Post on 01-Jun-2015
University 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 4-5
- Guánica Dry Forest 6-7
Methodology
- El Yunque National Rainforest 8
- Guánica Dry Forest 8-9
Results
- Individual results for El Yunque National
Rainforest
- Individual results for Guánica Dry Forest
- Grouped results for Guánica Dry Forest
Results analysis (graphics)
- Individual graphics for El Yunque National
Rainforest
- Individual results for Guánica Dry Forest
- Grouped results for Guánica Dry Forest
Conclusion
Discussion
Credits
Appendix
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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
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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 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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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
Individual results of Guánica Dry Forest of Belt transect
Meters Objects in quadrant (percent)
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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%
B. Results of other groups Guánica Dry Forest
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Results of Line transect of Group #3
Meter Percent Objects
1m - -
5m - -
10m83%
17%
grass
plant
15m67%
33%
grass
cotton
20m
57%
13%
7%
3%
grass
rock
plant( orange)
seashell
25m 100% grass
30m92%
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
5m98% grey dirt (quicksand)
2% spider
10m50% 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
30m85% 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
10ma) 80%
b) 20%
a)Button Mangrove
b)Lime stone
15ma) 30%
b) 70%
a)Acacia
b)lime stone
20m a)100% a)Grass
25ma) 85%
b)15%
a)Grass
b) Lime stone
30m a) 100% a)Grass
35ma) 40%
b)60%
a)Grass
b)Lime stone
40ma)90%
b)10%
a)Lime Stone
b) Grass
45m
a)10%
b) 5%
c) 75%
a)Cactus
b) Grass
c) Lime stone
50ma)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
9m 2 1 3
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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
Analysis of the results
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I. Graphics for El Yunque National Rainforest
A. Graphics for individual results
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Altitude in El Yunque National Rainforest
Humedity in El Yunque National Rainforest
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Wind velocity in El Yunque National
Rainforest
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pH of El Yunque National Rainforest’s
soil
Temperature of the soil at El Yunque National
Rainforest in Farenheit(F°)
B. Graphics for other groups data
Group 1 Group 2 Group 375
75.5
76
76.5
77
77.5
78
Comparison between the groups average temper-ature data recolected in El Yunque Rainforest
Temperature2
Data per group
Tem
pera
ture
(ᵒF)
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Average from the groupal data of pH in El Yunque Rain forest soil
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Average from the group data of humidity in El
Yunque Rain forest soil
II. Graphicsfor Guánica Dry Forest
A. Graphics for individual results
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0 10 20 30 40 50 600
20
40
60
80
100
120
Graphic of Continuous Sampling Line Transect Method in Bosque Seco of
Guánica, Puerto Rico in July 27, 2011
Lime stoneBushesGrass
Estimated location (m)
Spec
ific
loca
tion
(cm
)
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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500
20
40
60
80
100
120
Graphic of Abiotic and Biotic Compo-nents in Bosque Seco of Guánica, Puerto
Rico using Belt Transect Method mes-sured by Quadrants on July 27, 1011
SoilVegetationLime stone
Location (m)
Abu
ndan
ce (%
)
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B. Graphics for other groups data
C. Graphics for the Melocactus Analysis
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5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Graphic of the data from Line transect of “Group 1” at Guánica Dry Forest
Lime stoneVegetationGrassCactus
Meters (m)
Perc
ent (
%)
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500%
20%40%60%80%
100%120%
Graphic from the data of the Line transect of “Guánica G3” at Guánica
Dry Forest
grasscottonrockplantseashelldead vegetationanimalgray dirtMeters (m)
Perc
ent (
%)
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Comparative Graphic of data from all groups of
Belt transect from Guánica Dry Forest
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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
Conclusion
The National Pluvial Forest named El Yunque receives about 3,400mm of water per
year. This is because of his 3,500 feet of elevation. It was noted that the temperature was
low compared to Guanica. In addition, we noticed the humidity just when we entered to the
rainforest. The differences between the adaptations of plants were evident: in one there were
leafier with bigger leaves, while in the other there were smaller leaves and lower. Although
the ground wasn’t studied in the dry forest, the slots of the ground confirmed that El
Yunque’s ground was more humid than the Guanica’s one. While looking at the results, the
difference seemed, but it is not so far from each other. Because soil samples were taken
from both ecosystems and could not be analyzed for looking phage, it remains unfinished. It
is sure that here we may notice another difference.
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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.
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
El Yunque is a tropical forest and it rains almost every day, but in Guánica is a hot forest
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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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El Yunque National Rainforest
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
13.Edition Celizbets Colón
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