Comparison between the Yunque Rainforest and the Guanica Dry Forest

On this report we are going to talk about two major biomes. A biome is a major

life zone characterized by vegetation type or by physical environment. Factors as

mean temperature and precipitation play a major role in determining where biomes

exist. Each biome is also characterized by microorganisms, fungi, and animals

adapted to that particular environment. Vertical layering is an important feature of

terrestrial biomes, and the shapes and sizes of plants largely define that layering. The

species composition of each kind of biome varies from one location to another.

Biomes are dynamic, and disturbance rather than stability tends to be the rule.

The two major biomes that we are going to work on are the Tropical rain forest

and the tropical dry forest. Tropical rain forests across the world are very diverse and

their precipitation is relatively constant, about 200-400 cm annually. Among its plants

it includes emergent trees that grow above a closed canopy. Broadleaf evergreen trees

are dominant in tropical rain forests as are epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids.

Tropical dry forests precipitation is highly seasonal, about 150-200 cm annually, with

a six to seven month dry season. Many tropical dry forest trees drop their leaves

during the dry season. Thorny shrubs and succulent plants are common in type of

forest.

The Tropical Rain Forest, el Yunque

El Yunque national Rain Forest is a reserve located on the eastern side of the

island and has over 200 different species of plant and over 120 species of animals.

For a forest to be categorized as a tropical rain forests it must have principally two

environmental factors: the location should be on the tropical equatorial zone and the

quantity of rain that it receives a year that it should be 4 to 8 meters.

In the national rain forest el Yunque they are 240 species that been seen and which

26 are endemic and only found in el Yunque. In addiction they have been reports of

47 species that have been introduced, 88 species of wear trees, 50 species of natives’

orchids and 150 species of ferns. The characteristic of the forest may vary from

elevation. The national rain forest is divided on four types of forest which are: the

“tabonuco” forest, red tree forest, sierra palm forest and the cloud forest or dwarf

forest.

The plants that we found on the rain forest were:

• Cadan Tree: Produces a fruit the size of a soursop, has a relationship with

mycorrhizae to grow.

• Yagrumo: Cecropia peltata. It is dioecious, meaning it has male and female

flowers on different trees of the same species. The flowers of the female are

tiny and are grouped in inflorescences up to 4 inches long, The male flowers

are much thinner. The female flowers produce thousands of fruits that are

eaten by birds and bats. This keeps flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

This species grows rapidly and their roots are shallow.

• Magohaby (Caboa): Is a valuable wood, light and attractive. Does not have

moth. Mahogany has a generally straight grain and it has a reddish-brown

color, which darkens over time, and displays a reddish sheen when polished. It

has excellent workability and is very durable. It can be Cuban mahogaby or

Dominican mahogaby, although the Dominican magohaby has smaller leafs.

• Bamboo: Grass, stem free of branches, it doesn’t have growth under its

branches. Bamboos are some of the fastest growing plants in the world and

depend on local soil and climatic conditions.

• Guava tree: It was used in coffee plantations for shadow and produces a very

sweet fruit. The spread of the guavas is because the animals will eat the fruit

and disperse the seeds in their droppings The ants that live in this tree are

called “abayarde”.

• Guaraguao Tree: Guarea guara. It is made of light wood like mahogany.

• Tree Fern (Helecho arbóreo): Cibotium spp. They are very primitive plants,

lively ferns and often in danger of extinction in the regions of origin.

The plants and trees that live on El Yunque have big leaves, long and strong roots and

tall stems.

Methodology

The objective of The Yunque Rain Forest visit was to take soil samples to see if we

could find phages.

1. Take the soil sample

2. Coordinates

3. Wind Velocity

4. Soil Temperature

5. Ph

Results from el Yunque:

Altitude Coordinates Humidity PH Temp. Wind

Velocity

Muestra? Who?

706 18 ̊ 20.298'N 065 ̊45.732'W

73% 5 80 ̊F

Yes NCC

2,483 18 ̊18.1989'N 065 ̊ 47.394'W

84% 6 73F

Yes LBR

56 18 ̊ 21.985'N 065 ̊46.225'W

80% 5.5 80F

206F/M No

2,622 18 ̊298'N 065 ̊47.394'W

75% 4.2 71F

Yes LAPS

1,605 18 ̊18.65'N 065 ̊46.227'W

80% 4.5 78F

Yes CMM

3,425 18 ̊18.633'N 065 ̊47.546'W

78% 5.5 73F Yes LRV

2,153 18 ̊18.136'N 065 ̊47.047'W

80% 5 72F Yes YCR

The Tropical Dry Forest, Guánica Dry Forest

Flora in this area is limited due to its climate. In this area dry soils are relatively

unproductive because plants need sufficient quantities of liquid to live. This plant

need to go to some adaptations due to the extremely dry climate. Rain comes

infrequently but when it comes the vegetation is transformed. Many plants have

highly reduced leaves that resist excessive water loss. Other adaptation is the Cam

(caarssulacean acid metabolism) in which the plant takes CO2 at night and the

stomata remain close in the day. (Campbell biology) The most common one are the

button mangrove, “uva de playa”, Acacia, Melocatus and Agave.

Plants in Guánica:

●Button mangrove: it’s an introduce plant, located far away from the cost. These

plants extract salts from soli. This inhibits the plant growth creating a hypertonic

solution.

●Uva de playa: scientific name coccoloba. It’s an introduced tree, are located close to

the cost.

●Acacia: plant native from Puerto Rico, this plants contain thorns that protect them

from predators.

●Melocactus: native from Puerto Rico

●Agave: live close to limestone, product of ph of rain (5.5 acidic).

Thorns: In this forest the plant have a commonly adaptation which are the thorns.

The thorns are a transformation that has different purposes. The purposes of the

thorns are:

1. Reduce the transpiration of the leaves, which prevent the tree from drying.

2. The photosynthesis is develop on the shaft

3. Prevent that some predators eat the plant.

4. Obligate  the  animal  to  eat  the  fruit  which  benefits  the  dispersion  of  the  

plant

Results from Guánica: Quadrants Group 1

Line Transects Group 1

Quadrants Group 2

Line Transept Group 2

Quadrants Group 3

Line Transept Group 3

Conclusion

The methodologies that we used on both ecosystems helped us understand some

differences between them. The Yunque soil is more moist and cooler than the

Guánica Dry Forest which soil was mostly dry and arid. The Guánica’s results

showed how rocks were an important part of this forest. Rocks make a barrier against

fire to protect the forest. The barriers of rocks helps protect the plants from fire so

they can reproduce. The plant adaptations that these both ecosystems have got to go

through are totally different.

These different ecosystems have gone through so many different adaptations that have

helped them evolve through time. The differences between the rain forest el Yunque

and the Guanica dry forest are their distribution patterns, the precipitation, their

plants, animals, temperature and their human interact within these ecosystems. They

are the total opposite, one has a great diversity among species and the other has a

narrower scale of species. Both of them make great contributions to this island, by

helping us study their different adaptations it has helped us identify how evolution

and natural selection are an important aspect of nature.