in the Teribe watershed and proceed by outboard dugout as far as the mouthofQuebradaShey,notfarfromthePILA boundary. The team then took a circuitous overland route to a point at the mouth of the Rio Pjer, where the Rio Teribe emerges from a narrow canyon over a considerable waterfall, abovewhichpointtherewasreasontosuspect that the nonclimbing diadromous species (everything except Sicydium and shrimps) would be absent and travel would be exceedingly difficult. The plan was, after surveying at this point, to build a raft and descend the Teribe, carrying out visual surveys onthemainstemandtributariesenroute. Theinitialobjectivewasrealizedaftera half day boat trip, followed by a 3 day hike, during which 2 tributary streams were surveyed. However, the downstream trip was aborted by torrential rains, which caused the river to risewell beyond levels safe for rafting. The team was thus forced to invent a new overlandroute,andranoutoffoodhalfadays hike from their food cache. By this time two members were ill with fever and diarrhea. Fortunately theywereabletomakecellphone contact with their boatman and return to Siekin. As a consequence the expedition was condensed to 12 days, but it was only possible tocarryoutinventorieson3ofthosedays(total of5sites). The Teribe was the largest river surveyed and, as expected, had the most and largest diadromous fish, particularly Joturus pichardi. Of particular interest was the highest altitude site, on the Rio Pjer, (which would never have been reached had the parataxonomists not argued strongly for starting at the farthest point and working downstream).Thedifficultyofaccesstothissite maybejudgedbythefactthat,whileincursions into PILA, particularly for purposes of fishing, huntingandextractionofartifectsarecommon, there was no sign of human access in recent yearsatorduringtheapproachtothesite. TheR.Pjersite,andtheuppermostsite on the Teribe mainstem were judged to be extremelydangerousbytheparataxonomists, who concluded that further upstream travel was impossible. They were however able to safely access some pool areas and were struck by the abundance and complete range of sizes ofAgonostomusmonticolaandJoturuspichardi. Joturusisahighlyprizedfoodfish,andnormally sensitive to disturbance. However, in the Rio Pjer, alone among all the sites monitored, the parataxonomists reported being able to swim freelywithgroupsofthisspecies,includingvery large individuals. Based on lifelong experience in the Teribe watershed, they considered this sitetobeexceptional. The upper site on the R. Teribe mainstem,CruceYoluisthesiteofagauging station (since destroyed by high water) established during the early days of hydropower exploration in the Changuinola/Teribe watershed. There was no sign of recent human visitation. However, the lowersiteShublochisfrequentlyaccessedfor the purposes mentioned above. Shubloch was the site of a Naso settlement, but was abandonedsome80yearsago. As would be expected, the diversity of fish was greater at Shubloch than upstream, with 3 additional diadromous species (Anguilla rostrata, Awaous banana and Gobiomorus 13

dormitor) reported, along with 2 non diadromousspecies. Other sites on the R. Teribe and 2 tributary streams tentatively scheduled for inventory (R. Shey and R. Bley) could not be accessed due to high water. Of 2 tributaries whichwereaccessed,one(Q.Shur)hadstrong

populations of 3 diadromous fishes, including largeindividualsofJoturus.Theothertributary surveyed, Q. Unio, was the only stream in the project where no diadromes were found; the only fish species was the resident Priapichthys annectens, characteristic of clean, cold forest streamsintheregion.

RioTeribeexpedition.A)TheRioTeribeatCruceYolu.B)ParataxonomistHugoSanchezheaded forasurveysite.C)BoboorbocachicafromtheRioTeribe.D)Passingfieldgearacrossariver

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 TABLE1.Resultsofvisualsurveysforpresenceofdiadromousfishandshrimpsat15sitesinPILA/Panama,2011
Anguillarostrata Awaousbanana Macrobrachium heterochirus R C R R R R C C R R A Priapichthysannectens Astyanaxaeneus Priapichthysannectens Astatherosbussingi Astyanaxaeneus Priapichthysannectens Priapichthysannectens Astatherosbussingi Astyanaxaeneus JoturusPichardi Agonostomus monticola Sicydiumspp.

Watershed

Stream

Site

Altitude (m.)

Gobiomorus dormitor

Distanceabove PILAboundary (km.)

Nondiadromousfish

1.Q.Bocachica Bocachica 2.Q.Bocachica 3.R.Teribe 4.R.Pjer Teribe 5.Q.Shur 6.Q.Unio 7.R.Teribe Yorkin 8.R.Yorkin 9.R.Tscui 10.R.Tscui Tscui 11.R.Tscui 12.Q.Draria 13.R.Katsi 14.R.Katsi Katsi 15.Unnamed 16.R.Katsi

Upperlimitof cultivation Cultivatedarea CruceYolu AbovemouthatR. Teribe 5km.abovemouth arR.Teribe SenderoShublochic Shubloch ElSalto LaJolla Bateal PuertoConcepcin EdgarAlanFarm Falls Above2falls JustabovewhereR. Katsidivides PILAboundary

200

7.7

180 360 380 440 460 340 450 730 510 310 200 680 720 750 290

5.9 13.9 13.8 13.1 10.3 8.1 JustbelowPILA boundary 8.6 6.6 4.2 2.8 4.5 4.8 4.4

A A A A A C A A R R A

C A A C A R A C R

R R

A C C C C C C C A C R R R A

R R

Astatherosbussingi Astyanaxaeneus Astatherosbussingi Astyanaxaeneus Rhamdia guatemalensis

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FIGURE1.SiteswithinPILA/PanamasurveyedfordiadromousfishandshrimpbyANAIparataxonomists,2011

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QuebradaBocachica(4days): Although the Rio Teribe is tributary to the Rio Changuinola, the 2 watersheds were considered separately in this study, in part because of the large size of the R. Teribe, but also because the juncture of the two rivers is below the PILA boundary. With the pending closure of the CHAN75 dam, the only portion oftheupperChanguinolawatershedwhichwill be accessible to diadromes will be the Q. Bocachica, which joins the river just below the dam site. Its watershed area of 103 sq. km. represents just 7.1% of the watershed area formerlyaccessible. Q. Bocachica is also of concern due to its position as a natural escape valve for Ngobe communities being displaced by the CHAN75 project. Part of the Q. Bocachica watershedwithintheparkisalreadypopulated andalsousedforagriculturalpurposesbynon residents. Both sites surveyed on Q. Bocachica had a similar mix of fish, with abundant Agonostomus and Sicydium and a surprising number of Joturus of all sizes. Of the streams surveyed,Q.Bocachicahasthelowestgradient and (despite its name) would not seem o present high quality habitat for adult Joturus. Based on observations of fish and habitat as well as conversations with local residents, we surmise that a significant number of the diadromes observed in Q. Bocachica represent animals diverted by activities at the CHAN75 dam just upstream, which is already partially closed. If this is the case, then in future years we can expect numbers of diadromous species to decline to a level reflecting the carrying capacity of the stream (or less, if fishing pressure increases with a denser human population). Results of this survey should be interpreted as overstating the value of this streamashabitatfordiadromesinPILA. RiosYorkinandTscui(6days): The Rio Tscui, the largest tributary of the binational Rio Yorkin watershed, arises within PILA/Panama and ultimately joins with theYorkininCostaRicaatthevillageofYorkin,

whichhasbeenafocalpointofactivityforthe ANAI Stream Biomonitoring Team since the inceptionofourprogram.Ouroriginalplanwas to hike up the Tscui to the international/PILA boundary and work upstream to the maximum feasible access point, then cross the flanks of Cerro Xkokariu at altitudes of about 1,000 m., come down into the headwaters of the Rio Yorkin, survey it down to the Park Boundary, then continue down the river to base camp at Yorkin. This plan was changed due to the necessity to employ different local guides for the Tscui and the Yorkin; both rivers were accessedbytravelingupstreamfromYorkin.As it turns out, it might have been better to continuewiththeoriginalplan,sincethegroup wasunabletopenetratePILAalongtheYorkin. Landslides which have occurred since the last time anyone from Yorkin has gone to a place knownasElSaltowouldrequirealongascent over scree interspersed with boulders. (However, it should be noted that the Ngobe village of Alto Yorkin appears to be located withinPILA,thoughnotdirectlyontheriver.) Apartfromsafetyconcerns,thepresent conditionoftherivermayposeabarriertofish passage. One site was inventoried, at the foot of the impacted area, barely below the PILA boundary.Thebraidedstreamchanneldoesnot offer good habitat for Joturus, although some small individuals were seen just below the braidedreach.Theother3commondiadromes (Agonostomus, Sicydium and Macrobrachium heterochirus)werepresent. The Rio Tscui has also suffered from naturaleventsinrecentyears,includingaflash flood which originated near the international/PILAboundaryinDecember,2008 and utterly altered the channel between there andthemouth,withtemporarydisplacementof almost all fish. A more recent landslide originatingonatributary(Q.Bateal)apparently blocks passage by large fish at a point 6.6 km. abovethePILAboundary. The Tscui was inventoried at 3 points. Notethatbeginningattheinternationalborder, atanelevationofabout120m.,theTscuiitself 17

forms the PILA boundary for about 4 km. For purposesofthisstudythedownstreamborder of PILA was taken to be the international boundary, above which point the river may be considered to be within PILA. The only Tscui tributarysurveyed,QuebradaDraria,entersthe TscuifromthePILAside.Thelowermostsurvey point on the Tscui, Puerto Concepcion is located where the World Heritage Site boundarycrossestheriver. ComparisonofresultsfromtheR.Tscui atPuertoConception,withanaltitudeofabout 310m.andthenextstation,Batealat510m., showstheexpectedgradientofdiversitywith4 diadromous and 2 nondiadromous species observed at Puerto Concepcion, but only 3 diadromesandnootherspeciesatBateal. The Bateal site was located just below the tributary and barrier referred to above. Above the barrier, at an altitude of about 730 m. (La Jolla), the only large aquatic animals detected were Sicydium and Macrobrachium heterochirus, both of which are capable of climbing high, nearvertical barriers if they are moist. According to our guides, prior to the landslide,thereachbetweenBatealandLaJolla was characterized by abundance of Agonostomusmonticola.

Q. Draria, at an altitude of about 210 m., lacked Joturus, but the other 3 widespread diadromes were present, as well as Awaous banana,alsorecordedfromthelowermostsite ontheR.Teribe. Overaperiodofyearswehavecometo consider the Rio Tscui between the international/PILA boundary and Yorkin as an outstanding site for diadromes, especially including large Joturus. This changed in 2009 following the December, 2008 disaster, but there is a definite trend toward repopulation, particularlybythestrongswimmingJoturusand Agonostomus. This trend is likely occurring within PILA as well; were this work to be repeatedwewouldexpectgradualincreasesin abundance and size of diadromes between Puerto Concepcion and Bateal, with possible eventual repopulation upstream of the slide at Bateal. It should be noted that the small portion of the Tscui watershed within Panama but outside PILA, paralleling the river is the focus of a small wave of colonization by non indigenous Panamanians; some encroachment withintheparkmayalreadybeoccurring.

RioYorkinbelowthePILAboundary

18

Yorkinexpedition.A)The RioYorkinatthePILAboundary.B)ApprenticeparataxonomistLuis SeguraofYorkinpracticingvisualsurveymethods.C)TheYorkinexpeditioncrew 19

Tscuiexpedition.A)MacrobrachiumheterochirusfromQuebradaDraria.B)Signdesignatingthe RioKatsi(3days): PILAboundaryontheRioTscui.C)WaterfallontheRioTscui.D)MarcioBonilladescendingtoa RiosYorkinandTscui(6days): studysiteontheRioTscui.E)TypicalreachoftheupperRioTscui 20

RioKatsi(4days): TheRioKatsihasmoreofastairstep profile than the other rivers visited, with frequentpoolsseparatedbylowcascadesover boulders. These conditions permit the passage of all species of diadromes, but the lack of powerful rapids may be a limiting factor for Joturus,whichwasnotfoundaboveabout300 m. Above that point, all the other widespread diadromes were present, although Agonostomus was represented almost entirely bylargeindividuals. In 2007 we took 3 species of non diadromous fish (plus the diadrome Awaous

banana) at a site not far below the PILA boundary,atabout200m.elevation.However, A. banana was not recorded within PILA and only one of the nondiadromous species (Priapichthysannectens)wasfound. TheR.Katsiwatershedwassurveyedup to a point, 4.8 km. above the PILA boundary, where it divides into two branches, at an elevation of 750 m. Above this point (within about a kilometer of the head of permanent flow)thetwobranchesweredeemedtobetoo smalltojustifycontinuedsurvey.

WaterfallsintheheadwaterareaoftheRioKatsi

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ADDITIONALSURVEYWORK
Whilewewerenotsuccessfulinraising AsiteontheRioDueri,whichdoesnotpass funds to support parallel work in PILA/Costa through PILA, is included as our highest Rica (Uren, Lari, Coen, Telire and Estrella altitude site in the Rio Coen watershed, watersheds), we did plan our regular whichdoesdrainPILA. monitoringworkduringthe2011dryseasonso as to include visual surveys of sites not far Of 16 Costa Rican sites listed, 4 are below the PILA boundary on the Rio Lari within PILA (or HitoyCerere) and 4 are (Talamanca Bribri Indigenous Reserve) and Rio immediately below the boundary, while the Cariei (tributary to the Rio Estrella in the Tayni others (except for Rio Dueri) are located as Cabecar Indigenous Reserve). These results specified distances below the boundary. appear in Table 2, which lists diadromous Inferencesbasedonthisadditionalinformation speciesfoundattheuppermostsitemonitored willbedrawnintheConclusionssection. inrecentyearsonvariousstreamsdrainingPILA TheConclusionssectionwillalsodiscuss in the Changuinola, Teribe, Yorkin, Uren, Lari resultsofvisualandnetcapturesurveyscarried and Estrella watersheds. We include 2 sites out during 2005 and 2006 by Ngobe and Naso whichdonotformpartofPILA: parataxonomists (including Srs. Bonilla and TheRioCereresiteisfromtheHitoyCerere Sanchez) at or near the PILA boundary on 17 BiologicalReserve,intheEstrellawatershed. tributaries draining out of the World Heritage While HitoyCerere is administratively Site to the Rios Changuinola and Teribe, at separatefromPILA,itisadjacentandenjoys altitudesof120to400m. evenstricterlegalprotection. TABLE2.BiomonitoringsitesnearestthePILAboundaryon15streamsintheAtlanticslopewatersheds ofPILA/CostaRica,withdiadromousfishspeciesrecorded
Anguilla rostrata Pomadasys crocro Agonostomus monticola Joturus Pichardi Awaous banana Gobiomorus dormitor X X
Altitude

Watershed

Stream

(m.) 80 140 140 240 300 260 320 320 500 200 100 120 260 160 280 140

Distance belowPILA boundary (km.) 14.0

PILAboundary PILAboundary PILAboundary

Sicydiumspp.

Nofnon diadromous fishspecies 6 5 8 3 5 3 0 1 1 2 6 13 6 9 6 12

Yorkin

Uren

Lari Coen Estrella

1.R.Yorkin 2.R.Tscui 3.Q.Plas 4.R.Bris 5.Q.Ambris 6.R.Katsi 7.R.Uren 8.R.Sukut 9.Q.Crori 10.R.Uren(LaIsla7.5km. aboveTsoki) 11.R.Uren(LaIslainTsoki) 12.Q.Niabri(LaIslainTsoki) 13.R.Lari 14.R.Dueri 15.R.Cariei 16.R.Cerere

0.8
PILAboundary

6.2 4.7 9.6 Within Within Within 8.2 *** 4.8 *** X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X

X X

X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X

X X

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FIGURE1.SitesnearestPILAboundarysurveyedfordiadromousfishbyANAI,20062011.NumberscorrespondtositeslistedinTable2.

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CONCLUSIONS
While the focus of the work reported here, and the discussion which follows, is on practical biodiversity conservation issues and their relation to the indigenous communities borderingPILA,wewouldberemissnottopoint out the value of this work from a purely scientificpointofview.Otherthanworkcarried outorsupportedbyANAIatafewsitesonthe periphery of PILA in the upper Changuinola, Teribe, Yorkin and Uren watersheds, the data reported here constitute the first survey of ichthyofauna ever published for any portion of PILA. In this sense they are highly complementary to inventory work on other faunaandfloraofPILArecentlycompletedand currently ongoing by other national and internationalagencies. Looking first at the field work carried out during 2011 with support from the International Community Foundation, Table 1 showstheimportanceofdiadromyinthefluvial ecosystems of La Amistad. A total of 7 species ofdiadromousfishandshrimpwerefoundat15 of 16 sites surveyed in the 4 watersheds, at altitudes of 180 to 750 m. Of these 4 were widespread, being found at 1015 sites. Only 4 nondiadromous fish species were reported, at 7ofthe16sites. In all but one case (Quebrada Unio, tributary to the Rio Teribe) diadromes (1 to 4 species) were much more abundant than the nondiadromous species. The only species observed in Q. Unio was the sedentary Priapichthys annectens, often found in forest streams devoid of other fish. The most widespreaddiadromewasSicydium,foundatall 15 diadrome sites, and often in enormous abundance. Aswouldbepredicted,speciesdiversity ofbothdiadromesandnondiadromesdeclined with altitude, but there is no suggestion of an absolute upper altitudinal limit, especially for the Sicydium gobies and Macrobrachium shrimp, which are capable of climbing waterfalls, as demonstrated by their presence intheRioTscuiabovewhatwouldappeartobe an absolute barrier to species which rely on swimming. In Costa Rica and elsewhere Sicydium have been reported at altitudes of nearly1,200m,andtheotherthreewidespread diadromesareallknownfromaltitudesgreater than500m. The Rio Katsi data provide an example of the potential to occupy habitat. Because of itsrelativelysmallsize,itwaspossibletofollow the Katsi up to a point near the actual headwaters.Fromthehighestpointsampledon theR.Katsimainstem,atanaltitudeof720m. theRioKatsiextendsasabluelinedstreamon the Sukut topo quad for barely a kilometer; at thispointitswatershedareaisapproximately3 sq. km. Yet at this point it still contained Sicydium. Sicydium, Macrobrachium heterochirus and few but large Agonostomus werefoundevenhigher,atanelevationof750 m.inasmalltributary. What is true for the Teribe, Bocachica, Yorkin/Tscui and Katsi watersheds is almost certainly true for the other Atlantic slope watersheds draining PILA. While due to a combination of difficult and costly access and failure to acquire permits in Panama, the ANAI Biomonitoring Monitoring Programs efforts withinPILAhavebeenfewandlocatedcloseto theboundary,wehavesampledinproximityto the park boundary in all of the Costa Rican Atlantic slope PILA watersheds except the Rios CoenandTelire.(Andwehavefound6species ofdiadromousfishintheRioDueri,tributaryto theCoen,butwhichdoesnotariseinPILA,atan altitude of 160 m.) Results of this work are showninTable2,spanning5sitesintheYorkin watershed,7intheUren,2intheEstrella,and oneeachintheLariandCoenwatersheds. Using electrofishing technology and visualobservation,wehaveidentified7species of diadromous fish within PILA all of those observed during the present study, plus the roncador or burro grunt (Pomadasys crocro). (Untilrecentlyourmethodologydidnotpermit 24

us to quantify shrimp species, but both of the familiesofdiadromousshrimpsknownfromthe Talamanca region Palaemonidae and Atyidae occurfrequentlyinoursamples.)Thenumber ofdiadromousfishspeciespersitevariedfrom 1 (Sicydium was always present.) to 6, with a meanandmedianof4.Aswouldbeexpectedat these lower altitude (mostly 100300 m.) sites, there was greater diversity of nondiadromous fish. Only one site, on an extremely high gradient reach of the upper Rio Uren, had no nondiadromous fish; others had from 1 to 13 species(mean4.7).However,diadromesnearly always accounted for more than half of individualfish. Visual surveys of Changuinola and Teribe tributaries within PILA during 2005 and 2006 yielded the same 7 diadromous fish speciesreportedforTalamanca,alongwiththe chupapiedra cabezon or clingfish (Gobiesox nudus) in the Rio Teribe mainstem. (We have anecdotal reports of this species from the Rio Uren in Costa Rica, and suspect it is more widespreadthangenerallyrealized.)The3most widespread diadromous fish (Sicydium, Agonostomus and Joturus) appeared at all 17 sites. Both families of diadromous shrimp (Palaemonidae, which includes Macrobrachium heterochirus and Atyidae, surprisingly absent fromthisyearsvisualsurveys)werepresentat 15ofthe17sites. Webelievethatthecombinationofthis years data from PILA/Panama, plus the earlier studiesjustcited,laytorestthequestionofthe significance of the diadromous presence withinPILA,aspreviouslyestablishedbysurvey

ofperipheralsites.Wehavedemonstratedthat several species of diadromous fish and shrimp penetrateatleastupto15km.withinPILA(and probably further) at altitudes of up to at least 750m.,includinginverysmallstreamssuchas the upper Rio Katsi. It would be unreasonable toassumethatwhatwehavedemonstratedfor portionsof4watershedsdoesnotalsoapplyto therestofthesewatersheds,aswellastheLari, Coen, Telire and Estrella (and until very recently, the upper Changuinola). Some of the streams sampled (Rios Lari, Uren, Sukut, Dueri andCerere)arequitelarge,providingaccessto manykm.ofstreamaboveoursurveysites. With completion of the CHAN75 dam, diadromes stand to be extirpated from the entireupperwatershedoftheRioChanguinola. A small portion of the Rio Bon watershed, tributary to the Rio Teribe, will be affected in the same way. And if as few as 2 proposed damsarebuiltontheCostaRicanAtlanticslope oftheLaAmistadarea,similarextirpationswill occurintheUren,Lari,Coen,TelireandEstrella watershedsofPILA,leavingonlytheYorkinand Teribe watersheds with a full complement of aquaticfauna. This does not seem to us compatible with the stated purpose of conserving biodiversity through designation of La Amistad as two National Parks and a World Heritage Site. This in turn leads us to recommend the designation of La Amistad as a World Heritage SiteinDanger,ifcorrectivestepsarenottaken immediately to protect this aspect of the OutstandingUniversalValueofLaAmistad.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TheworkinPILA/Panamareportedhere and the preparation of this report were made possible by a grant from the International Community Foundation. Thanks to ICF and especially to Anne McEnany, who championed ourcausefromthebeginningandcontinuesto raisetheissueofhowtobestapplytheresults. We have supplemented the ICF supported work in this report with relevant results from previous and current biomonitoring investigations in the Costa Rican PILA watersheds. Among numerous supporters ofthiswork,weespeciallywishtoacknowledge the DorothyAnn Foundation and Randy Curtis oftheNatureConservancy. Investigations in the Uren watershed, includingtheportionofPILAknownasLaIsla, were supported by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of International Conservation;specialthankstoSarahGannon NagleandEthanTaylor. ThefocusontherelationbetweenPILA and the neighboring indigenous communities which informs this work was originally stimulated by Felipe Carazo of The Nature Conservancy. Over a period of several years, Earl Junier of MINAET (the Costa Rican natural resources agency) and various leaders of ADITIBRI (the Bribri tribal government) have facilitated the scientific collection permits necessary for us to conduct PILArelated and otherinvestigationsinthewatersofCostaRica andtheTalamancaBribriIndigenousReserve.In 2011AlfonsoSanabriaandMariettaFonsecaof theBinationalSixaolaWatershedProjectplayed catalytic roles in assisting us to obtain similar permits from ANAM (the Panamanian EnvironmentalAuthority) forworkinBocasdel ToroProvinceandPILA/Panama. SpecialthankstotheYorkinCommunity Biomonitoring Group, representing the communities of Yorkin (Costa Rica), El Guabo andDacle(Panama)fortheircollaborationwith the ANAI parataxonomy in their work in the Yorkin/Tscuiwatershed. Theworkofourparataxonomistswould not have been possible without the participation of Ngobe, Naso and Bribri guides, boatmen and parataxonomist apprentices. Following is a list of assistants by watershed, withtheheadguidelistedfirstineachcase: Rio Teribe: Antonio Sanchez, Enrique Gamarra,LuisGamarra. Quebrada Bocachica: Azael Quintero, TomasJimenez,TeodoroQuintero. Rios Yorkin and Tscui: Concepcion Morales, Allan Vega, Luis Segura, Cirilo Cerrut,DailerMorales. Rio Katsi: Justo Layan, Diego Torres, EduardoCordero,JoseLuisYaslin. Finallyweneedtothankourcolleagues inthecentralofficeofANAIinSanJose,without whosedailyeffortsprojectslikethisonewould notbemanageable.

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