User:Guettarda/Sandbox 5

Guánica State Forest (Bosque Estatal de Guánica) is a subtropical dry forest located in southwest Puerto Rico. The area was designated as a forest reserve in 1919 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981. It has been described as the best preserved, subtropical forest and the best example of dry forest in the Caribbean.

Geography
Located in the dry orographic rain shadow of the Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico's driest area, temperatures in the forest are, on average, around 80 °F in shaded areas and 100 °F in exposed areas. The average temperature is 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) and the average annual rainfall is 791 mm (31.1 in).

Climate

 * Rainfall
 * Soil moisture

Between 1700 and 2004 15 hurricanes passed close to Guánica Forest, with an average return interval of 20 years. Seven of these were strong hurricanes (Category 3 or greater), resulting in a return interval of 43 years.

History

 * Old production forest
 * Reserved after the American annexation
 * The CCC in Guánica
 * Removal of villagers
 * Establishment as MAB site
 * Recent developments?

Between 1820 and 1948 twenty-three families lived at El Maniel, which is now within Guánica Forest. They cultivated small agricultural plots and pastured livestock, but the major use of the forest was charcoal production.

Flora and fauna
Approximately half of Puerto Rico's birds and nine of 16 the endemic bird species occur in the Guánica State Forest. Twenty-one species of birds are considered "winter residents" in the forest and important wintering habitat for three species - Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapillus), American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla), and Black-and-white Warblers (Mniotilta varia).


 * Animals of Guánica

Ten species of lizard are found in Guánica Forest  including the threatened Puerto Rican endemic Anolis cooki (Cook's Anole). Anolis cristatellus (the Puerto Rican Crested Anole) and Sphaerodactylus nicholsi are the most abundant species.

Endangered species listed under the United States Endangered Species Act include:


 * Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Bufo lemur)
 * Puerto Rican Nightjar (Caprimulgus noctitherus)
 * Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
 * West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)
 * Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
 * Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
 * Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

Over 650 plant species have been recorded from Guánica Forest, including several endangered species.

Endangered species listed under the United States Endangered Species Act include:


 * Trichilia triacantha (Bariaco)
 * Eugenia woodburyana
 * Mitracarpa maxwelliae
 * Mitracarpa polycladus
 * Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon (Palo de Rosa)

Ecology
Guánica State Forest includes both terrestrial and marine habitats.

Eight plant associations are present in the forest. The three largest are upland deciduous forest (which occupies 23.5 km²), semi-evergreen forest (7.2 km²), and scrub forest (5.8 km²). Smaller areas are occupied by mangrove, beach thickets and salt flats. Also present are areas of tree plantation and anthropogenic savanna.

Similar to other insular dry forests, species diversity is low; between 30 and 50 tree species are found per ha.

More than 700 plant species, of which 48 are endangered and 16 are endemic to the forest, occur within the forest.


 * Succession
 * Energy flows
 * Seed germination
 * Response to hurricanes