Carlos J. Cabello Valeria Laboy Adriana Vera Andrea C. Vicenti Laura V. Díaz Stephanie C Rodriguez José E. Ríos Cristina M. Rivera Joanly Rivera Gabriela Reyes Claudia Colón Camila P. Santiago The Guánica Dry Forest, Elfin Forest and Tamarindo Lagoon
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Carlos J. Cabello Valeria LaboyAdriana Vera Andrea C. VicentiLaura V. Díaz Stephanie C RodriguezJosé E. Ríos Cristina M. RiveraJoanly Rivera Gabriela ReyesClaudia Colón Camila P. Santiago
The Guánica Dry Forest, Elfin Forest and Tamarindo
Lagoon
General informationThe Guánica State Dry Forest is a
subtropical dry forest located in the southwest of Puerto Rico.
Appointed as a forest reserve in 1919 and a UN Biosphere Reserve in 1981.
Scientifically importantDue to its complexity, nature and scientific
diversity. Some 119 investigations (1990-present)
have been made there, studying various topics: Flora Fauna Archeology Ecology Fisheries and more…
Location and ClimateLocated in the most arid area of Puerto Rico,
with an annual rainfall of 30 inches a year.Temperatures vary from 75° F to 85° F,
reaching up to 110° F in the most exposed areas.
Monthly Precipitation in Guánica
Geography and TopographyIt covers the counties of Guánica,
Guayanilla, and Yauco; also having islets in Ponce and Peñuelas.
Considered as a undulant zone: mostly flat land, while having a variety in the terrain level.
Soil propertiesSoil ranges from sandy to limestone, showing
a difference of these:1. Floor composed of limestone and fine-grained
surface.2. Abundant in fine and soft lime with small areas
of sand and clay.3. Floor of sand and clay with a depth of 6” or
more.
As an EcosystemIt is a xerophytic forest; driest place in Puerto
Rico.Also considered as an inhospitable
ecosystem: Lack of rainfall High temperatures Soils with little accumulation of organic material Absence of permanent rivers
FloraAround 550 species of plant; representing 85
families. Around 180 are trees (45 are endangered).The flora is adapted to extreme conditions:
Wind Saltpeter Lack of water
Flora examples
• Eucalyptus• Caoba (Mahogany)• Cherry Cactus
Guajacán CentenarioThe symbol of the Guánica Dry Forest.Predicted to be from 700-1000 years old.The age can be estimated by the width of the
trunk since the diameter increases a millimeter per year.
The extract of its trunk posses medicinal properties.
FaunaSome136 species of birds had been
recorded; 12 of them being native. Some 21 species of reptiles and 6 of
amphibians have been found; 8 species of lizards are exclusive to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
Insects are an important community and exert various functions from pollinating to decomposing.
Reptiles
Anolis poncensis and Anolis cooki (exclusive to the forest)
Endangered FaunaThe federal agencies had denominated 16
ReferencesEstado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. 1981. Documentation re-proposing Guanica Forest as UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve. Area of Scientific Research, Department of natural Resources San Juan P.R. 13 p.Cerame Vivas, M. 2001, Ecología de Puerto Rico. Publicaciones PuertorriqueñasMurphy P.G. 1990. Dry Forest of the Tropics and Subtropics Guanica Forest in Context4(1-3):15-24
ReferencesOrtíz, C. G. Bosque Estatal de Guánica. PrFrogui. Obtained from:http://www.prfrogui.com/geocities/guanicabosque.htmRicart Ph.D, C. M. (Narrador). (2014). Bosque Seco [Video
en línea]. Obtained from: Youtube.Ramírez, Jennie (2009). Bosque Seco de Guánica. Obtained from: http://ponce.inter.edu/acad/cursos/ciencia/pa ges/guanica.htm on June 28, 2015