Ocotea monteverdensis

The species was first described by William Burger in 1990.^[2] The holotype is housed at the Field Museum of Natural History.^[3] As Burger points out, as is the case with all Lauraceae, the exact taxonomic status of O. monteverdensis within the family is complicated, and details continue to be researched.^[1][2] Van der Werff points out that O. monteverdensis is easily confused with other Lauraceae, including Ocotea hartshorniana.^[4]

The fruit of O. monteverdensis is eaten by many tropical species, including birds and animals. These include the Black guan (Chamaepetes unicolor), the Resplendant quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), and especially the Three-wattled bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus), which plays an important role in seed distribution of O. monteverdensis. The oilbird, Steatornis caripensis, is also known to feed on O. monteverdensis.^[5][6]

• Birds known to feed on the fruit of O. monteverdensis
• 
  Resplendant quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
• 
  Black guan (Chamaepetes unicolor)
• 
  Three-wattled bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus)
• 
  Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis)

The bellbird, in particular, plays a key role in the life cycle of O. monteverdensis. It exhibits a strong preference for consuming the fruit.^[7] After consumption, the bird regurgitates the seed from its perch, which tends to be on dead branches. The increased level of sunlight increases the likelihood that seedlings will be viable.^[8]

Ocotea monteverdensis is endemic to Costa Rica, where it is only found in cloud forest environments at elevations of approximately 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level. It is found primarily on the Pacific slope of the Cordillera de Tilaran. Recent estimates put the number of extant mature trees at 870. Of these, 760 are within the Monteverde area, and another 100 trees are found in a fragmented population around the Orosí Volcano complex near Nicaragua. Estimates suggest that the population has reduced by at least 95% over the past 180 years.^[1]