The document compares the Dry Forest of Guanica and El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. The Dry Forest of Guanica receives less rainfall than El Yunque due to geographic barriers. It has over 130 bird species and various reptiles and amphibians that have adapted to the dry climate. The vegetation is no taller than 49 feet and many plants have adaptations like vertical leaves to conserve water. El Yunque receives heavy rainfall daily which causes soil erosion. It has over 100 vertebrate species including bats and the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. The forest contains over 200 tree species, many of which are endemic or rare. Different types of forests exist within El Yunque based on dominant plant species

1. Comparison of the Dry Forest of
Guanica and the Caribbean
National Forest “El Yunque”
Group #1: Carla J. Figueroa Gustavo Martinez
Crystal K. Colon John E. Munoz
Zuleika Velazquez Luis F. Centeno

2. Introduction
 On the days of June 19 and 21, we had two separate
field trips to two completely different areas of
Puerto Rico. We traveled to el Bosque Seco de
Guánica on June 19, then to el Bosque Nacional del
Caribe, el Yunque, on June 21. After having
travelled to both forests, we were able to compare
these completely different, yet similar areas.

3. Dry Forest of Guanica

4. Climate and Location
 Located in the southwestern area of Puerto Rico, this
forest expands all the way from Guánica to Ponce,
covering roughly over 11,000 acres of land.
 The climate is hot and dry, due to a lack of precipitation
because of the restrictions placed by the Cordillera
Central de P.R., which does not allow the passage of
rain-carrying winds.
 The forest receives approximately 30-40 in. of rain per
year.
 Because of the harsh climate and extreme temperature,
the organisms have adapted to thrive and survive in this
forest.

5. Birds
 They have recorded 136 species of birds, 12 of them are
endemic (3 of which are endangered and 8 in the list of
endangered species).
 Compared with rain forests: 31 versus 20 species of birds
per 1,000 individuals.
 More number of birds per linear mile (0.6 miles) in
Guánica in a rainforest.
 The ecological role of frogs and lizards of the Anvil, in
Guánica is carried out mainly by insectivorous birds.
 Furthermore, the forest contains a wide range of insects
that provide food for many birds.

6. Aves
San Pedrito
Reinita Mariposera
Pajaro Bobo Mayor
 Jui de Puerto
Rico
Guabairo 

7. Bird Adaptations
 High percentage of nocturnal animals.
 Many species with scales that prevent desiccation
 Obtain water from the dam to ingest and vegetation.
 Hibernation.
 Animals that are buried or used natural cavities.
 Low breathing.
 Bodies with light colors.
 They nest on the ground or in bushes.

8. Fauna
 There have been a very valuable herpetofauna
which includes 21 species of reptiles and 6 species of
amphibians.
 Among the reptiles there are 8 species of lizards
endemic to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
 Among the amphibians there has been some
notoriety crested toad.
 During dry weather remains a refugee, just leave
the aestivation period as a result of precipitation.

9. Flora
 The flora of the Guanica Dry Forest is no longer than 49
ft. Because in that form they conserve water and don’t
spend it in biomass.
 Most of the vegetation is semideciduous are lost their
leaves in summer.
 In the Guanica Dry Forest, the flora modified their
activities for the principal goal of all, conserve water.
Some of the adaptations are: vertical orientation of the
leave to avoid direct sunlight, stems that carry out the
photosynthesis and plants with spines.

10. Flora
Naked Indian

-To keep water the
stem perform
photosyntesis
Principal Canopy
Demonstration
Huevo de Gato
of Jaboncillo

 Caoba

11. Flora
Erisfalis Fruticosa
-have a purple milk
Piteselobiun
- Endemic tree of
Arbol Corcho the forest.
- This tree represent how the
vegetation placed their leaves in Caoba’s Plantation
vertically form
Warrior
tree

- Endemic of
Puerto Rico

12. Comocladia dodonaea (Chicharron)
- Poisonous Tree
Multiples Stems 
- Regeneration manifestation.

13. Melon Cactus-
Vegetation with spines to conserve water
Centenary Guayacan
Orchid –
Demostration of a epiphyte

14. The Caribbean National
Forest
“El Yunque”

15. Clima y Localizacion
 Localizado a 49 Kms de San Juan en las Sierras de
Luquillo, tiene una temperatura de 78 grados Fahrenheit
en las partes bajas y alrededor de 65 grados Fahrenheit
en areas sobre los 3,200 pies.
 Recibe alrededor de 250 pulgadas de precipitación al año
significando que caen aguaceros ligeros pero intensos
diariamente esto causa que el suelo del bosque sufra
grandes perdidas por la erosión.
 Por la cantidad de precipitación que cae la isla de Puerto
Rico depende de el para poder adquirir la cantidad de
agua suficiente para los habitantes.

16. Fauna
 The fauna that lives in the forest is limited to small
animals.
 Approximately 100 vertebrates including amphibians
and birds live in the different forests of “El Yunque”. The
mammalian are represented by 11 different species of
bats.
 The most common invertebrates are snails and the
Puerto Rican Boa.
 Puerto Rico’s most important native animal is the
“Coqui”. It is an in danger specie and approximately
twelve (12) different types of them live in the forest.

17. Fauna
Different
species of Puerto Rican
snails Parrot

Coqui
Puerto Rican Boa

18. Flora
 Poses more vegetation diversity by area unit than
any other forest in America. 225 especies de árboles,
nativos del bosque.
 It has twenty-three (23) endemic species, fourty-
seven (47) introduced species, eighty-eight (88) tree
species that are considered rare or strange, fifty (50)
different species of native orchids and one-hundred
& fifty (150) fern species.

19. Types of Forests
 Pluvial Forest
 Palo Colorado Forest
 Palma de Sierra Forest
 Elfin Forest

20. Pluvial Forest
 Mainly Composed of:
1. Tabonuco ( Dacryodes excelsa)
2. Ausubo (Manilkara Bidendata)
3. Yagrumo (Cecropia Peltata)
4. Guaragüao (Guarea Trichilioides)
5. Laurel sabino (Magnolia splendens)
6. Giant Ferns

21. Palo Colorado Forest
 Mainly composed of:
1. Caimitillo (Micropholis chrysophylloides)
2. Caimitillo verde ( Microphilis garcinaefolia)
3. Palo Colorado ( Cyrilla recemiflora)

22. Palma de Sierra Forest
 It is the most open forest of the four types.
 Monoculture of Palma de Sierra ( Prestoea montana)

23. Elfin Forest
 It’s location is limited to the
piques of the mountains that
compose the forest and
because of this plus other
reasons it’s vegetation does
not grow more than 12 feet.
 The main tree of the forest is
“Roble de Sierra” ( Tabebuia
rígida).

24. Conclusion