The Tropical Dry Forest of Coronado:Part Two: Learning About This Treasure

 Translation by Word for Word providing translations and language classes to this community (6786-0854). ************************************************************************************************ The Smithsonian study of the tropical dry forest of Coronado found that it is a young dry forest with great marine influences.  Its trees are less than 10 meters tall and shed their leaves in dry season. The initial species list included 29 families with 51 species of plants, 35 species of trees, 7 species of bushes, 9 species of wild grass and rattan and various orchids.  In order to fully appreciate the tropical dry forest of Coronado, it is important to understand the characteristics that make it a unique ecosystem.  These include:    

• Pluvial precipitation of  a minimal 1.1 millimeters per year.
• An annual average biotemperature of only 21.4 degrees C (70.52 degrees F).
• An altitude of 24 to 30 meters above sea level.
• An  evotranspiration level of 1.22 (on a scale of 1-5)
•  A Föenh Phenomenon, in which the temperature rises daily to more than 30 degrees C (80 degrees F) for a couple of hours and then drops abruptly.
• Dry seasons that last 5 to 6 months.
• Soil that is brown with pH levels of 6.5 to 7.5 and is high in phosphorus and abundant in potassium, calcium and magnesium.
• Very few mammals, but home to a variety of insects, reptiles and birds that are adapted to the conditions of this ecosystem.  Snakes play a large part in controlling rodents and are prey for birds; however, they are not harmful to humans because they are nocturnal and only strike when provoked.

Flora 

Fauna