Name: Ariel Rodriguez Osorto To: Shadia Dueri

Excited to learn from Tropical Ecology

I am excited to study Tropical Ecology because I want to learn how the ecosystems where I come from work. There many questions in my mind as How does rain happen? Why is to hot in my country? Why is it that we have just two seasons?. I want also get some skills to identify the relationship between all the living and non living things in my native town Agua Caliente.

Environmental issues in my community

My community is Agua Caliente over there we got serious problems with high temperatures, thing that can be called as heat island effect. The community is located 40m above sea level, and is practically a sabana where there are just few species of trees. The 80% of the community canopy is totally gone, the soil is very alkaline and acidic with present of sulfur.

What things have I learned thus far to improve environmental conditions in my community?
After a year a lot research I found that there is a tree called Mangifera indica which is very resistant to alkaline soil and to be able to grow in dry places as my community. According with the Environmental Agency Protection EPA vegetation shading is one of the best ways to reduce the heat island effect. I want to increase the canopy of my community by planting mango trees at the southern exposure of the community.