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You are here: Home › Ecosystems › Coral Reefs › Benthic Habitat Mapping of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Quick Link to Products

Objectives

This benthic mapping activity was conducted to inventory the reef ecosystem and associated bottom types for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (hereafter PRVI). Prior to this project, a comprehensive inventory of the shallow water ecosystems in these areas did not exist. Such an inventory is required for successful management. To meet this need, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Biogeography Branch, in consultation with many local and federal partners conducted a GIS based mapping effort in the region. This represents the first US coral reef area to be mapped under the purview of the US Coral Reef Task Force.

Project Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service acquired aerial photographs for the nearshore waters of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1999. These images were used to create maps of the region's coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and other important marine habitats. Mapped areas encompass the insular shelf between the shoreline and shelf edge except where turbidity prevented visualization of the bottom. A primary product of this project is a benthic habitat altas however, a detailed methods manual for creating the benthic maps, and text descriptions with associated photographic examples of each bottom type mapped are also included.

Twenty-one distinct benthic habitat types within eight zones were mapped directly into a geographic information system (GIS) using visual interpretation of orthorectified aerial photographs. Benthic features were mapped that covered an area of 1600 km 2 in Puerto Rico and 490 km 2 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico , 49 km 2 of unconsolidated sediment, 721 km 2 of submerged vegetation, 73 km 2 of mangroves, and 756 km 2 of coral reef and colonized hardbottom were mapped. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, 24 km 2 of unconsolidated sediment, 161 km 2 of submerged vegetation, 2 km 2 of mangroves, and 300 km 2 of coral reef and hard bottom were mapped.

Products

Completed

Reports and CD-ROM

• Kendall, M.S., M.E. Monaco, K.R. Buja, J.D. Christensen, C.R. Kruer, and M. Finkbeiner, R.A. Warner. 2001. Methods Used to Map the Benthic Habitats of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NOS) Biogeography Program, Silver Spring, MD. 46 pp.
• A CD-ROM with all project data, methods, and results (identical to products on this project page); to order, click here.

Maps

• A printable atlas of all map products is available on the CD-ROM and at the following website

Data

• Shallow-water benthic habitat data (2001) for Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St.John and St. Croix
• Data are also available on CD - contact Matt.Kendall@noaa.gov to request the CD.

Tools

• Habitat Digitizer
• Aerial Photography Search

Partners

• Government of the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (VIDPNR)
• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Department of Natural and Environmental Resources 
• NOAA, Caribbean Fisheries Management Council
• National Park Service
• NOAA, National Geophysical Data Center
• NOAA, Coastal Services Center
• NOAA, National Geodetic Survey
• St. Croix Environmental Association, Virgin Islands ReLeaf 

Relevant Links

• Salt River National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve
• National Geodetic Survey
• NOAA's Coral Health and Monitoring Program
• USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources
• Benthic Habitat Mapping in American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Benthic Habitat Mapping of Palau
• Benthic Habitat Mapping of Florida Coral Reef Ecosystems
• Benthic Habitat Characterization and Bathymetry of Mid-water  Habitats in the USVI and Puerto Rico — R/V Nancy Foster Missions
• Video: Buck Island Reef National Monument: Partners for Protection and Resource Management:
  A collaborative documentary between the National Park Service and NOAA

Time Frame

Completed: January 2000 - January 2002

For More Information

Project Manager: Matt Kendall
1305 East West Highway
SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-3028 x144