Pico El Toro

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pico-el-toro

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How high is Pico El Toro?Contributes to a distinct montane climate
2. What is the location?Puerto Rico, within the Toro Negro State Forest
3. What is the ecological status?Biodiversity hotspot with a high degree of endemism
4. Why is Pico El Toro special for animals and plants?It is a place where many species live that are found only there. The mountain’s isolation lets them evolve differently.
5. How does the weather on Pico El Toro differ from lower places?The mountain stays cooler and has more clouds and rain, creating a moist environment.

Montane Forest: A forest ecosystem found in mountainous regions, characterized by specific flora and fauna adapted to altitude.
Endemism: The ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island or mountain.
Biodiversity Hotspot: A biogeographical region with a significant number of endemic species that is also threatened with destruction.
Watershed Protection: The practice of conserving land and water resources to ensure a clean and reliable water supply.