DOCSLIB.ORG

Section 5.2 (Biological Environment)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Section 5.2 (Biological Environment) 5 Description of the fishery/affected environment 5.1 Physical environment The U.S. Caribbean is located in the eastern extreme of the Caribbean archipelago, about 1,100 mi east-southeast of Miami, Florida (Figure 1) (Olcott 1999). It comprises the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the Greater Antilles and the Territory of the USVI in the Lesser Antilles island chain, both of which separate the Caribbean Sea from the western central Atlantic Ocean. The rectangular-shaped island of Puerto Rico is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles (CFMC 2002c), and is located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The island measures about 110 mi from east to west; 40 mi from north to south. The overall area of Puerto Rico, including its principal offshore islands of Vieques, Culebra, and Mona, is estimated at 3,471 mi2 (Olcott 1999); the combined length of its coasts, 700 mi (CFMC 2002c). The USVI are part of the Virgin Islands chain, which lies about 50 mi east of Puerto Rico and consist of about 80 islands and cays (Olcott 1999). The USVI include the largest and most important islands of the Virgin Islands chain: St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. Together, their coastlines extend about 175 mi. St. Croix is located about 40 nm (74 km) south of St. Thomas and St. John (CFMC 2002c). Covering about 84 mi2, that island is entirely surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. The islands of St. Thomas and St. John are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Their respective areas are about 32 and 19 mi2 (Olcott 1999). More detailed information on the physical environment can be found in Section 3.1 of the EFH FSEIS (CFMC 2004). 5.1.1 Geology The nearshore waters of Puerto Rico range from 0-20 m in depth and outer shelf waters range from 20-30 m in depth at the depth of the shelf break. The north coast of Puerto Rico is marked by a narrow insular shelf that is only 2-3 km wide. Depths extend to over 1,200 ft (400 m) beyond the shelf break (CFMC 2002c); the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean, the Milwaukee Depth, lies at a depth of 27,493 feet (8,380 m) in the western end of the Puerto Rico Trench, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of the island. Mona Passage, measuring about 75 mi (120 km) wide and more than 3,300 ft (1,000 m) deep, separates Puerto Rico from Hispaniola to the west. The southeast coast has a narrow shelf approximately 8 km wide (CFMC 2002c), after which the sea bottom descends to the 16,400 ft (5,000 m) deep Venezuelan Basin of the Caribbean Sea. The east coast lies on the same geological platform as the USVI of St. Thomas and St. John. Waters in that area extend to depths of less than 240 ft (73 m) throughout (CFMC 2002c). 92 The shelf shared by the islands of St. Thomas and St. John is about 12.9 km wide on the south and 32.2 km wide on the north (Goenaga and Boulon 1992). St. Croix, which lies on a different geological platform, is separated from the other islands by a 4,000 m-deep trench (CFMC 2002c). The St. Croix shelf is much narrower and shallower than that of the northern islands (Goenaga and Boulon 1992), extending only 4 km wide in the south, less than 0.2 km wide on the northwest, though up to several km wide in the northeast and out on Lang Bank (CFMC 2002c). 5.1.2 Oceanography and climate The North Equatorial Current is the predominant hydrological driving force in the Caribbean region. It flows from east to west along the northern boundary of the Caribbean plateau and splits at the Lesser Antilles. To the north, the current flows westward along the north coasts of the U.S. Caribbean islands, splitting north of the Mona Channel. The north branch flows north of Silver and Navidad Banks, past the Turks and Caicos, to form the Bahama Current. The south branch parallels the north coast of Hispaniola about 30 km offshore. A small gyre has been documented off the northwest corner of Puerto Rico resulting in an easterly flow nearshore in this area (CFMC 2002c). To the south, the current enters the Caribbean Sea through the passages between the Lesser Antilles (Chakalall et al. 1998). The water then continues northwestward as the Caribbean Current, the main surface circulation in the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean Current flows about 100 km south of the U.S. Caribbean islands at an average speed of 0.5 to 1 knots (CFMC 2002c). The current is characterized by large cyclonic and anticyclonic gyres. Its flow exits the Caribbean through the Yucatan Strait into the Gulf of Mexico and, to the northwest, into the North Atlantic (Kjerfve 1998). Its strength is influenced by changes in the position of the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). It increases in strength during the winter when the thermal equator is farthest south. It decreases in strength during the summer when the thermal equator shifts north, and surface waters in the Caribbean are influenced by increasing precipitation. This is the time of year when the North Equatorial Counter Current is established and surface waters of the equatorial Atlantic are displaced to the east (Kjerfve 1998). Fluctuations in the water mass transport of the Gulf Stream are influenced by seasonal changes in Caribbean surface salinity transport and to wind speed changes in the tropical-subtropical trade wind zone (Kjerfve 1998). Westerly trade wind circulations to the north are responsible for the major wind and wave patterns. High winds occur in the winter; hurricanes in the autumn (CFMC 2002c). The zonal shift of the ITCZ is also responsible for the seasonal change in precipitation in the Caribbean. The dry season occurs when the ITCZ is near the equator (Kjerfve 1998), generally in the late winter to spring (Kjerfve 1998; Olcott 1999). The wet season occurs when the ITCZ is at its most northerly position in the Caribbean, generally in the late summer into late fall (Kjerfve 1998; Olcott 1999); about 50 % of the annual rainfall occurs during this wet season. Average 93 annual precipitation in Puerto Rico ranges from less than 40 in (101.6 cm) on the southern coastal plain, to greater than 200 in (512 cm) in the mountains. Along the coasts, average annual precipitation ranges from about 30 in (76.2 cm) on the lee side of the island along the southwestern coast to about 75 in (190.5 cm) on the windward north coast. Average annual precipitation ranges from less than 30 in (76.2 cm) to greater than 55 in (139.7 cm) in the USVI. Most of the precipitation in this region is returned to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration – evaporation from the land and water surfaces and transpiration by plants (Olcott 1999). Surface water salinity changes along with the seasonal change in precipitation. But precipitation affects salinity only indirectly. The discharge from the Amazon, Orinoco, and Magdalena rivers is the main contribution to buoyancy in the Caribbean, increasing silica concentrations, decreasing salinity and chlorophyll pigments, and increasing the input of terrestrial materials (Kjerfve 1998). The plume of the Orinoco River, as tracked by satellite imagery, seasonally penetrates across the Caribbean Basin, potentially exerting a region-wide influence (Kjerfve 1998). It could be responsible for events of high turbidity and algal blooms that often occur in the Caribbean Basin in October (CFMC 2002c). Locally, Puerto Rico's rivers influence the nearshore environment by discharging silt, nutrients, various chemicals and, of course, freshwater. The USVI has no permanent streams, and outflows only occur during periods of heavy rainfall. But these are sometimes sufficient to muddy coastal surface waters up to one half mile (0.8 km) from shore (CFMC 1985). Sea surface temperature ranges from a minimum of 25 degrees Celsius in February-March to a maximum of about 28.5 degrees Celsius in August-September. Inshore temperatures may be higher (e.g., 30 degrees Celsius) due to shallower depths or, in some cases, to thermal plumes from generator plants (CFMC 2002c). Tidal regimes differ between the north and south coasts. The fluctuations range from a diurnal tide of about 10 cm in the south coast to a semi-diurnal regime of between 60-100 cm along the north coast, where waves are larger (CFMC 2002c). But the astronomical tidal range is slight (20-30 cm) (Kjerfve 1998). 5.1.3 Major habitat types The coastal-marine environment of Puerto Rico and the USVI is characterized by a wide variety of habitat types. NOAA’s National Ocean Service has mapped 21 distinct benthic nearshore habitat types using aerial photographs acquired in 1999. Those maps display 49 km2 of unconsolidated sediment, 721 km2 of submerged vegetation, 73 km2 of mangroves, and 756 km2 of coral reef and colonized hard bottom over an area of 1600 km2 in Puerto Rico. They document 24 km2 of unconsolidated sediment, 161 km2 of submerged vegetation, 2 km2 of mangroves, and 300 km2 of coral reef and hard bottom over an area of 490 km2 in the USVI. Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove wetlands are the most productive marine habitat areas (CFMC 2002c). CFMC (2002c) provides an in-depth description of the distribution of these 94 habitats, along with information on their ecological functions and condition. A summary of the habitat-life history associations of Caribbean Council-managed species is provided in Section 5.2 (Biological Environment).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Megan E
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School November 2017 Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Megan E. Hepner University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Hepner, Megan E., "Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary" (2017). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7408 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by Megan E. Hepner A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Resource Assessment College of Marine Science University of South Florida Major Professor: Frank Muller-Karger, Ph.D. Christopher Stallings, Ph.D. Steve Gittings, Ph.D. Date of Approval: October 31st, 2017 Keywords: Species richness, biodiversity, functional diversity, species traits Copyright © 2017, Megan E. Hepner ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to my major advisor, Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, who provided opportunities for me to strengthen my skills as a researcher on research cruises, dive surveys, and in the laboratory, and as a communicator through oral and presentations at conferences, and for encouraging my participation as a full team member in various meetings of the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and other science meetings.
    [Show full text]
  • Indirect Effects of Overfishing on Caribbean Reefs: Sponges Overgrow Reef-Building Corals
    Indirect eVects of overfishing on Caribbean reefs: sponges overgrow reef-building corals Tse-Lynn Loh1,∗, Steven E. McMurray1, Timothy P. Henkel2, Jan Vicente3 and Joseph R. Pawlik1 1 Department of Biology and Marine Biology and Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA 2 Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, USA 3 Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environ- mental Science, Baltimore, MD, USA ∗ Current aYliation: Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, USA ABSTRACT Consumer-mediated indirect eVects at the community level are diYcult to demonstrate empirically. Here, we show an explicit indirect eVect of overfishing on competition between sponges and reef-building corals from surveys of 69 sites across the Caribbean. Leveraging the large-scale, long-term removal of sponge predators, we selected overfished sites where intensive methods, primarily fish-trapping, have been employed for decades or more, and compared them to sites in remote or marine protected areas (MPAs) with variable levels of enforcement. Sponge-eating fishes (angelfishes and parrotfishes) were counted at each site, and the benthos surveyed, with coral colonies scored for interaction with sponges. Overfished sites had >3 fold more overgrowth of corals by sponges, and mean coral contact with sponges was 25.6%, compared with 12.0% at less-fished sites. Greater contact with corals by sponges at overfished sites was mostly by sponge species palatable to sponge preda- tors. Palatable species have faster rates of growth or reproduction than defended sponge species, which instead make metabolically expensive chemical defenses.
    [Show full text]
  • Satellite Monitoring of Coastal Marine Ecosystems a Case from the Dominican Republic
    Satellite Monitoring of Coastal Marine Ecosystems: A Case from the Dominican Republic Item Type Report Authors Stoffle, Richard W.; Halmo, David Publisher University of Arizona Download date 04/10/2021 02:16:03 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/272833 SATELLITE MONITORING OF COASTAL MARINE ECOSYSTEMS A CASE FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Edited By Richard W. Stoffle David B. Halmo Submitted To CIESIN Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network Saginaw, Michigan Submitted From University of Arizona Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) University of Michigan East Carolina University December, 1991 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables vi List of Figures vii List of Viewgraphs viii Acknowledgments ix CHAPTER ONE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 The Human Dimensions of Global Change 1 Global Change Research 3 Global Change Theory 4 Application of Global Change Information 4 CIESIN And Pilot Research 5 The Dominican Republic Pilot Project 5 The Site 5 The Research Team 7 Key Findings 7 CAPÍTULO UNO RESUMEN GENERAL 9 Las Dimensiones Humanas en el Cambio Global 9 La Investigación del Cambio Global 11 Teoría del Cambio Global 12 Aplicaciones de la Información del Cambio Global 13 CIESIN y la Investigación Piloto 13 El Proyecto Piloto en la República Dominicana 14 El Lugar 14 El Equipo de Investigación 15 Principales Resultados 15 CHAPTER TWO REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS IN THE COASTAL ZONE 17 Coastal Surveys with Remote Sensing 17 A Human Analogy 18 Remote Sensing Data 19 Aerial Photography 19 Landsat Data 20 GPS Data 22 Sonar
    [Show full text]
  • Table S1.Xlsx
    Bone type Bone type Taxonomy Order/series Family Valid binomial Outdated binomial Notes Reference(s) (skeletal bone) (scales) Actinopterygii Incertae sedis Incertae sedis Incertae sedis †Birgeria stensioei cellular this study †Birgeria groenlandica cellular Ørvig, 1978 †Eurynotus crenatus cellular Goodrich, 1907; Schultze, 2016 †Mimipiscis toombsi †Mimia toombsi cellular Richter & Smith, 1995 †Moythomasia sp. cellular cellular Sire et al., 2009; Schultze, 2016 †Cheirolepidiformes †Cheirolepididae †Cheirolepis canadensis cellular cellular Goodrich, 1907; Sire et al., 2009; Zylberberg et al., 2016; Meunier et al. 2018a; this study Cladistia Polypteriformes Polypteridae †Bawitius sp. cellular Meunier et al., 2016 †Dajetella sudamericana cellular cellular Gayet & Meunier, 1992 Erpetoichthys calabaricus Calamoichthys sp. cellular Moss, 1961a; this study †Pollia suarezi cellular cellular Meunier & Gayet, 1996 Polypterus bichir cellular cellular Kölliker, 1859; Stéphan, 1900; Goodrich, 1907; Ørvig, 1978 Polypterus delhezi cellular this study Polypterus ornatipinnis cellular Totland et al., 2011 Polypterus senegalus cellular Sire et al., 2009 Polypterus sp. cellular Moss, 1961a †Scanilepis sp. cellular Sire et al., 2009 †Scanilepis dubia cellular cellular Ørvig, 1978 †Saurichthyiformes †Saurichthyidae †Saurichthys sp. cellular Scheyer et al., 2014 Chondrostei †Chondrosteiformes †Chondrosteidae †Chondrosteus acipenseroides cellular this study Acipenseriformes Acipenseridae Acipenser baerii cellular Leprévost et al., 2017 Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
    [Show full text]
  • Hotspots, Extinction Risk and Conservation Priorities of Greater Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Marine Bony Shorefishes
    Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations Biological Sciences Summer 2016 Hotspots, Extinction Risk and Conservation Priorities of Greater Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Marine Bony Shorefishes Christi Linardich Old Dominion University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, and the Marine Biology Commons Recommended Citation Linardich, Christi. "Hotspots, Extinction Risk and Conservation Priorities of Greater Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Marine Bony Shorefishes" (2016). Master of Science (MS), Thesis, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/hydh-jp82 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/13 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HOTSPOTS, EXTINCTION RISK AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES OF GREATER CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO MARINE BONY SHOREFISHES by Christi Linardich B.A. December 2006, Florida Gulf Coast University A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE BIOLOGY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY August 2016 Approved by: Kent E. Carpenter (Advisor) Beth Polidoro (Member) Holly Gaff (Member) ABSTRACT HOTSPOTS, EXTINCTION RISK AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES OF GREATER CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO MARINE BONY SHOREFISHES Christi Linardich Old Dominion University, 2016 Advisor: Dr. Kent E. Carpenter Understanding the status of species is important for allocation of resources to redress biodiversity loss.
    [Show full text]
  • Nacre Tablet Thickness Records Formation Temperature in Modern and Fossil Shells
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Recent Work Title Nacre tablet thickness records formation temperature in modern and fossil shells Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1rf2g647 Authors Gilbert, PUPA Bergmann, KD Myers, CE et al. Publication Date 2017-02-15 DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.11.012 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Bivalve nacre preserves a physical indicator of paleotemperature Pupa U.P.A Gilbert1,2*, Kristin D. Bergmann3,4, Corinne E. Myers5,6, Ross T. DeVol1, Chang-Yu Sun1, A.Z. Blonsky1, Jessica Zhao2, Elizabeth A. Karan2, Erik Tamre2, Nobumichi Tamura7, Matthew A. Marcus7, Anthony J. Giuffre1, Sarah Lemer5, Gonzalo Giribet5, John M. Eiler8, Andrew H. Knoll3,5 1 University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Physics, Madison WI 53706 USA. 2 Harvard University, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Fellowship Program, Cambridge, MA 02138. 3 Harvard University, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138. 4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138. 5 Harvard University, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, MA 02138. 6 University of New Mexico, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Albuquerque, NM 87131. 7 Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. 8 California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA 91125 * [email protected], previously publishing as Gelsomina De Stasio Abstract: Biomineralizing organisms record chemical information as they build structure, but to date chemical and structural data have been linked in only the most rudimentary of ways. In paleoclimate studies, physical structure is commonly evaluated for evidence of alteration, constraining geochemical interpretation.
    [Show full text]
  • Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserve
    Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserve- Integrated Management Plan 2004-2009 *** Prepared For Belize Coastal Zone Management Institute/Authority and Belize Fisheries Department By Ellen M McRae, Consultant, CZMA/I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7 LIST OF TABLES 8 LIST OF MAPS 9 LIST OF ACRONYMS 10 1. INTRODUCTION 12 1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 12 1.1.1 Habitat Suitability—Rationale for Area’s Selection 12 1.1.2 History of Caye Caulker’s Protected Areas 14 1.1.3 Current Status 15 1.1.4 Legislative Authority 15 1.1.5 Context 17 1.2 GENERAL INFORMATION 17 1.2.1 Purpose and Scope of Plan 17 1.2.2 Location 18 1.2.3 Access 19 1.2.4 Land Tenure and Seabed Use 19 1.2.5 Graphic Representation 20 1.2.5.1 Mapping 20 1.2.5.2 Aerial Photographic and Satellite Imagery 20 1.2.5.3 Other Remote Imagery 21 2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 21 2.1 GEOLOGY, SUBSTRATE AND BATHYMETRY 21 2.2 HYDROLOGY 22 2.3 TIDES AND CURRENTS 23 2.4 WATER QUALITY 23 2.4.1 Seawater 23 2.4.2 Groundwater and Surface Waters on the Caye 24 2.5 CLIMATE AND WEATHER 25 2.5.1 General Climate Regime 26 2.5.2 Rainfall 26 2.5.3 Extreme Weather Events 26 3 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT 29 3.1 EMERGENT SYSTEMS 29 3.1.1 Littoral Forest 29 3.1.1.1 Flora 31 3.1.1.2 Fauna 33 3.1.1.3 Commercially Harvested Species 36 3.1.1.4 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species 37 3.1.1.5 Threats to Systems 38 3.1.2 Mangroves 39 3.1.2.1 Flora 40 3.1.2.2 Fauna 40 3.1.2.3 Commercially Harvested Species 42 3.1.2.4 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species 43 3.1.2.5 Threats to System 44 3.2 SUBMERGED SYSTEMS 45 3.2.1 Seagrass and Other Lagoon
    [Show full text]
  • TREATISE ONLINE Number 48
    TREATISE ONLINE Number 48 Part N, Revised, Volume 1, Chapter 31: Illustrated Glossary of the Bivalvia Joseph G. Carter, Peter J. Harries, Nikolaus Malchus, André F. Sartori, Laurie C. Anderson, Rüdiger Bieler, Arthur E. Bogan, Eugene V. Coan, John C. W. Cope, Simon M. Cragg, José R. García-March, Jørgen Hylleberg, Patricia Kelley, Karl Kleemann, Jiří Kříž, Christopher McRoberts, Paula M. Mikkelsen, John Pojeta, Jr., Peter W. Skelton, Ilya Tëmkin, Thomas Yancey, and Alexandra Zieritz 2012 Lawrence, Kansas, USA ISSN 2153-4012 (online) paleo.ku.edu/treatiseonline PART N, REVISED, VOLUME 1, CHAPTER 31: ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY OF THE BIVALVIA JOSEPH G. CARTER,1 PETER J. HARRIES,2 NIKOLAUS MALCHUS,3 ANDRÉ F. SARTORI,4 LAURIE C. ANDERSON,5 RÜDIGER BIELER,6 ARTHUR E. BOGAN,7 EUGENE V. COAN,8 JOHN C. W. COPE,9 SIMON M. CRAgg,10 JOSÉ R. GARCÍA-MARCH,11 JØRGEN HYLLEBERG,12 PATRICIA KELLEY,13 KARL KLEEMAnn,14 JIřÍ KřÍž,15 CHRISTOPHER MCROBERTS,16 PAULA M. MIKKELSEN,17 JOHN POJETA, JR.,18 PETER W. SKELTON,19 ILYA TËMKIN,20 THOMAS YAncEY,21 and ALEXANDRA ZIERITZ22 [1University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA, [email protected]; 2University of South Florida, Tampa, USA, [email protected], [email protected]; 3Institut Català de Paleontologia (ICP), Catalunya, Spain, [email protected], [email protected]; 4Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA, [email protected]; 5South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, [email protected]; 6Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA, [email protected]; 7North
    [Show full text]
  • An Invitation to Monitor Georgia's Coastal Wetlands
    An Invitation to Monitor Georgia’s Coastal Wetlands www.shellfish.uga.edu By Mary Sweeney-Reeves, Dr. Alan Power, & Ellie Covington First Printing 2003, Second Printing 2006, Copyright University of Georgia “This book was prepared by Mary Sweeney-Reeves, Dr. Alan Power, and Ellie Covington under an award from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of OCRM and NOAA.” 2 Acknowledgements Funding for the development of the Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland Program was provided by a NOAA Coastal Incentive Grant, awarded under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Zone Management Program (UGA Grant # 27 31 RE 337130). The Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland Program owes much of its success to the support, experience, and contributions of the following individuals: Dr. Randal Walker, Marie Scoggins, Dodie Thompson, Edith Schmidt, John Crawford, Dr. Mare Timmons, Marcy Mitchell, Pete Schlein, Sue Finkle, Jenny Makosky, Natasha Wampler, Molly Russell, Rebecca Green, and Jeanette Henderson (University of Georgia Marine Extension Service); Courtney Power (Chatham County Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission); Dr. Joe Richardson (Savannah State University); Dr. Chandra Franklin (Savannah State University); Dr. Dionne Hoskins (NOAA); Dr. Charles Belin (Armstrong Atlantic University); Dr. Merryl Alber (University of Georgia); (Dr. Mac Rawson (Georgia Sea Grant College Program); Harold Harbert, Kim Morris-Zarneke, and Michele Droszcz (Georgia Adopt-A-Stream); Dorset Hurley and Aimee Gaddis (Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve); Dr. Charra Sweeney-Reeves (All About Pets); Captain Judy Helmey (Miss Judy Charters); Jan Mackinnon and Jill Huntington (Georgia Department of Natural Resources).
    [Show full text]
  • Concentración Y Tiempo Máximo De Exposición De Juveniles De Pargo
    State of research of the Osteichthyes fish related to coral reefs in the Honduran Caribbean with catalogued records Estado del conocimiento de los peces osteíctios asociados a los arrecifes de coral en el Caribe de Honduras, con registros catalogados Anarda Isabel Salgado Ordoñez1, Julio Enrique Mérida Colindres1* & Gustavo Adolfo Cruz1 ABSTRACT Research on Honduran coral reef fish has been isolated and scattered. A list of fish species related to coral reefs was consolidated to establish a compiled database with updated taxonomy. The study was conducted between October 2017 and December 2018. Using primary and secondary sources, all potential species in the Western Atlantic were considered, and their actual presence was confirmed using catalogued records published in peer-reviewed journals that included Honduras. In addition, the specimens kept in the Museum of Natural History of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras were added. Once the list was consolidated, the taxonomic status of each species was updated based on recent literature. A total of 159 species and 76 genera were registered in 32 families. The family with the most species was Labrisomidae with 27 species (17%). Five families had more than five 5 genera registered, while four 4 were represented by more than 16 species, which is equivalent to 42% genera and 51% species. Gobiidae was represented by 10 genera (13%) and 21 species (13%), of which two 2 were endemic: Tigrigobius rubrigenis and Elacatinus lobeli. In turn, Grammatidae was represented by one endemic species Lipogramma idabeli (1.8%). The species Diodon holocanthus and Sphoeroides testudineus represent the first catalogued records for Honduras.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume III of This Document)
    4.1.3 Coastal Migratory Pelagics Description and Distribution (from CMP Am 15) The coastal migratory pelagics management unit includes cero (Scomberomous regalis), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), king mackerel (Scomberomous cavalla), Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) and little tunny (Euthynnus alleterattus). The mackerels and tuna in this management unit are often referred to as ―scombrids.‖ The family Scombridae includes tunas, mackerels and bonitos. They are among the most important commercial and sport fishes. The habitat of adults in the coastal pelagic management unit is the coastal waters out to the edge of the continental shelf in the Atlantic Ocean. Within the area, the occurrence of coastal migratory pelagic species is governed by temperature and salinity. All species are seldom found in water temperatures less than 20°C. Salinity preference varies, but these species generally prefer high salinity. The scombrids prefer high salinities, but less than 36 ppt. Salinity preference of little tunny and cobia is not well defined. The larval habitat of all species in the coastal pelagic management unit is the water column. Within the spawning area, eggs and larvae are concentrated in the surface waters. (from PH draft Mackerel Am. 18) King Mackerel King mackerel is a marine pelagic species that is found throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea and along the western Atlantic from the Gulf of Maine to Brazil and from the shore to 200 meter depths. Adults are known to spawn in areas of low turbidity, with salinity and temperatures of approximately 30 ppt and 27°C, respectively. There are major spawning areas off Louisiana and Texas in the Gulf (McEachran and Finucane 1979); and off the Carolinas, Cape Canaveral, and Miami in the western Atlantic (Wollam 1970; Schekter 1971; Mayo 1973).
    [Show full text]
  • Of the US Caribbean to Address Required Provisions of the Magnu
    Comprehensive Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) of the U.S. Caribbean to Address Required Provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: • Amendment 2 to the FMP for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands • Amendment 1 to FMP for the Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands • Amendment 3 to the FMP for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands • Amendment 2 to the FMP for the Corals and Reef Associated Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Including Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis 24 May 2005 Caribbean Fishery Management Council 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-2577 (787) 766-5926 (Phone); (787) 766-6239 (Fax) http://www.caribbeanfmc.com National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 (727) 824-5305 (Phone); (727) 824-5308 (Fax) http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov Table of Contents Tables and Figures in Appendix A ............................................... vi Abbreviations and acronyms ................................................... viii Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) Cover Sheet ..................... ix Comments and Responses to DSEIS. x 1 Summary ..............................................................1 1.1 Description of alternatives ...........................................1 1.2 Environmental consequences
    [Show full text]