Sistema de Costa: Bosque Seco

de GuánicaJustin Cotto

Camille L. Ruiz

Abneil Alicea

Sara Díaz

Roberto Cruz

Enid Cruz

Jose Ramos

Anibal Tornés

Ramón Colón

Jessica Ortiz

Dry Winds

Low Soil

Humidity

What is this Ecosystem?

More than meets the eye...

● 1970 Most dry forests were severely altered.

o Human impact had its toll. Agriculture

Fires

Livestock

● Underground Flora Biomasso Provides nutrient exchange & Density.

Underground Runoff significant effect.

● 24 to 43 inches of rain yearly.

■ Wood Production

■ Deforestation

Why is it so valuable for the Scientific

Community?

● United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization (UNESCO)o State Forest since 1917 due ample species diversity.

16 types of soil

● Exemplary Adaptations in Flora

o “We have found in this region more than 700 species of

plants, of which about 48 are endangered or threatened” -

Miguel Canals

● 1981 International Biosphere Reserve

What makes this Ecosystem Dry?

● Mountain Effect

o Central Chain of Mountain Range

East to West

● Blocks wind trades from the North.

● When arriving to South they are dry.

o “Rain Shadow Effect”

El Bosque Seco vs El

Yunque

1. Less forest levels

2. Smaller Trees

a. Exclusive from this Ecosystem

3. Less Complex in Flora

a. Abundant especially in lower

levels

i. Runoff and Light Energy

Search

4. More Underground Biomass

5. Smaller and less diameter

1. More forest levels

2. Taller Trees

3. Complex Flora

4. Less Underground Biomass

5. Higher and Wider trees

Diversity on every level

Flora & FaunaFlora

1. Top- open scrub vegetation.

2. Hillside- species lose their leaves

during the dry season, closed canopy,

light does not penetrate much.

3. Valley- species are always green,

closed canopy, light does not

penetrate.

Fauna

● Nocturnal

● Scales

● Water in Food

● Hibernate in drought

o Aestivation

● Clear colored Skin

● Insect Feeders

● Birds nest in the soil

o Guabairo

Evolution in a Nutshell

Adaptations & Dwarf Forest1. Caducity

a. Lose leaves in dry periods

2. Freofites

a. Deep roots to reach underground runoff

3. Vertical Leaf Orientation

a. Avoid direct Sun Rays

4. Heat Control

a. Open during Nighttime

1. Water Conservation

a. Hairs, Thorns, Bent Leaves, Dropping

2. Succulents

a. Cactus stores Water

3. Cladofiles

a. Trunk can practice Photosynthesis

4. Ephemeral

a. Conclude cycle quickly

Friends in need

Sapo Concho cries for help

● Only viable reproductive place for the species.

o Barometer sensor indicated rainfall

Their food storage has to be balanced with

sensor.

● 2 years until ovulation

o Ponds have to be available

Amplexus

References

● https://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=lJOgW

RS1klQ

● http://farm4.staticflic

kr.com/3353/361561

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