Puerto Rican Karst - A Vital Resource

Authors

Ariel E. Lugo, International Institute of Tropical ForestryFollow
Leopoldo Miranda Castro
Abel Vale
Tania del Mar López
Enrique Hernández Prieto, University of Puerto RicoFollow
Andrés García Martinó
Alberto R. Puente Rolón
Adrianne G. Tossas, University of Puerto RicoFollow
Donald A. McFarlane, Claremont McKenna College; Pitzer College; Scripps CollegeFollow
Tom Miller, University of Puerto Rico - MayaguezFollow
Armando Rodríguez
Joyce Lundberg, Carleton UniversityFollow
John Thomlinson, California State University - Dominguez HillsFollow
José Colón
Johannes H. Schellekens
Olga Ramos
Eileen Helmer

Document Type

Article

Department

Biology (CMC), WM Keck Science (CMC), Biology (Pitzer), WM Keck Science (Pitzer), Biology (Scripps), WM Keck Science (Scripps), WM Keck Science

Publication Date

8-2001

Abstract

The limestone region of Puerto Rico covers about 27.5 percent of the island's surface and is subdivided into the northern, southern, and dispersed limestone areas. All limestone areas have karst features. The karst belt is that part of the northern limestone with the most spectacular surficial karst landforms. It covers 142,544 ha or 65 percent of the northern limestone. The karst belt is the focus of this publication, although reference is made to all limestone regions. The northern limestone contains Puerto Rico's most extensive freshwater aquifer, largest continuous expanse of mature forest, and largest coastal wetland, estuary, and underground cave systems. The karst belt is extremely diverse, and its multiple landforms, concentrated in such a small area, make it unique in the world. Puerto Rico's karst forests whether dry, moist, or wet share common physiognomic and structural characteristics. Karst forests contain the largest reported number of tree species per unit area in Puerto Rico. Both fauna and flora are rich in taxa; and many rare, threatened, endangered, and migratory species find refuge in the karst belt. Almost all fossil records of Puerto Rico's extinct flora and fauna come from the karst belt.

Comments

Technical report published by the United States Government.

Previously linked to as: http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/u?/irw,422.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Gen. Tech. Report WO-65.

Accessed at http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/2864 on 21 September 2009.

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Recommended Citation

Lugo, Ariel E., Leopoldo Miranda Castro, Abel Vale, Tania del Mar López, Enrique Hernández Prieto, Andrés García Martinó, Alberto R. Puente Rolón, Adrianne G. Tossas, Donald A. McFarlane, Tom Miller, Armando Rodríguez, Joyce Lundberg, John Thomlinson, José Colón, Johannes H. Schellekens, Olga Ramos, Eileen Helmer. 2001. "Puerto Rican Karst-A Vital Resource." United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service General Technical Report WO-65.