Final Report CORAL REEF COMMUNITIES FROM NATURAL RESERVES IN PUERTO RICO : a quantitative baseline assessment for prospective monitoring programs Volume 2 : Cabo Rojo, La Parguera, Isla Desecheo, Isla de Mona by : Jorge (Reni) García-Sais Roberto L. Castro Jorge Sabater Clavell Milton Carlo Reef Surveys P. O. Box 3015, Lajas, P. R. 00667
[email protected] Final report submitted to the U. S. Coral Reef Initiative (CRI-NOAA) and DNER August, 2001 i PREFACE A baseline quantitative assessment of coral reef communities in Natural Reserves is one of the priorities of the U. S. Coral Reef Initiative Program (NOAA) for Puerto Rico. This work is intended to serve as the framework of a prospective research program in which the ecological health of these valuable marine ecosystems can be monitored. An expanded and more specialized research program should progressively construct a far more comprehensive characterization of the reef communities than what this initial work provides. It is intended that the better understanding of reef communities and the available scientific data made available through this research can be applied towards management programs designed at the protection of coral reefs and associated fisheries in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. More likely, this is not going to happen without a bold public awareness program running parallel to the basic scientific effort. Thus, the content of this document is simplified enough as to allow application into public outreach and education programs. This is the second of three volumes providing quantitative baseline characterizations of coral reefs from Natural Reserves in Puerto Rico. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors want to express their sincere gratitude to Mrs.