The Implications of Resource Management in La Parguera, Puerto Rico A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Heidi Hertler in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2002 ã Copyright 2002 Heidi Hertler. All Rights Reserved. ii Dedication to my family iii Acknowledgements I would like to thank so many people who have been supportive of me and my work in La Parguera. I am especially grateful to Dr. James Spotila and Dr. Daniel Kreeger, co-advisors, who were both patient and understanding. I will forever be indebted to Dr. Graciela Ramírez-Toro and Harvey Minnigh for their guidance and encouragement as well as a home and great meals after a long field day. Dr. Susan Kilham has inspired me and Dr. Robert Brulle has encouraged me to make change possible. This research would not have been possible without the generous financial support from The Gabriella and Paul Rosembalm Foundation, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Centro de Educación, Conservación e Interpretación Ambiental, the Asociacion de Dueños de Casa Bote de La Parguera, and New Jersey and Puerto Rico Sea Grant. I would like to especially thank the students at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico for their diligent field and laboratory support, particularly Robert Viqueira, Ana Ruiz, Wilma Vargas, Miguel Viqueira, Arnaldo Pol, Adrián Vicenty, Carol Ferrer, Odriel Rivera, Jo Anna Santiago, and Janice Franqui. Many thanks go to Academy volunteers and the young women of the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Science Enrichment and Expansion Curriculum (SEEC), especially Khalilah Love, Batichia Bullock, DeShanta Miner, Chynelle Singleton, and Zephyr Johnson, who helped with sample preparation and analysis. I would also like to thank Drexel graduate students, iv Scott Lynn, Sanhita Datta, and Sebastian Interlandi, who have helped with equipment and encouragement. Juggling a full time job at the Academy of Natural Sciences and working on a dissertation is trying, to say the least. I would like to thank my colleagues at the Academy, especially Adam Boettner, Nichole Coulter, Deborah Raksany, and Catherine Gatnsby, for their support and understanding. A million thanks go to my family, for their support, without them I never would have gotten this far. Finally, I want to mention George, who greets me everyday and is patient and understanding of being shuttled to “the spa” every time I go to Puerto Rico. v Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................ix LIST OF FIGURES ...............................................................................................xii ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................xiii CHAPTER 1 – Background and Introduction.........................................................1 References....................................................................................................7 CHAPTER 2 – Effects of Houseboats on Organisms of the La Parguera Reserve, Puerto Rico.......................................................................8 Abstract ........................................................................................................8 Introduction..................................................................................................9 Materials and Methods...............................................................................11 Houseboat Selection.......................................................................11 Sampling Methodology..................................................................12 Data Management and Experimental Design.................................13 Results ........................................................................................................14 General Observations .....................................................................14 Biodiversity of the Benthic Community........................................14 Seagrass Abundance ......................................................................15 Sessile Fauna..................................................................................16 Mobile Fauna .................................................................................17 Discussion..................................................................................................18 References..................................................................................................25 vi CHAPTER 3 – Spatial Variability in Water Quality Associated with Shifting Land Use in La Parguera, Southwest Puerto Rico.......................36 Abstract ......................................................................................................36 Introduction................................................................................................37 Materials and Methods...............................................................................40 Study Site .......................................................................................40 Field Methods ................................................................................42 Laboratory Methods.......................................................................44 Total Suspended Solids and Organic Content ...................44 Particle Size Distribution...................................................45 Sediment Metal Analysis ...................................................46 Dissolved Nutrients............................................................47 Chlorophyll-a .....................................................................48 Elemental C:N:P Particulate Analysis ...............................48 Watershed Measurements ..................................................49 Statistics .............................................................................49 Results........................................................................................................50 Field Parameters.............................................................................50 Suspended Solids ...........................................................................52 Particle Concentration....................................................................53 Sediment Metals.............................................................................53 Nutrients and Chlorophyll-a ..........................................................54 Carbon: Nitrogen: Phosphorous Ratio ...........................................55 vii Discussion..................................................................................................55 References..................................................................................................62 CHAPTER 4 – Effects of New Land Development on Seagrasses in the Vicinity of La Parguera, Puerto Rico............................................87 Abstract ......................................................................................................87 Introduction................................................................................................88 Materials and Methods...............................................................................91 Study Site .......................................................................................91 Field Methods ................................................................................93 Seagrass Composition........................................................93 Seagrass Measurements .....................................................94 Epiphytes............................................................................94 Sediment Trap....................................................................94 Plaster Ball .........................................................................95 Statistics .............................................................................95 Results........................................................................................................96 Species Composition......................................................................96 Growth Rates and Productivity......................................................97 Leaf Characteristics and Epiphytes................................................98 Sedimentation.................................................................................98 Discussion..................................................................................................99 References................................................................................................104 CHAPTER 5 – Resource Management of a Temperate and Tropical Marine System: Success and Failure.....................................................123 viii Introduction..............................................................................................123 Environmental Protection in La Parguera and Barnegat Bay..................126 La Parguera, Puerto Rico .............................................................126 Barnegat Bay, New Jersey...........................................................128 Why the Differences? Environmental Protection and Government Involvement ............................................................131 Conclusion...............................................................................................132 Summary..................................................................................................134