El Verde Field Station

Research at El Verde

Research projects

About conducting research at El Verde

Meteorological information

Species lists

Research Projects

Long-term monitoring by the LUQ-LTER

The Luquillo LTER monitors several variables on a long-term basis to assess natural patterns and changes due to hurricanes and other disturbances. Among those variables are climate, flowering and fruiting phenology of common trees, stream water chemistry and discharge, and animal populations (shrimp, coqui, lizards, snails, insects).

Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP)

The plot was marked and set aside as a long-term forest dynamics plot (dimensions: 500 x 320 m or 16 hectares). The plot is routinely monitored to assess changes in populations of shrubs, trees, and animals. Routine censuses of plants and animals are the only activities allowed within the plot. Click here to obtain information about conducting research in the LFDP.

The Canopy Trimming Experiment

abundance.

Coqui (Eleutherodactylus) monitoring area

This is the longest monitoring site for Eleutherodactylus in the world.

Forest productivity at East Peak

Forest tree fenology

Stream ecology

Meteorological data

A weather station located in a tower above the forest canopy monitors solar radiation, wind speed and direction, rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity. Data from this station is available from the LUQ-LTER web site, data base number 127. Also available is data on rainfall from a manual gauge on the station's roof (data base 14, LUQ-LTER) and minimum and maximum temperature under the shade (data base 16 and data base 17, LUQ-LTER). A summary of the meteorological data for El Verde is available on pdf form from the LUQ-LTER web site (click here to open the pdf file).

Barometric information for El Verde Field Station can be found at

http://allsky.ee.psu.edu/barograph/barographIndex.htm

Stream discharge

Real time discharge for Sonadora Stream is available from the USGS. Click here to go to their web site.

Rainfall chemistry

The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) monitors rainfall chemistry on a weekly basis at El Verde. Click here to go to their web site.

Other meteorological information

Meteorological data for other locations within the Luquillo Mountains is available from the LUQ-LTER web site.

Meteorological data for other locations in Puerto Rico is available at the USGS web site and from the Weather Channel web site.

For hurricane information and tracking of storms visit Weather Underground Inc.