Physical Characterisics

Sandy Beaches

Sandy beaches are the most visited and accessible coastal system in Puerto Rico. All around the Island you can access different beaches with different characteristics such as colors, sand texture and wave action. For that reason people tend to come across diverse areas for different purposes. Reefs are perfect for snorkeling not only for scenery of the reefs, but since there are little to waves. Swimming can also be enjoyed at any beach ranging from tall, choppy waves, to little to no waves at all. It all depends on the characteristics of the land to decide on what you can and can’t do. But human recreational use is not just the only reason to value the sandy beaches; there is a lot more to it like wildlife.

In Puerto Rico there are many ecosystems of which 7 of them (Rain Forest, Dry Forest, Sandy Beach, Rocky Shore, Coral Reef, Sea Grass Bed, Mangrove Forest & Lagoons) are the more  predominant and important to the Island. Of the 7 ecosystems, 5 of them are classified as Coastal and Marine Environment. For starters, we will begin with the Coastal Environment.

Most of the sandy beaches on the north coast hold sand dunes. These dunes are like mounds of sand, protecting the ecosystem within its barrier safe from the vicious wind that usually overtakes the vegetation. These animals rely solely on the plants to live, and without the protection, the plants would die, leaving the whole ecosystem in ruins.

Sand dunes mark the limit between the land and the sandy beaches, also there are critical in providing protection against hurricanes waves, erosion and floods.

Sea Grass Bed

Sea grass are a variety of plants that have all adapted to living on the sea floor. They are found living closer to the sea floor, in shallow depths were the sun still penetrates. The sea grass grow better in sandy and muddy sea floor rich in organic material and calcium carbonate. Living closer to the shore, the sea grass also stops coastal erosion, and helps keep the water clean and livable.

There are sea grass beds found all around the island but more are found on the East and Southern Coasts. More common sea grass in Puerto Rico include Turtle Grass and Manatee Grass. The sea grass bed also provides nourishment, living spaces and shelter for the fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms that thrive there. Also animals like the manatee and sea turtle thrive by eating the sea grass.

Coral Reef

Coral are living things that live in a thick limestone skeleton that they create throughout their lives. They are the most reproductive system in the marine environment. The coral in the Puerto Rican Seas and Oceans make great homes for a diversity of animal and plant life. 

Like any other plant, there are different types of corals. The main two are reef-building corals, and other corals that do not help in forming a reef are ahermatypic corals. The ahermatypic corals don't help to form reefs because they don't have small symbiotic algae living in their tissue. This algae allows the coral to deposit calcium carbonate faster.

Coral reefs need warm waters to live. They have optimal development with temperatures of about 23 – 25º C, other corals can tolerate 36-40º C. Puerto Rico has warmer water that are perfect for sustaining coral reefs, they hit the water temperature right on the dot.

Coral reefs all can't be the same size and shape due to geographical reasoning, they have to be classified into types. The first type is called an Atoll. It is a coral reef that develops a ring around a central lagoon. The second is a fringing reef; a coral reef that develops as a narrow band close to the shore. The third and final type is a Barrier reef; A coral reef adjacent to landmasses and separated from them by a lagoon or channel of similar length.

Depth is another important factor for a proper development of coral reefs. This is due to the light requirement of hermatypic corals as they need plenty of light for the small algae inside the coral tissue to generate photosynthesis. Reduction of photosynthesis inhibits their ability to deposit the calcium carbonate to produce the reef. But along the coasts of Puerto Rico it is pretty shallow in most parts, perfect for wildlife.

Magrove Forests

Mangroves are hardy shrubs that live along the seashore in Puerto Rico. They are able to tolerate the tide change by seawater.  Also the tree there have been considered land builders, generating buffer zones between land and sea. Mangrove forests are one of the most diverse environments found in Puerto Rico. 

Puerto Rico has four types of mangrove trees, each of them with a different adaption to live and tolerate the always moving sea. Some trees adapted to standing more salt than others, so different tree thrive in different zones of the forest. The hardiest and closest to the sea is the red mangrove, next, further inland is the black mangrove, third is the white mangrove and fourth, the button wood mangrove.

The mangrove is a varied ecological system unto itself: the branches of trees where sea birds nest, the terrestrial roots where crabs and mollusks thrive and the submerged roots where a multitude of aquatic sea life exist such as sponges, anemones, clams, segmented worms, tunicate and a great variety of fish. The mangrove forest is the nursery for most of the animals of the sea.

Animal Life

I know that when you hear El Yunque rain forest you think of all sorts of colorful and exotic animals — like monkeys, jaguars, and macaws. But you are not going to see those there. This is because Puerto Rico was formed from an underground volcano — the island rose up from the ocean floor. So, while they do have some nice reefs and varied aquatic wildlife (including mammals, such as whales and manatees), they have a short list of land-based animals. 

Puerto Rico has a very varied geography — dry forest, rain forests, mountains and flood plains. So you will find different sorts of animals in different areas. Generally, you will different types of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. The average person visiting will see/experience a few of the more typical animals, but most people will not see most of the animals that call Puerto Rico home. You will need to really look to see them!There are not a huge number of native species left on the island due to the human population growth and development of land. Many of the native species are on the endangered species list. 

The bugs in Puerto Rico are nothing short of huge! You will notice the large snails, beetles and walking-sticks in the rain forest and, the anoles that you can see everywhere. You may see larger lizards and even iguanas. Adult iguanas have no predators here in Puerto Rico besides cars, so their numbers have grown so much that they are actually a bad thing! Other animals include small crocodiles, and sea turtles. 

All land mammals that are here came with the humans.