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An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico
An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico
Objectives
CCMA's Biogeography Branch (BB) is collaborating with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) and other local and regional experts to conduct a characterization of of the marine ecosystem around Vieques Island, Puerto Rico.
The specific objectives are as follows:
- Synthesize the results of studies the marine resources of Vieques that have been conducted to date (as available and relevant);
- Collect monitoring data in Vieques to complement previous efforts and provide a broad characterization of benthic communities and fish on coral reef and hardbottom habitats.
- Analyze the collected data to determine the relative health of Vieques coral reef ecosystems in the context of territorial, regional, and national ecosystem condition.
- Provide spatial framework depicting current and historical distributions of marine habitats.
- Propose an appropriate monitoring strategy for the coral reef ecosystem resources in Vieques in an effort to achieve long-term monitoring objectives at all levels, including the local community, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, and NOAA's National Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Program.
Project Summary
From the early 1940s until 2003, portions of the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico have been used by the United States Navy (USN) as an ammunition support detachment and a naval training range, which included an area designated as a military target for training exercises with live artillery. During this period, virtually all civilian activity was restricted in these zones. Beginning in April 2001, the USN began phasing out military activities on the island and transferring military property to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Municipality of Vieques, and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust. NOAA's CCMA Biogeography Branch (BB), in consultation with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) and other Vieques Island partners, is conducting a characterization of the marine resources around Vieques Island. The assessment will support effective management and conservation of marine resources in Vieques.
The approach to characterizing the island's coral reef ecosystems will consist of two main components. First, available information from previous studies will be gathered and integrated into a single document describing the island's marine ecology (Phase I). This will include available data on reefs, fish, birds, seagrasses, turtles, mangroves, climate, geology, currents, and human uses.
Phase II will include an updated benthic habitat map and analysis of new monitoring data in Vieques to complement previous efforts. Data collection efforts were stratified by habitat type and historical land use. Using established protocols consistent with of NOAA's National Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Program, the BB collected detailed information about the benthic habitats, fish, and invertebrate communities at approximately 70 coral reef/hardbottom sites around Vieques. Although the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is currently part of this program, monitoring efforts undertaken to date have primarily concentrated on the southwestern region of the main island. Expansion of long-term monitoring efforts underway elsewhere in the US Caribbean using standardized protocols at Vieques will enable the condition of coral reef ecosystems there to be evaluated in the context of the rest of the Commonwealth and the U.S. Caribbean. In addition, the BB will map the benthic habitats of the near shore environment around Vieques from an updated set of satellite imagery to provide spatial context for prior and future studies. The updated maps will be included in Phase II of the characterization.
 Photo credit: NOAA OR&R |
 Photo credit: CCMA Biogeo |
 Photo credit: CCMA Biogeo |
Products
Current/Completed -
Reports and Publications
- Draft Work Plan
- Kendall, M.S. and K.A. Eschelbach. 2006. Spatial analysis of the benthic habitats within the limited use zones around Vieques, Puerto Rico. Bulletin of Marine Science 79(2): 389-400.
Future -
Reports and Publications
- Phase I technical report (Historical Data Synthesis): To be completed Spring 2008
- Phase II technical report: To be completed December 2008
Maps and Imagery
- A GIS on species, habitats, and important biological areas in the study area
Data
- Field data on species and habitats was collected in May 2007 and is available through the Coral Reef Ecosystem Assessment and Monitoring Database
Partners
- Office of Response and Restoration
- Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
- University of Puerto Rico
Relevant Links
- Vieques Island Database and Mapping Project
- Methods for Characterization and Monitoring of Coral Reef Ecosystems
Time Frame
April 2006 — December 2008