Rise Summer Bridge Program

1. El Yunque
National Rain Forest

2. Group Memebers
Tiara Zoar Ramírez Ojeda
Karolina I. Pellot Ortiz
Angélica Santiago
Emanuel Santiago
Edmaritz Hernández Pagán
Carlos Villagrasa
Felix A. Zayas Rodríguez
Rafael Cummings
Gabriel Pastrana
Nicole M. Cruz Reyes
Amalia Martínez Córdova
Jerielys R. García Sanchez

3. • El Yunque
• Bosque Nacional del Caribe
• Bosque de la lluvia
• Olimpo Borinquen
• Sierra de Luquillo

4. Origin of the name
• Two possibilities:
1. Spanish adaptation of "Yuke" Taino name of
the forest (according to some insiders meant
"white high ground”).
2. The resemblance in form has Yunque Peak to
the part used by the blacksmith to do their jobs.

5. Description
• El Yunque is a National Rainforest and it's the
only rainforest that belongs to the U.S. Forest
Service. The peak is 3,543 feet above sea level
and it's located at La Sierra de Luquillo. The
National Forest encompasses 28,000 acres and
it's characterized by the variation of
vegetation, species of coquí, birds and other
species.

6. Purpose of this trip:
• Learn and understand life at El Yunque
• Go beyond theory and lab experience
• Apply knowledge acquired in the lab to evaluate
environment.
• pH
• Temperature
• Wind direction
• Humidity
• Evaluate and compare results

7. History
• In 1876 the Spanish crown declared "Area
Montes" the highest part of the Sierra de
Luquillo.
• At that time it had 12,399 acres of extension.
• For this reason it is understood that the
"Yunque forest" should be considered as one
of the oldest reserves in this hemisphere.

8. History
• Managed since 1903 by the US Forest Service.
• It is the smallest and more variety.
• In 1976 UNESCO declared the Yunque forest as
a biosphere reserve for the Planet.

9. Unique Characteristics:
• One of the few forests where there is no risk of
fire.
• From 180 to 200 inches of rain fall a year.
• Source of water for about 14 rivers, among these:
• Espiritu Santo
• Sonadora
• Grande
• Hicacos
• Mameyes
• Coca
• Sabana

10. Unique Characteristics:
• Highest point is at 1080m above sea level
• A tropical monsoon climate and receives over
2.5m of rainfall a year
• Diversity of ecosystems within the forest
• Home to a wide variety of organisms
*some of them like the Amazona vittata are
endangered*

11. Unique Characteristics:
• The highest peaks of the Sierra de Luquillo
are:El toro: 3,523 pies
• El Yunque: 3,493 pies
• Pico del Este: 3,488 pies
• Monte Britton: 3,087 pies
• Los Picachos: 3,150 pies

12. Unique Characteristics:
• The Caribbean National Forest consists of four
forest types are defined by:
• elevation
• precipitation
• temperature
• Life associations

13. Location:
@ Luquillo, Puerto Rico
Information and picture taken from the
USDA/Forest Service.

14. Flora
• It has 240 species of trees
• 88 are endemic
• 23 are only found in that forest.
• 150 species of Fern plants
• 50 species of Orchids.
• Divided into subforest depending on vegetation and
organisims:
• Palm forest, full of different palm trees
• Dwarf forest, all the plants and trees are peculiarly small
because of the wind speeds.
• Red tree forest, used for the raising of the puertorican
parrot.

15. Flora

16. Fauna
• 100 species of vertebrates and mammals that are
represented by eleven species of bats.
• 6 species that feed of insects among them the red bat.
• 4 species of bat eat fruits
• one specie feed exclusively of pollen.

17. Fauna
• The general forest fauna is dominated by
A. reptiles and birds during the day and
• find 14 species of lizards including green lizard
and the garden lizard
• Snakes, like the Boa of Puerto Rico is
endangered.
• In birds we can find up to 77 species, which 17 of
them are unique to Puerto Rico,
B. Amphibians during the night
• 13 species of the coqui, like the mountain coqui
and the coqui de campo.

18. Gathered Data:
1st stop: Stream, before
reaching the forest
• Ground pH: 7
• Ground temperature: 79°F
• Humidity: 9
• Water temperature: 81°F
• Wind: 0 mph
2nd stop: Bamboo zone
• Air temperature: 87°F
• Ground pH: 6.85
• Ground temperature: 79°F
• Humidity: 0
• Wind: 0 mph
3th stop: Secondary forest
• Air temperature: 82ºF
• Ground pH: 7
• Ground temperature: 71ºF
• Humidity: 2
• Water temperature: 70ºF
• Wind: 0 mph
4th stop: Around Yokahu tower
• Air temperature: 86°F
• Ground pH: 6
• Ground temperature: 72°F
• Humidity: 1
• Wind: 0 mph

19. 5th stop: Giant trees zone
• Air temperature: 80ºF
• Ground pH: 6.8
• Ground temperature:
70ºF
• Humidity: 1
• Water temperature: 70ºF
• Wind: 0 mph
6th stop: “Baño Grande”
• Air temperature: 83°F
• Ground pH: 6.4
• Ground temperature: 69°F
• Humidity: 1
• Water temperature: 64°F
• Wind: 0 mph
7th stop: Palms forest
• Air temperature: 77oF
• Ground pH: 6.5
• Ground temperature: 71oF
• Humidity: 2
• Water temperature: 69oF
• Wind: 0 mph
8th stop: puente de piedras
• Air temperature: 72oF
• Ground pH: 5.9
• Ground temperature: 66oF
• Humidity: 1
• Water temperature: 68oF
• Wind: 0 mph

20. 9th stop: Stream
• Air temperature: 73oF
• Ground pH: 6.5
• Ground temperature: 71oF
• Humidity: 1
• Water temperature: 67oF
• Wind: 0 mph
10th stop: “Los picachos”
• Ground pH: 6.5
• Humidity: 1
• Wind: 10 mph

21. Data Analysis:
• As we were going deeper, temperatures of the
air, water and ground were degrading.
• The pH ranged approximately 6-7
• Forest humidity variation reflected 0-2

22. Restrictions:
• There are laws that protect El Yunque:
• Forestry Law- Declares forests as a natural resource to
be protected, preserved and expanded. Promotes
passive recreation in forests.
• Law of Conservation of Wildlife- It was created to
regulate and conserve wildlife. Regulates hunting and
the use of hunting weapons.

23. Importance and value of “El
Yunque”
• El Yunque is of great importance and value because of the
variety of ecosystems (4) and many species that inhabit it.
• It also gives to the Island values in the following areas:
- Aesthetic - Historical
- Ecological - Spiritual
- Moral/Ethical - Economic
- Cultural - Recreational
- Therapeutic - Educational
- Scientific

24. What called our attention:
• The ecological value of the forest
• Learn how the organisms interact with each
other.
• The beauty of “El Yunque” called our attention
inspiring us to admire the nature of our island.
• Characteristics in environment vary among
locations.

25. References
• Sánchez, H. (2007). Puerto Rico ¡Que Grande!
Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas.
• Maricelis Rivera. (2010). Bosque nacional del Caribe
El Yunque. Junio, 2015, de El Vocero Sitio web:
http://www.prfrogui.com/home/yunquebos.htm
• Jennie Ramirez. (2009). El bosque nacional del
Caribe El Yunque. junio 2015, de UIPR Sitio web:
http://ponce.inter.edu/acad/cursos/ciencia/pages/yu
nque.htm