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FLOWERING AND FRUITING PATTERNS OF FLORA AT THE HACIENDA LA ESPERANZA NATURE RESERVE

BOTANY

Eugenio Santiago Valentín, Ph.D. Citizen Science ProgramConservation Trust of Puerto Rico

RESEARCH SUMMARY 2008-2010

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Eugenio Santiago Valentín obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Mayagüez Campus, and his doctorate in Botany from the University of Washington in Seattle. An experienced educator and researcher, Santiago Valentín began integrating the University of Puerto Rico Herbarium and its collection of living plants at the Botanical Garden into university programs around Puerto Rico, and incorporated these educational activities into the community.

His professional and investigative work includes creating a new Ethnobotany course for the UPR Río Piedras Campus, and teaching a graduate Taxonomy course and an undergraduate Botany course. He organized a symposium titled “Evolución en las Antillas: la perspectiva molecular” [Evolution in the West Indies – A Molecular Perspective], as part of the Ninth Latin American Botanical Conference held in 2006 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and participated in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Species Survival Commission.

His work has been featured in publications such as Taxon, of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy; Brittonia, of the New York Botanical Garden; Systematic Botany, of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, among others. He currently works as professor at the UPR Río Piedras Campus, curator at the UPR Botanical Garden Herbarium, and he continues to organize conferences related to Puerto Rican flora.

EUGENIO SANTIAGO VALENTÍN, PH.D.Assistant Scientist: Elson Viruet Oquendo Volunteer Leader: Sandra Martínez Colón

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Natural systems are equipped with internal mechanisms that enable them to reestablish after they have suffered from human exploitation, natural disasters, or other unfavorable environmental factors such as droughts or fires. The corrective and reparative actions carried out by humans, including conservation and restoration initiatives, may foster more adequate conditions to help an impacted ecosystem thrive. Several factors influence these processes—some of which may take years to become evident. However, it is widely understood that an ecosystem with greater biodiversity will be more likely to prosper compared to one whose biodiversity has been compromised.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO PHOTOSYNTHESIS WITHOUT SUNLIGHT, THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE REMAINS DARK AT NIGHT. THE GREEN COLOR OBSERVED DURING THE DAYTIME IS THE REFLECTION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS, A CHEMICAL REACTION TAKING PLACE BEFORE OUR EYES, IN THE PLANTS AND TREES THAT WORK TIRELESSLY FOR OUR BENEFIT. THREATENING OUR NATURAL LANDSCAPE IS CONDEMNING OUR OWN SUSTENANCE TO PERPETUAL DARKNESS.

INTRODUCTION

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According to Rafael Rivera Martínez, an agronomist and Protected Natural Areas Manager at the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico (CTPR), “being aware of the species that originally inhabited a particular area is essential, and it represents the first step toward reestablishing nature where it has been eliminated.” Several research projects in the Citizen Science Program (CS) closely follow some of the natural restoration mechanisms within the Hacienda La Esperanza Nature Reserve (HLENR) and how they work. This involves studying the complex interrelations that develop between physical environmental conditioning factors and the flora and fauna species in a particular natural area.

Plants make up the vegetation structure of ecosystems, and they include forests, wetlands and grasslands, among many others. Forest cover provides the characteristic green color to natural surroundings on the Reserve, extending from grasslands on the alluvial plains to limestone hills in the karst zone, and further beyond, in Puerto Rico’s central mountain range. The green colors that our eyes detect is nothing more than the chlorophyll found in most vegetation. This biomolecule allows plants to absorb sunlight and use it for photosynthesis, to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen—in other words, into food and fresh air.

Chlorophyll efficiently absorbs light waves at the far ends of the light spectrum (the reds and the blues), but it can hardly absorb the central waves (greens). Therefore, the light that bounces off many plants is green. When we look over the landscape, we are not observing a dead green color, derived from mineral pigments—we are witnessing a live green, as light bounces off the chloroplasts in plant cells. Because there is no photosynthesis without sunlight, the natural landscape remains dark at night. The green color evident during the daytime is the reflection of photosynthesis, a chemical

reaction that takes place before our eyes, in the plants and trees that work tirelessly to produce food and oxygen. Thus, threatening our natural environment will only condemn our own survival to perpetual darkness.

The plant cover both beneath and above the soil not only provides habitat for other species, but it also serves other fundamental functions for birds, bats, insects and other organisms. These organisms are considered biotic factors that contribute to processes such as pollination, fruit and seed dispersal, and plant reproduction. Understanding the relationships between flora and fauna on the Reserve is essential for fostering the restoration of its original plant cover, and is, therefore, one of the main objectives of this research project.

Flowering and fruiting patterns vary according to plant species, which relate differently to physical factors in ecosystems, such as the amount of sunlight they receive, changes in temperature, wind, as well as salt and chemical concentration. These patterns are particularly prone to the impact of rainy seasons. Some species must flower during periods of rain, while others must do so during opposite conditions. The same principles apply to fruiting patterns. Phenology studies the life cycles of organisms and how they are affected by climate changes through the seasons as our planet completes its journey around the sun, which in turn sheds light on our plants and allows photosynthesis to occur.

Using phenology, this research links the flowering and fruiting patterns for plants at the HLENR to the seasons and periods of rain. Strengthening our knowledge about these relationships for each plant species on the Reserve will help to more efficiently direct our restoration efforts and preserve functional ecosystems in the area.

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DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: FLORA AND LAND USE HISTORY AT THE HLENR

Most of the flora species on the Reserve have suffered significant changes throughout the history of land use in the area. By 1870, the forest cover on the Reserve had already decreased to 28 percent, while 42 percent was used as feeding grounds for livestock and 30 percent was allocated to growing sugar cane, which was its primary use until 1963. Forests reached their most critical point around 1936 and, shortly thereafter, in 1950, when they only covered a mere 10 percent of the total surface area. Once other crops were introduced and the importance of sugar had decreased, forests began to recover their ground once again. They have currently doubled their 1936 ratio, and so have arboreal and herbaceous wetlands.

Even though the most abundant cover is herbaceous, the HLENR possesses a great variety of plants and trees in its forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems. Among the plant species found on the Reserve, 6 are considered endemic to Puerto Rico, 310 are native, and 80 are considered exotic species (introduced to the area by humans). Among the endemic species, the research focused considerable attention on the Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon, commonly known as “palo de rosa,” one of 13 species classified by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) as critically endangered.

OBJECTIVES AND QUESTIONSUnderstanding the abundance and distribution of plants and trees, as well as gaining knowledge about their flowering and fruiting patterns, is essential to guiding and supporting the CTPR’s efforts to develop management plans that focus on conserving biodiversity

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in the HLENR ecosystems. This research project aims to study these aspects in certain noteworthy plant and tree species, as they interact with fauna and the rain season, among other environmental factors. As part of this study, specific ecosystems were selected in order to identify, sample, and observe species within them.

METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIESTeams were ideally composed of a maximum of 15 volunteers per work session, although this number varied on several occasions. Species from two habitats within the Reserve were selected, specifically the coastal forest and the limestone karst hills. These habitats were chosen because they possess great biodiversity, are located fairly close to each other, and also include designed interpretative trails. These factors allowed for the development of a daily work calendar that incorporated all investigative activities.

During the first two months, perhaps the most important tasks performed were related to preliminary visits to each study area in order to evaluate specific data collection areas, which had to include samples from at least 5 individuals from each species. These were identified and marked according to three guiding criteria: whether they represented typical components of the area’s vegetation, whether they possessed particular botanical or ecological attributes, or if they responded to a specific conservation or management aspect within the Reserve. Flowers and fruits of each species were classified according to their development status. Initial visits also allowed teams to determine certain logistical aspects of the Citizen Science Program, including transportation and available time for the activities that had to be performed.

During these monthly visits, each previously identified individual was examined, and the amount of flowers and fruit were quantified and documented in counting sheets. The study was carried out

mainly during a period of 24 months, so that sufficient data could be gathered for all seasons. In certain cases where data could not be collected during any given month of one year, the pertinent observations were conducted during that corresponding month in the following year. Rain data were evaluated for both years in order to note any differences between them.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT The following materials were used to carry out field observations and measuring activities, and to photographically document plants and trees: Field notebooks, binoculars, cameras, altimeters, measuring tapes, calculators, reference books, and plant guides to help identify species, as well as newspaper pages and a press to collect samples for the herbarium.

CITIZEN SCIENTISTSEach activity included a brief training session where volunteers learned about phenology, sampling methods, and data analysis. As in other CS research projects, some volunteers had previous experience, while others had never participated before. Some volunteers, such as Sandra Martínez, became so adept at collecting plants and pressing samples, that they were able to directly assist the lead scientist in the training sessions for new volunteers.

Time management and control were key elements to providing a worthwhile experience for volunteers, since during a single day, it was necessary to perform field observations that included counting and documenting flowering and fruiting in selected species, as well as collecting samples, and later entering and processing all of the data during the botanical laboratory session.

The research allowed citizen scientists to apply basic principles of arithmetic and descriptive statistics during data collection and

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analysis. While studying large tree species, branch phenology was calculated by counting all branches on a tree after having counted the flowers and fruit on a single branch. Young volunteers applied school knowledge in activities that involved studying the correlations between phenological patterns with rain and temperature data. All data was stored electronically in order to analyze and represent graphically after the study had concluded.

The lead scientist also emphasized the importance of predetermining the skills and capabilities required to perform these tasks, as well as establishing their levels of difficulty, so as to better inform volunteers before each session.

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FLOWERING PATTERN COMPARED TO PRECIPITATIONPALO DE ROSA (OTTOSCHULZIA RHODOXYLON)

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FLOWERING AND FRUITING PATTERNS COMPARED TO PRECIPITATION CARIAQUILLO (LANTANA CAMARA)

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RESEARCH SUMMARY

OUTSTANDING RESULTS

In studying flowering patterns in the coastal habitat, it was found that the Noni flowered continuously throughout the year, although a slight increase in flowers was evident at the beginning of the rainy season. The garlic-pear tree (“coscorrón”) also produced flowers primarily during the rain season, and also during other periods of the year when there was precipitation. However, the flowering of the castor oil plant (“higuerito”), the bay-cedar (“suriana”), and the shortleaf fig (“jagüey”) occurred sometime further into the rain season (October), and continued until dryer seasons (March and April) with smaller flower production. The cocoplum (“icaco”) presented a similar pattern, but its flowering was more extensive, continuing until June. Three coastal species (the lidflower, the “geno,” [geno-geno /Lonchocarpus domingensis] and the sea grape) flowered in a limited manner during the annual dry season (between March and April), with the sea grape continuing to flower until the beginning of the rain season in May.

As for coastal fruiting patterns, the noni, the bay-cedar, and the castor oil plant produced fruit almost all year round. Fruiting in three species—sea grape, “geno” and garlic-pear tree (“coscorrón”) —was observed at the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season (April to July). The cocoplum behaved similarly, although the data collected did not show evidence of a clear pattern. On the other hand, the shortleaf fig evidenced higher reproduction both during and toward the end of the rainy season (September to January). The lidflower produced more fruit toward the dry season.

As for flowering in the karst habitat, three species showed considerable flowering throughout the entire year: Anthurium, the common spotted orchid (“orquídea manchada”) and the trumpet tree (“yagrumo”). The presence of fruit year-round in the Common Spotted-Orchid indicates that the plants also flowered all year. The cabbage bark (“moca”), the palo de rosa, and the yellow cedar

(“cachimbo”) flowered from the beginning of the rainy season in May through the summer (the yellow cedar continued flowering for a few additional months). The flowering period for the palo de rosa was very short, which could be a reason for its limited reproduction. The fiddlewood (“péndula”) and lantana [“cariaquillo”] also showed increased flowering during the beginning of the rainy season in May until October-November, but they also produced some flowers throughout the rest of the year, including the dry months (March-April). The swizzlestick tree (“garrocho”) and possibly the nettle [“ortiga”] evidence flowering from the rainy season (October), and further into the year, including the dry months of March and April, although with decreased production. According to fruiting observations in the karst, five species showed intense fruiting during the rainy season, from May until December –Anthurium, cabbage bark , hog plum (“jobo”), Tyre palm (“palma de abanico”), and yellow-= cedar. The fruiting pattern in the yellow cedar was not clearly established, but this pattern could be inferred due to its flowering from May to June, which would thus produce fruit during rainy months. Some species had short-lived fruiting, such as the Tyre palm. The trumpet tree, fiddlewood, and swizzlestick tree can produce fruit all year (or most of it, in the case of the swizzlestick tree), but they also showed increased fruiting during some months in the rainy season. The high reproductive season of the common spotted orchid occurred between December and May, and it was the only species in the karst with high fruiting during the dry months of March and April. The urtica or nettle seemed to produce fruit only during the first months of the year (January and February).

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Many species in both habitats flower and produce fruit at the very beginning or at the end of the rainy season. Increased flowering during the dryer months (March-April) was observed in only three species (lidflower, geno, and sea grape). No species within the karst produced its main flowering during the dryer months. Furthermore, both along the coast and in the karst, several of the most common species (anthurium, common spotted orchid and noni) reproduced all year. It is interesting to note that the latter two species are exotic. It was inferred that their settling habits consist partly of constantly

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releasing seeds, among other factors, in order to increase their possibilities for establishing a larger population. Even though the trumpet tree produced structures throughout the entire year, it is not a commonly observed species in the Reserve, perhaps because not many areas offer adequate conditions for its seeds to establish. Other less common species, like the palo de rosa, the Tyre palm, and the lidflower, actively reproduced during short periods, which could explain, among other factors, why their population is so limited in the area.

This research yielded the first quality photographs ever taken of the palo de rosa, a species classified as highly endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the DNER. The Reserve currently shelters a healthy palo de rosa population, and gaining a better understanding about its fruiting patterns will help to develop a better species recovery and protection plan.

Future research projects could study the relationship between the patterns observed and other ecosystem components, such as birds and bats. Also, the flowering and fruiting patterns of each species should be measured against the precipitation patterns in the area.

REMAINING QUESTIONS AND FUTURE APPLICABILITY

With the data collected, environmental interpreters could develop certain themes through the Reserve’s trails, depending on the flowering and fruiting patterns of sampled species. For example, the lantana flowering season observed along the Karst Trail attracts pollinators such as butterflies, which could be incorporated into a trail theme during that season; during other seasons, the focus could center on the cabbage bark, whose flower usually attracts bees.

The data collected during this research could serve to establish a phenological database for plants at the HLENR, and, on a broader and more ambitious scale, as the starting point for the development of an island-wide database with phenological data for flora in Puerto Rico. According to the lead scientist, climate change is another important aspect to pay attention to during future research projects, since any alteration in climate conditions could affect the reproductive behavior of many plants. Therefore, documenting

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Caño Boquilla (medio)Caño Boquilla (Tómbolo)

18° 28' 44.5"18° 28' 47.6"18° 27' 43.8"18° 28' 35.5"18° 28' 36.7"18° 28' 51.5"

66° 30' 50.6"66° 30' 47.7"66° 30' 39.3"66° 30' 37.8"66° 30' 39.6"66° 31' 05.9"

POINTS OF INVESTIGATION

current reproductive patterns will serve as an invaluable tool for understanding and evaluating future changes caused by global warming, among other factors.

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LIST OF PARTICIPATING CITIZEN SCIENTISTS

Abiana Echevarría DecletAbigail PabónAbner CarmonaAda RosadoAdanelis RiveraAdela M. Francis MalavéAdela MalavéAdriana Salas DíazAibenlitz del RíoAida L. Díaz GuzmánAlejandra González PesqueraAlejandro ColónAlexa ReyAlexander DonesAlexandra M. López AquinoAlexssandra Resto CastroAllan J. Méndez VegaAmanda A. Maldonado ValcárcelAna Delia PadróAna L. Marrero RamosAna MarteAna V. AracheAnabelle SurisAnacelia Rodríguez CruzAndrés Carrero OrtizAneudi M. Rivera CortésAngel A. Morales LópezAngel TorresAngélica Vázquez CruzAníbal CastroAnirt Y. MoqueteAriana Gabiela Sánchez PiñeiroArlene CardonaAshley J. PachecoAxel G. Díaz MoralesBárbara GonzálezBelén GonzálezBenjamín BolañosBianca SantosBlanca E. FigueroaBruni Marie GonzálezCamille M. OstolazaCamille RigauCamille RiveraCarla DonesCarlos A. MatosCarlos Alberto Morales RamírezCarlos BibiloniCarlos BonillaCarlos J. Lao SilvaCarlos J. OlivaresCarlos VélezCarmel Rubin

Carmen CardonaCarmen M. RoviraCarmen Rosa Rivera MirabalCary CottoCecilia PérezCelimar Cottes CasañasCésar Fabián FontánezCésar RiveraCharlene A. Rivera ViruetCharlyn PérezChayane Torres RiveraChelsea A. TiradoChristian MaldonadoChristian MeléndezCindymar Cottes CasañasCoral Murphy MarcosCoralys N. RiveraCoralys Rivera MaldonadoCristian E. VelázquezCristian FrancoCristian J. AlbaladejoCrucita ArroyoCurtis Lupton CruzCyannella Resto CastroCynthia Álvarez GonzálezDainalis Rivera TorresDaisy OrtizDalet D. Sierra GalindoDamaris RiveraDanairy MalpicaDaniel J. VázquezDaniel MontalvoDaniel S. CabreraDaniela GonzálezDariana L. Rivera RíosDarlene González TorresDavid Pérez De La TorreDeborah Morales RosaDelanie R. Colón ArbeloDerek CorderoDiana Neris RosaDianil Pacheco TorresDiego J. OteroDilcia González GandarillasDinia Ortíz BurgosEddie G. MeléndezEdgardo D. Raíces LozadaEdgardo RosadoEdith M. Ortiz ReyesEdmy AyalaEdny AyalaEduardo MeléndezEdwin Ayala

Edwin Grafals LugoEdwin HernándezEdwin RiveraEfraín Villegas ColónEileen M. Soberal SerranoEileen Rivera VélezElí Sánchez UrbinaElian T. PabónEliana PérezEliot RoblesElizabeth PiñeiroElmer Caldero MatosElmer Caldero TorresElvin MéndezElvira MárquezElvis MoralesEmmanuel PérezEomar A. SantiagoEstefanie Román MaestreEsther BofillEvelyn Ayala SotoEvelyn Muñiz RosadoFaberi Reyes MarreroFélix MartínezFernando MaldonadoFrancis EmmanuelliFrancisco FrancoGabriel VélezGabriela CarrasquilloGénesis Miranda OliverasGeraldly PeletGian C. RiveraGilbert GutiérrezGilberto CastroGileyxis X. SantaellaGisela Ortíz CruzGloria Méndez AhedoGloria RiveraGloria S. Hernández LópezGonzalo De LeónGraciela ValcárcelGriselle De JesúsGwendolyn DíazHaydee MartínezHéctor J. Rodríguez AguilarHéctor L. GarcíaHector M. AsencioHéctor R. BergolloHeriberto RiveraHilda BasHumberto VázquezIdalia RamosIleana Rodríguez

2524Ileana Vázquez AlvarezInoushka MejíasIraida OrtizIralvin I. DíazIrana ReyIsabel Sánchez CanoIsabelita Rivera BetacourtIsardo BravermanIsidro AponteIvan Rodríguez VegaIvelisse R. TorresJackeline SlazarJacqueline CollazoJacqueline NegrónJanelis M. TiradoJanpole Santana CastroJavier E. González BauzaJaymarie RiveraJean Michael LópezJeannette CarriónJecenia Sanabria PérezJefferson MuñozJeriel Irene MercadoJesús AlvarezJesús M. Rodríguez MercedJesús Vargas MoringlaniJeyshua Miguel CortijoJhoxel G. ReyJoamanda PabónJocelyn AlbinoJocsan K. Oyola ArroyoJoesbell RodríguezJohnatan RodríguezJonathan OrtegaJonathan R. RomeroJosé A. AdornoJosé A. Cruz VázquezJosé A. González CruzJosé CorchadoJosé G. Padilla CandelarioJosé G. Padilla ReyesJosé G. Rodríguez CastilloJosé O. GonzálezJosé R. Marcos ZorrillaJoshua A. RiveraJoshuan Oyola ArroyoJosué A. Guzmán SotoJosué CortezJuan C. Cruz FigueroaJuan C. Cruz PagánJuan José Rodríguez Zayas

Juana M. BaezJuanita CruzJuanita Cruz OrtizJulio Cabrera MartínezJulio César FontánezJulio FontánezKarelle A. Luyo OrtizKaren AcevedoKaren Toledo TorresKarina I. CortésKarina PérezKarla M. Cruz FigueroaKarla Pagán BenítezKatherine RosarioKathleen S. Alvarez ColónKatia Santiago LedéeKeishla Casañas RosadoKeliam TorresKenny VázquezKeyla Charriez CabreraKrystal ValleLaura B. OrtízLervia Negrón TiradoLeslie A. SantosLewis Díaz TorresLilliam DíazLilliana EmmanuelliLinda BlantonLissette Díaz SerranoLivia NeiraLiznery TiradoLucila Hernández VidalLucy OcasioLuis A. Cosme CintrónLuis A. OlivenciaLuis CruzLuis E. MuñizLuis Eduardo MuñizLuis Francis RosarioLuis Gabriel Mitchell DuránLuis J. BerríosLuis M. Viera GonzálezLuis Murphy MarcosLuis Sánchez CruzLuis VélezLuz Castro SantosLyana MartínezLydia OrtízLydsa M. MaldonadoLynn M. HernándezLyzaida Rodríguez

Magda FigueroaMailen SotoManuel GuzmánManuel Sánchez AgustiniMarangeli Cruz VegaMarangeli Vega NievesMarcos CaraballoMarcos SantanaMargarita Torres DávilaMaría Alejandra GonzálezMaría AyalaMaría BenedettiMaría de los A. RodríguezMaría FigueroaMaría I. Piñeiro LunaMaría J. GarcíaMaría N. ValcarcelMarisol Pagán SánchezMaristella SánchezMarlon N. AsencioMarnie CruzMarta AlvarezMarta M. VillamilMartín A. Otero FernándezMayra GonzálezMigdalia Colón CortésMigdalia Rivera SantosMigdalia RosadoMigdalia RullánMiguel De LeónMilagros GotayMilagros RuizMildred Morales CruzMilka MirandaMillie CortésMinerva VazquezMiriam Julie NobleMónica I. PérezMónica MartínezMónica Meléndez VázquezMyriam OrtizMyrna Torres DávilaNancy EscobarNancy Y. TorresNelly M. Báez HenryNelson Alvarez ColónNelson I. Alvarez RolónNemesio SotoNereida TiradoNicole A. López CruzadoNorma Santos

Omar SánchezOmayra RomeroOnelys M. PabónOrjan MattosOrlando Gonzalez GonzalezOrlando Salas DíazOscar CorreaOscar MonclovaPablo F. CruzPablo González PesqueraPamela CarrasquilloPaola M. BonillaPaola Sofía Sánchez PiñeiroPedro LaureanoRafael CarmonaRafael FloresRamón I. ReyRaquel M. Torres TiradoRaúl Cajigas GonzálezRay David Rodríguez ColónRebeca VázquezRebeca Vicens SánchezReinaldo DíazReynaldo CarrasquilloRicardo GonzálezRita OstolazaRita PorcellRoberto SantaRodolfo CaballeroRosa M. OronaRosa M. Soto GonzalezRosa Meléndez RománRosana Grafals SotoRosemary SánchezRossana MorilloRossyveth Rey BerríosRubén GonzálezRuben MurphyRuth RamosSabrina ValentínSamuel Ortiz ValentínSandra CastroSandra Martínez ColónSandra Rosado ValleSara ArroyoSarah PizarroSaribel M. TorresSariveth FlechaSebastián Torres MoralesShaquille RodríguezSharelys Burgos

Sherley FigueroaSigfredo Otero FernándezSlade MooreStefanie CepedaStephanie Romero RosaStephanie TorresTahiré CarrasquilloTamara Ortiz SantiagoTania PesqueraThais A. SantiagoThaís A. Santiago PabónThalia Sevilla DíazTiffany Meléndez CollazoUrsula MarcosValeria Salgado CrespoValeria T. Rivera MartinezVanessa Villanueva MateoVelmarie FloresVerónica Morales RosaVerónica RodríguezVíctor CollazoVictor Viruet-JrVirgen Torres SegarraVyomar Santiago FernándezWally Rivera RodríguezWanda ArroyoWanda DíazWanda Rosa PérezWildelis FigueroaWilfredo Nieves GómezWilkins A. MenaWilliam Murphy MarcosYahaira M. Martínez CastroYahaira M. Pérez RodríguezYalis HernándezYamilette TiradoYang Manuel Rosado FeijoóYanitza Soto SantiagoYedriel Guzmán SotoYlis Morales AyalaYozaira Leon SantiagoZamayra ColónZoraida DíazZuleika Hernández

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The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to secure functional and healthy ecosystems on the islands of Puerto Rico, and to instill in their inhabitants a sense of responsibility toward the conservation of our natural resources, so that we may have ecosystem services that will help us achieve our social, economic and quality-of-life goals.

The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico believes that we can achieve our full potential, both individually and collectively, if we can sustain the ecosystem services on the islands of Puerto Rico and respect all forms of life with which we share our natural environment.

787.722.5834

ciudadanocientifico@fideicomiso.orgwww.ciudadanocientifico.orgwww.fideicomiso.org

This program was sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Informal Science Education Proposal 0638966, and by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the National Science Foundation or the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.