1. Sistema de Costa: Bosque Seco
de Guánica
Justin Cotto
Camille L. Ruiz
Abneil Alicea
Sara Díaz
Roberto Cruz
Enid Cruz
Jose Ramos
Anibal Tornés
Ramón Colón
Jessica Ortiz

2. Dry Winds
Low Soil
Humidity

3. 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 Biomass
o Provides nutrient exchange & Density.
 Underground Runoff significant effect.
● 24 to 43 inches of rain yearly.
■ Wood Production
■ Deforestation

4. 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

6. 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”

7. 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

8. Diversity on every level
Flora & Fauna
Flora
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

10. Evolution in a Nutshell
Adaptations & Dwarf Forest
1. 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

11. 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

12. References
● https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=lJOgW
RS1klQ
● http://farm4.staticflic
kr.com/3353/361561
1952_41ab0ef69c.jpg