Cocos Island
155097
226005411
2008-07-16T12:14:20Z
168.243.219.99
/* External links and other references */
:''For the Australian islands, see [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]. For the island off the southern tip of Guam, see [[Cocos Island (Guam)]].''
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
| WHS = Cocos Island National Park
| Image = [[Image:Isla del coco.jpg|300px|Cocos Island]]
| State Party = {{CRC}}
| Type = Natural
| Criteria = ix, x
| ID = 820
| Region = [[List of World Heritage Sites in the Americas|Central America]]
| Year = 1997
| Session = 21st
| Extension = 2002
| Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/820
}}
'''Cocos Island''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Isla del Coco'') is an [[island]] located off the shore of [[Costa Rica]]. It constitutes the 11th district <ref>[http://www.islacoco.com/es/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=6 Isla Coco]</ref> (one of 13) of [[Puntarenas Canton]] of the province of Puntarenas. [http://www.hacienda.go.cr/centro/datos/Educacion%20ciudadana/Brochoure%20N%2021%20%20c%C3%B3digos%20tributarios.doc]. It is one of the [[National Parks of Costa Rica]]. It is located in the [[Pacific Ocean]], approximately 550 km (340 mi) from the Pacific shore of Costa Rica <ref>Hogue, C. and Miller, S. 1981. Entomofauna of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Atoll Research Bulletin 250: 1-29.</ref>, at {{coor dms|05|31|08|N|087|04|18|W|}}. With an area of approximately 23.85 km² (9.2 mi²), about 8×3 km (5×1.9 mi) and a perimeter of around 23.3 km <ref>Montoya, M. 2007. Conozca la Isla del Coco: una guía para su visitación. In Biocursos para amantes de la naturaleza: Conozca el parque nacional Isla del Coco, la isla del tesoro (26 abril al 6 de mayo 2007). (ed. Organization for Tropical Studies). Organization for Tropical Studies. San José, Costa Rica. 35-176.</ref> this island is more or less rectangular in shape.
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Surrounded by deep waters with counter-currents, Cocos Island is admired by [[Scuba set|scuba]] divers for its populations of [[Hammerhead shark]]s, [[Batoidea|rays]], [[dolphins]] and other large marine species. The extremely wet climate and oceanic character give Cocos an ecological character that is not shared with either the Galapagos Archipelago or any of the other islands (e.g., [[Malpelo]] or [[Coiba]]) in this region of the world <ref>Kirkendall, L. and Jordal, B. 2006. The bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the role of mating systems in island zoogeography. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 89(4): 729-743. </ref>
==Geology and landscape==
[[Image:Orthographic projection centred over Cocos Island.png|left|thumb|Orthographic projection centred over Cocos Island]]
Cocos Island is an oceanic island of both [[volcanic]] and tectonic origin. It is the only emergent island of the [[Cocos Plate]], one of the minor [[tectonic plates]]. An [[Argon]]-[[Potassium]] radiometric determination established the age of the oldest rocks between 1.91 and 2.44 million years (Late Pliocene) <ref>Castillo, P., Batiza, R., Vanko, D., Malavassi, E., Barquero, J., and Fernandez, E. 1988. Anomalously young volcanoes on old hot-spot traces. I. Geology and petrology of Cocos Island. Geological Society of America Bulletin 100: 1400-1414.</ref> and is composed primarily of [[basalt]], which is formed by cooling lava. The landscape is mountainous and irregular and the summit is Cerro Iglesias at 575.5 m <ref>Castillo, P., Batiza, R., Vanko, D., Malavassi, E., Barquero, J., and Fernandez, E. 1988. Anomalously young volcanoes on old hot-spot traces. I. Geology and petrology of Cocos Island. Geological Society of America Bulletin 100: 1400-1414.</ref>. In spite of its mountainous character, there are flatter areas between 200-260 m in elevation in the central part of the island, which have been told to be a transitional stage of the geomorphological cycle of V-shaped valleys <ref>Malavassi, E. 1982. Visita al Parque Nacional Isla del Coco. Revista Geográfica de América Central (15-16): 211-216.</ref>. With four bays, three of them in the north side (Wafer, Chatham and Weston), Cocos Island has a number of
short rivers and streams that drain the abundant rainfall into them. The largest rivers are the Genio and the Pittier, which drain their water into Wafer Bay. The mountainous landscape and the tropical climate combine to create over 200 waterfalls throughout the island. The island's soils are classified as [[entisol]]s which are highly acidic and could be easily eroded by the Island's high rainfall on the steep slopes, were it not for the dense forest coverage.
==Climate==
The climate of the island is mostly determined by the latitudinal movement of the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone]] which creates a constant cloudiness and precipitation that is constant throughout the year <ref>Herrera, W. 1984. Informe de campo. Gira realizada a la Isla del Coco con el objetivo de recabar información climatológica. San José, Servicio de Parques Nacionales, 6 p.</ref>.
This makes the climate in the island to be humid and tropical with an average annual temperature of 23.6 º[[celsius|C]] (74.5 º[[Fahrenheit|F]]) and an average annual rainfall of over 7,000 mm (275 in). Rainfall is high throughout the year, although lower from January through March and slightly lower during late September and October <ref>Sinergia 69. 2000. Volumen 2. Aspectos meteorológicos y climatológico del ACMIC y su área de influencia. San José, Proyecto GEF/PNUD Conocimiento y uso de la biodiversidad del ACMIC, 184 p.</ref>. Numerous oceanic currents from the central [[Pacific Ocean]] that converge on the island also have an important influence.
==Ecology==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Waterfall in Cocos Island.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Waterfall in Cocos Island]] -->
Cocos Island is home to dense and exuberant [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical moist forests]]. It is the only oceanic island in the eastern Pacific region with such rain forests and their characteristic types of flora and fauna. The [[cloud forest]]s at higher elevations are also unique in the eastern Pacific. The island was never linked to a continent, so the flora and fauna arrived via [[long distance dispersal]] from the [[Americas]]. The island has therefore a high proportion of [[endemic (ecology)|endemic species]].
===Flora===
The island has 235 known species of [[flowering plant]]s, of which 70, or nearly 30%, are endemic. A good comprehensive study on the flora of the island is provided in the journal <i>Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences</i> <ref>Trusty, J.L., Kesler, H.C. and Haug-Delgado, G. 2006. Vascular flora of Isla del Coco, Costa Rica. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Fourth Series) 57(7): 247-355.</ref>. Also, 74 species of [[fern]]s and [[fern allies]] ([[lycopodiophyte]]s and [[pteridophyte]]s, see<ref>Gomez, L.D. 1975. The Ferns and Fern-Allies of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. American Fern Journal 65 (4): 102-104.</ref>), and 128 species of [[moss]]es and [[liverwort]]s ([[bryophyte]]s, see <ref>Dauphin G. 1999. Bryophytes of Cocos Island, Costa Rica: diversity, biogeography and ecology. Revista de Biología Tropical. 47:309–328</ref>), 90 species of [[fungi]] and 41 species of slimemolds <ref>Rojas, C. and Stephenson, S.L. 2008. Myxomycete ecology along an elevation gradient on Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Fungal Diversity 29: 119-129.</ref> have been reported . Nevertheless, more exhaustive investigations are expected to reveal many more species.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Intermediate elevation forest in Cocos Island.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Intermediate elevation forest in Cocos Island]] -->
The island has three main plant communities. The coastal forests extend from the seacoast up to 50 meters elevation. Purple Coral Tree (''[[Erythrina fusca]]''), Coconut Palm (''[[Cocos nucifera]]''), and Pond-apple (''[[Annona glabra]]'') are the predominant trees, with an understory of ferns, shrubs of the [[Rubiaceae]] and [[Solanaceae]] families, sedges and grasses, and herbaceous plants of the [[Leguminosae]] and [[Malvaceae]] families.
The inland forests extend from 50 to 500 meters elevation. "Palo de hierro" or huriki (''Sacoglottis holdridgei''), "avocado" (''[[Ocotea insularis]]'') and the endemic ''[[Cecropia pittieri]]'' are the most common canopy trees. The trees are festooned at all levels with [[epiphytic plant]]s, including as [[orchid]]s, ferns, [[bromeliad]]s and mosses. The understory includes sedges such as ''Hypolitrum amplum'' and various species of ferns and [[tree fern]]s including ''[[Cyathea armata]]'' and ''[[Danaea]] media''. The endemic palm ''[[Rooseveltia frankliniana]]'' is also common.
Cloud forests are found at the highest elevations, over 500 meters. ''[[Melastoma]]'' spp. is predominant.
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===Fauna===
====Land fauna====
The island has over 400 known species of insects, of which 65 (16%) are endemic. The greatest diversity is found among the [[Lepidoptera]] and [[Formicidae]]. Over 50 species of other arthropods have been described ([[spider]]s, [[centipede]]s, [[millipede]]s, and [[isopod]]s), including the endemic spider ''[[Wendilgarda galapagensis]]''.
Two species of [[lizard]] are found on the island, a [[Polychrotidae|anole]] (''[[Norops townsendii]]'') and a [[gecko]] (''[[Sphaerodactylus pacificus]]''); both are endemic. No [[amphibian]]s have been reported.
Nearly 90 bird species have been reported. The island and neighboring rocks are home to large nesting colonies of migratory [[seabird]]s, including the [[Brown Booby]] (''Sula leucogaster''), [[Red-footed Booby]] (''Sula sula''), [[Great Frigatebird]] (''Fregata minor''), [[White Tern]] (''Gygis alba'') and [[Brown Noddy]] (''Anous stolidus''). Seven species of land birds inhabit the island, including three endemics: the [[Cocos Cuckoo]] (''Coccyzus ferrugineus''), [[Cocos Flycatcher]] (''Nesotriccus ridgwayi'') and [[Cocos Finch]] (''Pinaroloxias inornata'').
The island has five land [[mammal]] species, including pigs, deer, cats and rats. All these land mammals were introduced by humans. The Costa Rican government has vowed to control the populations of these animals, as they are harmful to the local ecosystems<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/enero/13/aldea1372595.html País en guerra contra especies invasoras de isla del Coco - ALDEA GLOBAL - nacion.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
====Marine fauna====
The rich coral reef, volcanic tunnels, caves, massifs and deeper waters surrounding Cocos Island are home to more than 30 species of coral, 60 species of crustaceans, 600 species of molluscs and over 300 species of fish. These include large populations of [[yellowfin tuna]] (''Thunnus albacares''), [[giant manta]]s (''Manta birostris''), [[sailfish]] (''Istiophorus platypterus'') and [[sharks]], such as [[Whitetip reef shark| white-tips]] (''Triaenodon obesus'') and [[hammerhead shark| hammerheads]] (''Sphyrna lewini''). The largest of all species of fish is also present, the [[whale shark]] (''Rhincodon typus'').
Other large marine animals include [[humpback whale]]s (''Megaptera novaeangliae''), [[pilot whale]]s (''Globicephala macrorhynchus''), [[bottlenose dolphin]]s (''Tursiops truncatus''), [[California Sea Lion| sea lions]] (''Zalophus californianus''), [[hawksbill turtle]]s (''Eretmochelys imbricata''), [[green turtle]]s (''Chelonia mydas'') and [[olive ridley turtle]]s (''Lepidochelys olivacea'').
==History==
===Discovery of Cocos Island and early cartography===
[[Image:cocos.jpg|thumb|323px|right|Cocos Island]]
J. Lines (''Diario de Costa Rica'', May 12, 1940) cites [[Fernández de Oviedo]] who claims that the first discoverer of the island was [[Johan Cabeças]]. Other sources claim that [[Joan Cabezas de Grado]] was not a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] sailor but an [[Asturia]]n. D. Lievre, ''Una isla desierta en el Pacífico; la isla del Coco'' in ''Los viajes de Cockburn y Lievre por Costa Rica'' (1962: 134) tells that the first document with the name "Isle de Coques" is a map painted on pergamen, called that of [[Henry II of France|Henry II]] that appeared in 1542 during the reign of [[Francis I of France]]. The planisphere of [[Nicolás Desliens]] (1556, Dieppe) places this ''Ysle de Coques'' about one and half degrees north of the [[Equator]]. (See also Mario A. Boza and Rolando Mendoza, ''Los parques nacionales de Costa Rica'', Madrid, 1981.) Blaeu's ''Grand Atlas'', originally published in 1662, has a colour world map on the back of its front cover which shows ''I. de Cocos'' right on the Equator. Frederik De Witt's ''Atlas, 1680'' shows it similarly. The ''[[Hondius]] Broadside map'' of 1590 shows ''I. de Cocos'' at the latitude of 2 degrees and 30 minutes northern latitude, while in 1596 [[Theodore de Bry]] shows the [[Galapagos Islands]] near six degrees north of the Equator. [[E. Bowen]], ''A Complete system of Geography'', Volume II (London, 1747: 586) tells that the Galapagos stretch 5 degrees north of the Equator.
In October 1863 the ship the "Adelante" dumped 426 [[Polynesia]]n ex-slaves on the island, the captain being too lazy to bring them home as promised. When they were saved by the "Tumbes", one month later, only 38 were left obver, the rest had already perished from smallpox. (See: [['Ata]]).
===Administrative history===
In 1897 the Costa Rican government named the German adventurer and treasure hunter [[August Gissler]]
the first Governor of Cocos Island and allowed him to establish a short-lived colony there.
Cocos Island officially became part of Costa Rica by the promulgation of the Constitution of Costa Rica on November 7, 1949. On May 12, 1970 the insular territory of Cocos Island was incorporated administratively into Central Canton of the Province of Puntarenas by means of Executive Decree No. 27, making it the Eleventh District of Central Canton.
==Present status and international distinctions==
The island was declared a National Park by means of Executive Decree in 1978<ref>[http://www.islacoco.com/es/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=6 Isla Del Coco<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Cocos Island National Park was designated a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]] in 1997. In 2002, the World Heritage Site designation was extended to include an expanded marine zone of 1,997 km². In addition, it is included in the list of "Wetlands of International Importance"<ref>[http://www.ramsar.org/key_conv_e.htm Ramsar Convention text in English<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Thanks to the breathtaking marine life in its waters (see fauna section above), Cocos Island was named one of the best 10 scuba diving spots in the world; a "must", according to experts<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20166937/ World's 10 best scuba spots - Active - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. For many, the main attractions are the large pelagic species, which are very abundant in this unique meeting point between deep and shallow waters. Some of the largest schools of hammerhead sharks in the World are consistently reported there. Encounters with dozens if not hundreds of these and other large animals are nearly certain in every dive. Smaller and colorful species area also abundant in one of the most extensive and rich reefs of the south eastern pacific<ref>Guzmán, H. M. and Cortés, J. (1992). Cocos Island (Pacific of Costa Rica) coral reefs after the 1982-83 El Niño disturbance. Revista de Biología Tropical 40: 309-324.</ref>. The oceanographer [[Jacques Cousteau]] visited the island several times and in 1994 called it "the most beautiful island in the world".
The only persons allowed to live on Cocos Island are Costa Rican Park Rangers, who have established two encampments, including one at English Bay. Tourists are allowed ashore only with permission of island rangers, and are not permitted to camp, stay overnight or collect any flora, fauna or minerals from the island. The islands' 33 residents, the Costa Rican park rangers, were allowed to vote for the first time in Costa Rica's [[February 5]], [[2006]] election.
==Dangers threatening Cocos Island==
The mostly unperturbed habitats are, however, under growing human pressure. Illegal fishing in and around its protected waters has become a main concern<ref>[http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/neotropics/eco-exchange/2001/may01-2.html Eco-Exchange - April-May 2001 - Modern-Day Pirates Plunder Saltwater Booty Near Costa Rica's Fabled Cocos Island<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Growing local and worldwide demand for tuna, [[shark fin soup]] and other seafood is threatening the island's fragile ecosystems<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061012-shark-fin.html 38 Million Sharks Killed for Fins Annually, Experts Estimate<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The relatively poor government of [[Costa Rica]] has been openly accused of passivity and even benefiting corruptly from illegal shark fin and other seafood trade to large markets, such as China<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/25/lkl.01.html CNN.com - Transcripts<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The government has nevertheless also committed to protecting the island's natural richnesses and prosecute poachers<ref>[http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2002/2002-02-04-01.asp Costa Rica Court Rules for Sea Turtles, Jails Captain<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Efforts to patrol the waters and enforce environmental laws face big financial and technical difficulties, as well as being prone to the corruption of local, national and international authorities.
Recent events show that large-scale illegal poaching keeps happening. Despite initial hope in stopping and charging poachers<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/enero/30/pais1404145.html Cae atunero con pesca ilegal en Isla del Coco - EL PAÍS - nacion.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, who have been caught with abundant evidence<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/febrero/01/pais1407267.html El ‘Tiuna’ traía más de 280 toneladas de atún y explosivos - EL PAÍS - nacion.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, they have been quickly released under suspicious circumstances<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/febrero/14/pais1424902.html Juez puntarenense levanta medidas cautelares a atuneros - EL PAÍS - nacion.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Also, efforts to raise funds for protection have been dwarfed.
Marvin Orlando Cerdas, a judge with the local Puntarenas Court of Justice, obscurely allowed 22 poachers caught red-handed to escape the country<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/febrero/14/pais1424902.html Juez puntarenense levanta medidas cautelares a atuneros - EL PAÍS - nacion.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Also under highly suspicious and allegedly corrupt circumstances, the District Attorney Michael Morales Molina, stopped the auction for public benefit of confiscated goods, immediately after the spokesman of the large illegal poacher ship "Tiuna" simply made the request<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/febrero/15/pais1426615.html Dall’Anese: ‘La isla del Coco está perdida’ - EL PAÍS - nacion.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
==Cocos Island in fiction==
The book ''Desert Island''<ref>Robinson Crusoe Enterprises, North Vancouver, 1996</ref> proposed the highly detailed theory that [[Daniel Defoe]] used the Isla del Coco as an accurate model for his descriptions of the island inhabited by the marooned [[Robinson Crusoe]]. However Defoe placed Crusoe's island not in the Pacific, but rather off the coast of Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>See [[Talk:Cocos_Island#The Robinson Crusoe connection theory|discussion page]] for further details.</ref>
Robinson's neighbouring ''[[Terra Firma]]'' is shown on the colour map of [[Joannes Jansson]] (Amsterdam) depicting the northeastern corner of [[South America]], entitled ''Terra Firma et Novum Regnum Granatense et Popayan''. It belongs to the early group of plates printed by [[William Blaeu]] from 1630 onwards. The properly called Terra Firma was the Isthmus of Darien <ref>Bowen, 1747: 593, and [[Charles Theodore Middleton]], ''A new and Complete System of Geography'', Volume II (London, printed for J. Cooke, 1777-1778, page 448</ref>. Crusoe's two references to Mexico are against a South American island as well.
The [[Michael Crichton]] novel ''[[Jurassic Park]]'' centers on the fictitious Isla Nublar that is off of the west coast of Costa Rica. Isla del Coco may be the inspiration for this island. Supporting this argument is the [[Dreamworks Interactive]] game ''[[Jurassic Park: Trespasser]]'' (1998) which used Cocos Island's topography as a substitute for the fictional island on which it takes place. Also, "Isla Nublar" is intended to mean "Clouded Island", and Cocos Island is the only island with cloud forests in the eastern pacific.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links and other references==
* [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0116_full.html Cocos Island moist forests (WWF)]
* [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0116.html Cocos Island moist forests (National Geographic)]
* [http://www.cocosisland.org/english/index.htm Friends of Cocos Island Foundation]
* [http://cocos-island.org Other Cocos island information]
* [http://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail-episode/168384/5-cocos-island---part-one Short documentary video on Cocos Island]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/island/ "Island of the Sharks"] - NOVA Online | Adventure to Cocos Island
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/sharkmountain/ "Shark Mountain"] - Nature | Shark Island
* [http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/cocos/movie.html "Fishes of Cocos Island"] - Quicktime movie by the USGS
* [http://www.wikicostarica.com:16080/index.php/Isla_del_Coco Videos of Isla del Coco]
* [http://www.bc-alter.net/dfriesen/cocosleads.html"The Buried Treasure of Cocos Island"]
* [http://www.thesop.org/index.php?id=1153 A story detailing buried treasure legends on the island], written by a student
* [http://www.e-adventure.net/land/treasure/treasureisland.html the real treasure island]
* [http://robertogasteiz.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!FA70A41BAA121040!419/ Some recent photos of Cocos island.]
[[Category:Islands of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:National parks of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands]]
[[Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
[[Category:Neotropic]]
[[Category:Marine ecoregions]]
[[bg:Кокос (остров)]]
[[da:Isla del Coco]]
[[de:Kokos-Insel (Costa Rica)]]
[[el:Κόκος Νήσος]]
[[es:Isla del Coco]]
[[eo:Kokosa insulo]]
[[fr:Île Cocos]]
[[gl:Coco, Costa Rica]]
[[it:Isola del Cocco]]
[[he:אי הקוקוס]]
[[hu:Kókusz-sziget]]
[[nl:Cocoseiland]]
[[ja:ココ島]]
[[pl:Wyspa Kokosowa]]
[[pt:Ilha do Coco]]
[[ru:Кокос (остров)]]
[[simple:Coco Island]]
[[fi:Kookossaari]]
[[sv:Cocos Island]]
[[vi:Đảo Cocos]]