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lolUniversity of Puerto Rico at Cayey

Rise Program

Dr. Edwin Vazquez

Report on El Yunque National Rainforest and The Guánica Dry Forest

Group #2

BIOL 3009

Session 1300

July 10, 2011

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Index

Introduction 3

Discussion of adaptations of flora

- El Yunque National Rainforest 4

- Guánica Dry Forest 7

Methodology

- El Yunque National Rainforest 9

- Guánica Dry Forest 9

Results

- Individual results for El Yunque National

Rainforest

11

- Grouped results for El Yunque National

Rainforest

12

- Individual results for Guánica Dry Forest 14

- Grouped results for Guánica Dry Forest 16

Results analysis (graphics)

- Individual graphics for El Yunque National

Rainforest

23

- Grouped graphics for El Yunque National

Rainforest

26

- Individual graphics for Guánica Dry Forest 28

- Grouped graphics for Guánica Dry Forest 30

Conclusion 35

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Discussion 36

Appendix 38

Credits 40

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Introduction

Living in an island relatively small can have a different perspective about what are

distances. In Puerto Rico running from side to side, for example from Fajardo to Mayaguez,

can last about 4 hours driving a car. It might be raining in the north while in the south might

be warm. Because of this we have evidence that a small region can have a diversity of

ecosystems. To learn more about our natural resources, we entered two Puerto Rican

ecosystems that differ from many essential features: El Yunque National Rainforest and

Guanica Dry Forest. While visiting those places, several tests were made. In the Tropical

Rainforest, the soil was the matter studied, while in the dry forest Floral ecosystem. This

report discusses diferences between the adaptations of the plants in each bioma, exposes all

the data taken, and also offers several graphics.

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Discussion: Adaptations of flora in El Yunque National Rainforest

Since El Yunque is a tropical forest, there are many environmental factors that affect

the growth and development of flora in this area, such as the climate, the temperature, the

minerals in the soil, the fauna, the distribution of water, between others. Because of the

effect of these factors, plants have made several noticeable adaptations to survive in this

ecosystem.

Ever since we got on our first stop in El Yunque, we were able to see some of those

adaptations. One of them was the symbiotic relationship of the Cadam’s tree roots with the

fungal microorganism Myccorrhiza so that they would both help each other to survive by

interchanging food and protection by the means of resistance to toxicity. Other adaptations

were the Caoba’s tree resistance to mite, the ability of Yagrumo’s stem to float and

proliferate, the Bamboo’s ability to dominate a specific area by modifying the soil, capturing

all the sunlight and, therefore, keeping other plants species from growing beneath them. We

also saw an interesting adaptation of bromeliad, which was a type of epiphyte, and which had

a dimorphism adaptation, meaning that it had 2 ways of growing in the same tree according

to the stage of growth on which it was. These 2 ways of growth were the phototropic growth,

which is in direction to sunlight, and the geotropic growth, which is in direction to the soil. We

were also able to see the special adjustment of the big trees’ roots to the unstable and rocky-

bottomed soil of the forest by growing perpendicular to the soil. Also on the big trees, we

could see that their leaves were adapted to the weather by being big and wide, a trait that

allows them to eliminate excess water and to capture more sunlight for photosynthesis. In

terms of the Sierra Palms, they have a special stabilizing root system which allows them to

live in unstable and saturated soils. We were also able to observe one of the most amazing

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adaptations of plants in the forest: the adventitious roots, which are roots that do not form in

the radical of the embryo, but on any other part of the plant, mostly in the stems. This allows

the plant to climb or to extend on the soil’s surface, reproducing more easily and reaching for

sunlight to complete photosynthesis.

In conclusion, the flora of El Yunque has evolved very specifically to reach the survival

requirements of this ecosystem.

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Discussion: Adaptations of flora in Guánica Dry Forest

The extreme conditions in Guánica Dry Forest limit greatly the growth of flora in this

ecosystem. The scarceness of water, the high salt concentration, the action of strong winds,

the recurrent fires, and the presence of so few nutrients in the soil are some of the factors

that restrict the normal development of plants in this area and that promote the improvement

of adaptations in the plants.

Since the beginning of our tour in the dry forest, we started observing that the plants of

the area were very different from those of El Yunque or even from Cayey, so we inferred that

they had special adaptations to survive in this extreme weather. One of the first plants that

we found was the mangrove, which leaves were very little, as most of the other tree’s leaves

in the dry forest. This adaptation allows them to retain water by avoiding transpiration. The

mangrove also has a special adaptation to secrete the salt of his inside by means of his

leaves, as if it sweated, and therefore, this allows it to maintain a balance on salt

concentration and to not dehydrate. The most evident adapted plants of this area are the

succulents and cactus which make a water and nutrient reserve inside their leaves, their

thorns and their stems. This helps them to survive the drought times and to preserve their

energy sources safely. Due to the dryness, the salt concentration and the high temperature

of the area, another obvious adaptation arises on the height of most of the trees, which keep

a short to medium height in order to preserve their nutrients and energy.

In conclusion, all of these vegetation species vary in their adaptations, but they all use

them to survive in the hostile conditions of this extraordinaire environment.

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In this journey Yunque wanted to accomplish many things but the most

comprehensive besides going to take soil samples, pH, humidity, altitude, and etc. Was to

reach the top of this.

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Methodology

I. Methodology for Soil analysis of El Yunque National Rainforest:

1. Go to El Yunque National Rainforest .

2. Make eight stops and take the coordinates and altitude with the help of a GPS.

3. In those stops messure the:

a. Soil’s humedity

b. Soil’s pH

c. Temperature

d. Wind’s velocity

4. A sample of soil can be taken in each stop so then the presence of fages could be

analyzed. In the test tube write details like humidity, pH, temperature, and wind’s

velocity

II. Methodology for Guánica Dry Forest:

A. Line Transect Method:

1. Lay a measure tape along the ground in a straight line between two poles as a

guide to a sampling method used to measure the distribution of organisms (from 0

to 50 meters).

2. Record the organisms that are actually touching the line.

B. Belt transect:

1. Using a quadrant, measure the percents of abiotic and biotic factors inside the box.

2. Other group will examine the effect of salt spray on the plant community

progressing from the coast line to the forested areas

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3. Also will determine the distribution and frequency of a specific plant ( Agave).

4. They will locate a population of their plants and then measure the distribution of

their plant in the area.

5. Later, will describe the dispersion pattern for their species.

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Results

I. Results of El Yunque National Rainforest

A. Individual results of El Yunque National Rainforest

Altitude Coordinates Temperature pH Wind’s velocity Humidity

49p N 18ᵒ 21.987' W 056ᵒ 46.223' 95.1ᵒ F 6 Min 80p/m

Max 346p/m

4

706p N 18ᵒ 18.1989' W 065ᵒ 47.394' 94.1ᵒF 4 Min 0p/m

Max 15p/m

2

165p N 18ᵒ 21.985' W 065ᵒ 46.225' 84.6ᵒ F 4 Min 0 p/m

Max 15p/m

4.5

1,630p N 18ᵒ 18.749' W 0.65ᵒ 42.219' 89.1ᵒ F 4 Min 0p/m

Max 202p/m

6

2,181p N 18ᵒ 186' W 065ᵒ 46.227' 80.9ᵒF 4.9 Min 0 p/m

Max 133p/m

5

2,405p N 18ᵒ 18.218' W 065ᵒ 47.361' 80.6ᵒF 4.9 Min 0 p/m Max

7p/m

3

2,571p N 18ᵒ 18.328' W 065ᵒ 42.356' 77.6ᵒF 4.2 Min 0p/m

Max 244p/m

4.5

2,878p N 18ᵒ 18.257' W 065ᵒ 47.539' 76.0ᵒF 5 Min 0p/m

Max 53p/m

2

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B. Grouped results of El Yunque National Rainforest

Results from Group #1

Altitude Coordinates Humidity pH Temperature

Velocity of the

wind

706

18 � 20.298'N 065

�45.732'W 5 80 �F

2,483

18 �18.1989'N 065 �

47.394'W 84% 73F

56

18 � 21.985'N 065

�46.225'W 80F 206 F/M

26,622

18 �298'N 065

�47.394'W 71F

1,605

18 �18.65'N 065

�46.227'W 25% 6.5 78F

3,425

18 �18.633'N 065

�47.546'W 7%

2,153

18 �18.136'N 065

�47.047'W 70%

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Results from Group #3

Coordinates Altitude Temperature pH

Velocity of

the wind Humidity

N 18˚ 21.985 W 065˚

46.228 49 ft 83˚ F 30˚ C 6.8

N 18˚ 18.335 W 065˚

47.347 2664 ft 70˚ F 24˚ C 5 60

N 18˚ 18.284 W 065˚

47.587 2888 ft 71˚ F 24˚C 5 20

N 18˚ 20.273 W 065˚ 45.734 83˚ F 30˚ C 6.8 40.9

N 18˚ 18.297 W 065˚

47.721 2513 Ft 80* F 4.2 30

N 18˚ 18.144 W 065˚

47.003 2571 Ft 81.5* F 4.2 40.5

N 18˚ 18.568 W 065˚

47.664 3394 ft 76* F 5 20

N 18˚ 18.38 W 065˚ 47.26 3352 ft

N 18˚ 19.121 W

065˚46.288 1579 ft 4.5 70%

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II. Results of Guánica Dry Forest

A. Individual results

Individual results of Guánica Dry Forest of Line transect  

Meters Object found in specific centimeter

Limestone Bushes Grass

1m 10.20 10.20 -

5m - 0- 100 -

10m - 20.10 -

15m - 0-100 -

20m - 20.10 -

25m 25.1 25.106 -

30m 40.10 - -

35m 35.02 35.201 -

40m 40.02 - 20.10

45m 10.70 - 70.10

50m 10.80 - 50.110

   

 

 

 

 

 

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Individual results of Guánica Dry Forest of Belt transect  

Objects in quadrant (percent) Meters

Limestone Bushes Grass

1m 0% 100% (White Mangrove) 0%

5m 99% 1% 0%

10m 0% 100% 0%

15m 0% 100% 0%

20m 40% 60% 0%

25m 0% 100% 0%

30m 0% 100% 0%

35m 75% 20% 5%

40m 35% 65% 0%

45m 40% 60% 0%

50m 80% 20% 0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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B. Results of other groups Guánica Dry Forest

Results of Line transect of Group #3

Meter Percent Objects

1m - -

5m - -

10m 83%

17%

grass

plant

15m 67%

33%

grass

cotton

20m

57%

13%

7%

3%

grass

rock

plant( orange)

seashell

25m 100% grass

30m 92%

8%

grass

rock

35m

15%

68%

17%

Rock

burnt grass

plant (red)

40m

63%

28%

9%

dry

grass

plant rock(white)

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45m

40%

12%

24%

24%

grass

seashells

soil(red)

rock

50m

40%

27%

14%

7%

12%

grass

plant

dead vegetation

ants

seashells

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Results of Belt Transect of Group 3

Meter Percent and object

5m 98% grey dirt (quicksand)

2% spider

10m 50% rock

50% quicksand

15m

5% cotton

75% rock

19% plants (small)

1% sea shell

20m

80% black rock

3% sea shell

17% plant(orange)

25m 100% grass

30m 85% grass

15% rock

35m 50% grass

50% rock

40m 95% rock

5% ants

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45m

75% grass

5% ants

20% red soil

50m 97% rock

3% leaf

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Results of Belt transect of “Group 1”

Meter Percent Objects

1m - -

5m a) 100% a) Lime stone

10m a) 80%

b) 20%

a)Button Mangrove

b)Lime stone

15m a) 30%

b) 70%

a)Acacia

b)lime stone

20m a)100% a)Grass

25m a) 85%

b)15%

a)Grass

b) Lime stone

30m a) 100% a)Grass

35m a) 40%

b)60%

a)Grass

b)Lime stone

40m a)90%

b)10%

a)Lime Stone

b) Grass

45m

a)10%

b) 5%

c) 75%

a)Cactus

b) Grass

c) Lime stone

50m a)20%

b)80%

a)Lime Stone

b) grass

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Analysis of Melocactus poblation in Guanica Dry Forest

Melocactus Mother Plant #1

Mother Plant Alive Dead Seedlings

1m 0 1 1

2m 0 0 0

3m 1 0 1

4m 8 2 10

5m 3 1 4

6m 3 0 3

7m 0 1 1

8m 0 0 0

9m 0 0 0

10m 0 0 0

Melocactus Mother Plant #2

Mother Plant Alive Dead Seedlings

1m 2 0 2

2m 8 4 12

3m 10 3 13

4m 1 8 9

5m 12 4 16

6m 13 3 16

7m 7 1 8

8m 7 3 10

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9m 2 1 3

10m 3 2 5

Melocactus Mother Plant #3

3 Mother Plant Alive Dead Seedlings

1m 0 2 2

2m 4 0 4

3m 5 0 5

4m 4 1 5

5m 2 3 5

6m 2 1 3

7m 1 0 1

8m 1 2 3

9m 2 3 5

10m 7 0 7

Total seedlings 108 46 154

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Analysis of the results

I. Graphics for El Yunque National Rainforest

A. Graphics for individual results

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B. Graphics for other groups’ data

75  

75.5  

76  

76.5  

77  

77.5  

78  

Group  1   Group  2   Group  3  

Tempe

rature  (ᵒF)  

Data  per  group  

Comparison  between  the  groups  average  temperature  data  recolected  in  El  Yunque  Rainforest  

Temperature2  

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II. Graphicsfor Guánica Dry Forest

A. Graphics for individual results

0  

20  

40  

60  

80  

100  

120  

0   10   20   30   40   50   60  

Specific  locaMon

 (cm)    

EsMmated  locaMon  (m)  

Graphic  of  ConMnuous  Sampling  Line  Transect  Method  in  Bosque  Seco  of  Guánica,  Puerto  

Rico  in  July  27,  2011  

Lime  stone  

Bushes  

Grass  

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0  

20  

40  

60  

80  

100  

120  

0   5   10   15   20   25   30   35   40   45  50  

Abu

ndan

ce  (%

)  

LocaMon  (m)  

Graphic  of  AbioMc  and  BioMc  Components  in  Bosque  Seco  of  Guánica,  Puerto  Rico  using  Belt  Transect  Method  messured  by  

Quadrants  on  July  27,  1011    

Soil  

VegetaAon  

Lime  stone  

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B. Graphics for other groups’ data

C. Graphics for the Melocactus Analysis 0%  

20%  

40%  

60%  

80%  

100%  

120%  

5   10   15   20   25   30   35   40   45   50  

Percen

t  (%)  

Meters  (m)  

Graphic  of  the  data  from  Line  transect  of    “Group  1”  at  Guánica  Dry  Forest  

Lime  stone  

VegetaAon  

Grass  

Cactus  

0%  

50%  

100%  

150%  

5   10  15  20  25  30  35  40  45  

Percen

t  (%)  

Meters  (m)  

Graphic  from  the  data  of  the  Line  transect  of  “Guánica  G3”  at  Guánica  Dry  

Forest  grass  coEon  rock  plant  seashell  dead  vegetaAon  animal  gray  dirt  

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Graphic for Melocactus #1 data analysis by Group #4

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Graphic for Melocactus #2 data analysis by Group #4

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Graphic for Melocactus #3 data analysis by Group #4

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Conclusion

After visiting El Yunque National Pluvial Forest and the Guánica Dry Forest we can determine that the

differences between these two ecosystems are drastically evident. According to our inquire and as

shown by the soil’s condition as well as by the organisms’ adaptations, while El Yunque receives

about 200 inches of water per year, the Guánica Dry Forest remains with less than 30 inches.We can

conclude that this is caused by their different geographical locations and altitude. By our experience

on both ecosystems, we can determine that the humidity in El Yunque is a lot higher than in Guánica,

while the temperature is lower in the Pluvial Forest; unfortunately we didn’t have quantitative data

from Guánicaon these topics to compare. Because of the qualitative evidence shown by the

adaptations of plants on both forests, we can also deliberate that evolutionary variations result from

adjustments of the organisms to their environmental requirements. We could observe the evident

differences between the variations of the vegetation that have resulted from natural selection: in El

Yunque, most of the plants were taller, leafier and had bigger leaves, while in Guánica Dry Forest the

plants had smaller, fewer leaves and were lower. As we can see, the survival conditions of the

organisms are directly related to the conditions of their habitat. According to our observations, some

other factors, such as the pH, the wind velocity, the competition of other organisms in the area, the

different reproduction cycles, between others also seem to affect the organisms’ variations according.

While comparing the data collecting methods used on both expeditions we can conclude that they are

very different from each other, but that they both reached their inquire objectives very well. As a

group, we would recommend to use the same research techniques on both forests because that way

it would be easier and more effective to compare the obtained facts. In conclusion, we would say that

this trips were enriching experiences because they allowed us to see some of the natural resources

of our Island form both a tourist and a scientific perspective.

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Discussion

Our trip to El Yunque was a meaningful experienced to our lives. Just the fact that we

walked so much to go to the top of the mountain and once we arrived the view in the rock on

the top of the mountain was something outstanding. Mostly what we did was to take samples

of soil to later see if we could find and see if we can find some kind of new bacteria or virus.

We learned new techniques on how to take the ph of the soil where we extracted the soil and

the humidity, the wind in that area and many other things. Our objective was to experiment

the feeling of going to a tropical forest and taking samples of soil and other tests. We also

saw how within that forest are many animals and the majority of them are endangered

species. Some images to the trip can be seen in Figure 1 in the Appendix.

In our trip to Bosque Seco in Guánica was an outstanding experience. First of all we

learned a lot about that forest peculiar things. When we were there our main focus was on

two plants the mellow cactus and Agave. The cactus reproduces sexually and the Agave

reproduces asexually. One of the many interesting fact learned in this trip was how the trees

adapt to the forest by dropping their leaves, this process is called disguise. In this trip we did

to different experiments. One was quadrant lines that was to measure from the beach up to

fifty meters into the forest and see what was in the surroundings and the quadrant to more

specific in the way be made a possible percentage of how much rocks and vegetation was

there. This experiment increased our knowledge and was a wonderful and great experience.

A collage of the pictures taken in this trip appears in the Figure 2 in the Appendix.

One irony that we all saw was when we went to El Yunque, it did not rain but when we

went to Bosque Seco in Guánica it rain a lot, it was horrible. We found it weird knowing that

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El Yunque is a tropical forest and it rains almost every day, but in Guánica is a hot forest

where the cactus lives and hardly doesn’t rain. Now we know that these things happen.

These two fieldtrips were amazing and unforgettable; acknowledging that all these things that

we did and learned will be useful and constructive for a near future. Also the techniques

learned will be very helpful for future studies. The beauty of our island and the wonders are

unexplainable and it’s so miserable how people are damaging it and destroying our nature.

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Appendix

Figure 1 Pictures taken by Group 2 at El Yunque National Rainforest in June 20, 2011

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Guánica  Dry  Forest  Figure 2: Pictures taken by Group 2 at Guánica Dry Forest on June 27, 2011.  

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Credits

Work Done by

1. Title Page Nicholson Silva

2. Introduction Grethel Montañez

3. Discussion of adaptations of Flora

in El Yunque National Rainforest

and Guanica Dry Forest

Angélica González

4. Methodology of Soil Analysis in El

Yunque National Rainforest

Adrián Rojas

5. Methodology of Line Transect and

Belt transect in Guánica Dry

Forest

Luis Alvelo

6. Recopilation of data tables Celizbets Colón

7. Individual Graphics of El Yunque

National Rainforest

Gustavo Pérez

8. Individual Graphics of Guánica Dry

Forest

Celizbets Colón

9. Groupal Grahics of Guánica Dry

Forest

Gustavo Pérez and Celizbets Colón

10. Conclusion Grethel Montañez and Angélica González

11. Discussion Eduardo Rivera

12. Collage Nicholson Silva

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13. Edition Celizbets Colón

 

.