The Guánica Dry Forest, Elfin Forest and Tamarindo Lagoon are located in southwest Puerto Rico. The Guánica Dry Forest is the driest forest in Puerto Rico and contains over 550 plant species adapted to its dry climate. Tamarindo Lagoon only fills with heavy rain and dries up otherwise, providing habitat for endangered species like the Puerto Rican toad. The Elfin Forest near the lagoon contains miniature versions of plants limited by wind, lack of water and salt. Over 100 bird species have been recorded between these areas, including some endemic and endangered species.

1. THE GUÁNICA DRY FOREST, ELFIN
FOREST AND TAMARINDO LAGOON
Stephanie C. Rodríguez
Valeria Laboy
AdrianaVera
Andrea C.Vicenti
LauraV. Díaz
Carlos J. Cabello
José E. Ríos
Cristina M. Rivera
Joanly Rivera
Gabriela Reyes
Claudia Colón
Camila P. Santiago
RISE BRIDGE SUMMER PROGRAM 2015

2. GUÁNICA DRY FOREST

3. GENERAL INFORMATION
 The Guánica State Dry Forest is a subtropical dry forest located in the
southwest of Puerto Rico.
 Appointed as a forest reserve in 1919 and a UN Biosphere Reserve in 1981.

4. SCIENTIFICALLY IMPORTANT
The forest is important due to its complexity, nature and scientific diversity.
Some 119 investigations (1990-present) have been made there, studying
various topics:
 Flora
 Fauna
 Archeology
 Ecology
 Fisheries and more...

5. GEOGRAPHY ANDTOPOGRAPHY
 It covers the counties of Guánica, Guayanilla, andYauco; also having islets in Ponce
and Peñuelas.
 Considered as a undulant zone; mostly flat land, while having a variety in the
terrain level.

6. LOCATION AND CLIMATE
 Located in the most arid area of Puerto Rico, with an annual rainfall of 30 inches a
year.
 Temperatures vary from 75°F to 85°F, reaching up to 110°F in the most exposed
areas.

7. MONTHLY PRECIPITATION IN GUÁNICA

8. SOIL PROPERTIES
Soil ranges from sandy to limestone, showing a difference of these:
 Floor composed of limestone and fine-grained surface.
 Abundant in fine and soft lime with small areas of sand and clay.
 Floor of sand and clay with a depth of 6” or more.

9. AS AN ECOSYSTEM
It is a xerophytic forest; driest place in Puerto Rico.
Also considered as an inhospitable ecosystem because of:
 Lack of rainfall
 High temperatures
 Soils with little accumulation of organic material
 Absence of permanent rivers

10. FLORA
The are around 550 species of plant; representing 85 families.
Around 180 are trees; 45 of which are endangered.
The flora is adapted to extreme conditions:
 Wind
 Saltpeter
 Lack of water

11. EucalyptusTree MahoganyTreeMelon Cactus

12. “GUAYACÁN CENTENARIO”
 The symbol of the Guánica Dry Forest.
 Predicted to be from 700-1000 years old.
 The age can be estimated by the width of the trunk since the diameter
increases a millimeter per year.
 The extract of its trunk posses medicinal properties.

14. FAUNA
 Some136 species of birds had been recorded; 12 of them being native.
 Some 21 species of reptiles and6 of amphibians have been found; 8 species
of lizards are exclusive to Puerto Rico andVirgin Islands.
 Insects are an important community and exert various functions from
pollinating to decomposing.

15. REPTILES
Anolis poncensis Anolis cooki

16. ENDANGERED FAUNA
The federal agencies had denominated 16 endangered species.
Some of this species are:
Falco peregrinus Agelaius xanthomus Caparimulgus vociferous noctitherus

17. TAMARINDO LAGOON

18. GENERAL INFORMATION
 Found in the southern part of Puerto Rico in the Refuge of the Guánica Dry
Forest.
 It only fills with the passage of heavy rains. In times of heat and drought
the lagoon dries up completely.
 It has served as stoppage between the coast and firm land for migratory
birds.

19. DryFull

20. FLORA
 The plant and tree diversity of the Lagoon has adapted itself to be able to
survive both drought and flooding of the lagoon
 These species can also be found in the Elfin forest and theTamarindo Bay.

21. Espesia populnea

22. FAUNA
 Composed of aquatic and amphibious life.
 Reproductive place of Sapo Concho (Pelthophryne lemur), an endangered
species.
 In 1984 a population was recorded in the area ofTamarindo within the
forest.
 During dry weather they remain refuge. They reproduce when the
temporary lagoon emerge.

23. Pelthophryne lemur

24. ELFIN FOREST OF GUÁNICA

25. GENERAL INFORMATION
 It extends fromTamarindo Lagoon to PuntaVentana.
 It is known as the “Elfin Forest” due to the limited altitude and
growth of its vegetation.
 The ground has a formation of sedimentary rocks.

26. FLORA’S PROBLEM
Same species as in the Dry Forest, yet slightly miniature and limited.
Factors that limit vegetation growth:
 Wind
 Water limitation
 Salt concentrations

27. Canavalia maritime Coccoloba uvifera

28. Melon Cactus population

29. FAUNA
They obtain water from pray and vegetation.
They hide in cavities, underground, in bushes or ground.
Todus mexicanus Caprimulgus noctitherus

30. AVIFAUNA
 Mayor population consists of bird (132 )species.There are 40 resident species and
9 endemic species of birds.
Setophaga angelae Coccyzus vieilloti Myiarchus antillarum

31. REFERENCES
 Estado LibreAsociado de Puerto Rico.1981.
Documentation re-proposing Guanica
Forest as UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve.
Area of Scientific Research, Department of
natural Resources San Juan P.R. 13 p.
 CerameVivas, M.2001,Ecologíade Puerto Rico.
PublicacionesPuertorriqueñas
 Murphy P.G.1990.Dry Forest of theTropics and
Subtropics Guanica Forest in Context4(1-3):15-24
 Ortíz, C. G. Bosque Estatalde Guánica.PrFrogui.
http://www.prfrogui.com/geocities/guanicabosque
.htm
 RicartPh.D, C. M. (Narrador). (2014).Bosque
Seco[Video enlínea]. Obtained from:Youtube.
 Ramírez, Jennie (2009). Bosque Secode Guánica.
http://ponce.inter.edu/acad/cursos/ciencia/pages/g
uanica.htm
 Anonymus. (2007). Sapo concho puertorriqueño.
28 de junio de 2015, de CoaliciónProBosque Seco
VentanasVerraco Website:
http://www.coalicionventanaverraco.org/index.ph
p?q=gallery&g2_view=slideshow.Slideshow&g2_it
emId=882