When this photo was taken, in the place where you are standing, there was a log, a fallen tree covered with fungi. You can hardly see any remains of the tree anymore. The fungi decomposed it. You will see fallen trees throughout the forest that are remnants of the impact of hurricanes and see fungi doing their job of decomposing and recycling plant material. Fungi also produce a variety of compounds that may serve other purposes such as in medicine and may also be indicators of environmental quality. These organisms, which grow on wood, leaves and soil, are saprophytes, feeding on decomposing organic materials.

Eight graduate students from Ana G. Méndez University at Gurabo, under the guidance of Professor Sharon Cantrell-Rodriguez, an expert in Mycology and Professor in the School of Natural Science and Technology, identified a total of 103 species of fungi in the Pterocarpus Forest at Palmas, as part of a three-month study.

They conducted 6 fungi collection campaigns during the months of September, October and November 2015, photographically documenting their findings and listing the characteristics of each of the specimens.
Subsequently their microscopic characteristics were observed, and, through the use of taxonomic keys, each species was identified.